Chain cleaning 'bath' type tools - yay or nay?

[blackburn]

As per title - I always struggle to get the chain of th'Orange clean (and 'er indoors is asking for Christmas present ideas..) What's the considered wisdom on chain cleaning baths? Good gear or pony?

Edited by blackburn on Sunday 5th December 18:48

[Mars]

Carburretor cleaner from Halfords. Spray the inside of the chain with it as you spin it but make sure you cover the bike so you don't splash it. It's a very aggressive cleaner but between the power of the spray and the fluid itself, you'll be left with a shiny chain, cassette and chainwheels.

[darkyoung1000]

I've got a bath chain cleaner and while it can be a little fiddly to attach in the first place, it does a very thorough job of cleaning it. I don't have any photos but the chain was a fetching orange before I started (what the hell are the using on the roads anyway?) and is now gleaming and lubed up.

The advantage of it is that once you've cleaned it using parafin/muc-off/other cleaner you can re-fill it with chain lube having wiped the chain off and run it through again. Refreshes the parts even spay cans cannot reach...

Cheers,
Tom

[Saddle bum]

Chain baths are very good but it is better to have a KMC chain and a quick release link.

Also "Hyper lean", a soluble detergent engine cleaner, is the dogs wotsit's at cleaning chains.

[The Walrus]

Great bits of kit brought my chain up amazingly well, just remember to take out as much of the gunk in the cassete before starting otherwise you will be at it for a long time.

On and I use either muck of multi purpose cleaner or meguiars multi purpose cleaner.

Edited by The Walrus on Sunday 5th December 22:37

[Parrot of Doom]

No, you don't need them. All you need to do to clean a chain is turn the crank while you're grasping the chain with an oily rag. Get it a bit shiny, and then re-oil.

The chain cleaning devices strip the lubrication from around the pins, and it takes the oil a little while to get back in there. That means more wear, for no gain. So don't use it.

[mad4amanda]

excellent pieces of kit chains last much longer with regular use but choose solvents carefully.

[P-Jay]

I've used a park one (very good, quite expensive, but the plastic hardens and breaks after a while, ay 12 months) and the type that attach to the top of a can of aerosol de-greaser (generally break as the aerosol runs out) and they all do a top job of cleaning off the gunk and grease from chains. They even shift the Chain-L No5 I use which is the stickiest lube I've used by miles.

Personally I wouldn't soak a chain in degreaser, it works itself into the tightest nooks and crannies that even if you soaked the chain in lube afterwards, (Lube being much thicker) it'll never get back into.

You can get similar results with some white spirit in a spray bottle and a brush, works wonders on cassettes to.

[shalmaneser]

Best technique in my experience is to remove the chain from the bike, drop into an old water bottle and fill with some petrol. give it a good shake to get the petrol in all the nooks and crannies and pour the whole lot out, rinse the chain in water and hey presto! Fully degreased.

re lube with a blob of finishline wet lube in each roller and you're good to go.

Done regularly this will keep your chain in tip top condition.

[blackburn]

Some interesting posts - thanks. Opinion appears to be divided...

[lingus75]

Chain off, put in a 2 or 4 pint empty milk carton and put a couple of inches of parrafin in. Lid on shake about and leave for 5 minutes, another shake and hey presto shiny chain.

Also, re-use the parrafin by pouring back into another container through some cotton and its ready to use again (if your a pikey like me )

[BOR]

shalmaneser said:

Best technique in my experience is to remove the chain from the bike, drop into an old water bottle and fill with some petrol.

I use this method. I don't rinse in water as I assume the petrol rapidly evaporates off.

I subsequently lube the chain by lowering it into a bottle of lubricant(Rock 'N Roll Extreme) then wiping off excess. Seems very effective.

[Hard-Drive]

I've got a Lifeline one, and TBH I find it a bit of a PITA. Quite messy, the chain drips all over the bike, and it ends up working like a bit of a hand-held derailleur and jumping the chain.

If I want to do a really proper job I use an old roasting tin and a 50:50 mix of diesel and petrol...however the old water bottle idea looks like a much better bet.

[shalmaneser]

BOR said:

shalmaneser said:

Best technique in my experience is to remove the chain from the bike, drop into an old water bottle and fill with some petrol.

I use this method. I don't rinse in water as I assume the petrol rapidly evaporates off.

I subsequently lube the chain by lowering it into a bottle of lubricant(Rock 'N Roll Extreme) then wiping off excess. Seems very effective.

I might be wrong but i find that the petrol evaporates leaving some crud behind, the water washes it all away.

although, tbh it's not the most critical step!

[DrMekon]

lingus75 said:

Chain off, put in a 2 or 4 pint empty milk carton and put a couple of inches of parrafin in. Lid on shake about and leave for 5 minutes, another shake and hey presto shiny chain.

Also, re-use the parrafin by pouring back into another container through some cotton and its ready to use again (if your a pikey like me )

I do the same using white spirit. Leave it to dry then a big dose of Finishline Wet. Cassette and chainset get a wipe down whilst the chain is off.

[R500POP]

I have a bath type cleaner, I use Tesco Daisey APC in it 1:1 mix with water, chep, and very effective. Once the chain is cleen I refill with water & repeate until the water is bubble free.

[R.P.M]

As above. Best technique is to pop the chain off (powerlink) and drop into a 1 ltr paint tin filled with paint thinners. Give it a good shake, fish out, then hang to to dry. Then re-oil over the next couple of days, to ensure the pins are fully coated.

[R500POP]

R.P.M said:

As above. Best technique is to pop the chain off (powerlink) and drop into a 1 ltr paint tin filled with paint thinners. Give it a good shake, fish out, then hang to to dry. Then re-oil over the next couple of days, to ensure the pins are fully coated.

So every time you clean your chain you split a link???? REALLY?

[Parrot of Doom]

R500POP said:

R.P.M said:

As above. Best technique is to pop the chain off (powerlink) and drop into a 1 ltr paint tin filled with paint thinners. Give it a good shake, fish out, then hang to to dry. Then re-oil over the next couple of days, to ensure the pins are fully coated.

So every time you clean your chain you split a link???? REALLY?

You obviously missed "powerlink".

[zebedee]

I have never, ever been able to undo a powerlink despite reading top tips and how easy it apparently is! Great for putting new chains on, but a total PITA for maintenance as far as I am concerned. Have used a Park tools one for about 4 years, so am surprised someone said it only lasted a year before becoming brittle. I need to cut a new bit of sponge for the exit gate to it though. I just put a good squirt of washing up liquid in, top up with water, and then rinse off until no more bubbles, then let it dry and re-lube. Never broke or rusted a chain in 4000 miles this year, though have had to replace through the inevitable stretching