http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Cleaning chains en Thu, 02 Jul 2026 08:28:01 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620&page=2#post-103837 Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:29:43 +0000 Blueth 103837@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Tom</p> <p>(a)If you don't have an Approved container with which to purchase it perhaps a kind neighbour will allow you to syphon some from their car - don't sook too hard.</p> <p>(b) You don't, consider it as timber treatment. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620&page=2#post-103629 Sun, 10 Mar 2013 23:52:47 +0000 Cyclingmollie 103629@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Blueth: "in a jar of diesel"</p> <p>Sounds good but (a) how do you get a jar of diesel and (b) if you're a klutz like me how do you clean it up off the floor of the shed when you spill it? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620&page=2#post-103600 Sun, 10 Mar 2013 19:38:07 +0000 Blueth 103600@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I use QD links so just remove chains and swill them round in a jar of diesel before allowing to drip dry. Cleans well and leaves an oily residue. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620&page=2#post-103405 Fri, 08 Mar 2013 17:20:52 +0000 Charterhall 103405@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>So now chain oil needs to be pH balanced ? Like moisturiser ? I'll look forward to the new bike range from Lancome. I expect the Rapha shop will have some available. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620&page=2#post-103392 Fri, 08 Mar 2013 15:55:09 +0000 Coxy 103392@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>But Sheldon says "No"!</p> <p>"Household" oil, such as 3 in 1, is a vegetable oil and is acidic. It tends to gum up. (It's really bad news inside internal hub gears, too...) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620&page=2#post-103389 Fri, 08 Mar 2013 15:35:08 +0000 Charterhall 103389@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>May I suggest that the real reasons were that he was able to make more profit on other products ? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620&page=2#post-103388 Fri, 08 Mar 2013 15:09:06 +0000 cb 103388@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Inspired by this thread I gave my chain a liberal dose of 3-in-1 this evening. Am I the only one still using such an unfashionable product ?"</p> <p>Years ago I was told by someone in a bike shop not to use 3in1 on a bike and since then I never have.</p> <p>I think it was probably the guy in Quality Cycles in D'Mains. Must have been well over 20 years ago. I can't really remember the reasons (wrong viscosity or something?), no idea if he was right or not. It's funny how something sticks with you though, so I have always shunned 3-in-1 since then. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620&page=2#post-103382 Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:40:25 +0000 Charterhall 103382@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There must be the odd engineering student in our midst ? An undergraduate research project perhaps ? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620&page=2#post-103356 Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:55:09 +0000 Cyclingmollie 103356@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Charterhall, I've seen every chain cleaning and lubing method mentioned in this thread (and others*) including my own described as the best and the worst approach at some time. You may well be right. But until there's some research we'll all probably stick to what we think is best. </p> <p>*chain-saw oil, car engine oil, three chain rotation, cooking in paraffin wax, GT85 as a lube. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620&page=2#post-103330 Fri, 08 Mar 2013 08:02:47 +0000 Charterhall 103330@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If a revenue-hungry bike shop advises you to buy a degreaser to clean the chain followed by a can of Wd-40 to displace the water followed by a bottle of expensive lube to replace the lube now removed, are they doing you a favour or are they looking to sell your more stuff ? The best outcome for them would be that the products they sell would actually maximise chain wear cos then they can sell you a new chain and new cassette and new chain rings on a frequent basis as well. Is there a game of bluff and double bluff going on here ? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620&page=2#post-103319 Thu, 07 Mar 2013 22:56:53 +0000 kaputnik 103319@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Cleaned chain today (my only-oil &amp; rags, no-degreaser way) and also cleaned and re-greased the rear hub. Like a whole new bike!</p> <p>I guess there's no one "right" way to clean a chain but there are plenty of wrong ways! If it doesn't kill the chain and you're happy with it and it works for you, then go for it. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620&page=2#post-103317 Thu, 07 Mar 2013 22:39:53 +0000 Nelly 103317@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"WD 40 is a very light oil"</p> <p>You really dont want wd40 near your bike chain.......its a solvent </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620&page=2#post-103311 Thu, 07 Mar 2013 20:59:28 +0000 gembo 103311@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The rain today reminded me that it is the rusty chain that is the worst, not wet on way home need to take some rags impregnated withnGT85 to work </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620&page=2#post-103261 Thu, 07 Mar 2013 14:28:25 +0000 Bruce 103261@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have been using the bike medicine degreaser, seems to work pretty well. </p> <p><a href="http://www.hubjub.co.uk/store/index.php/cleaning-products" rel="nofollow">http://www.hubjub.co.uk/store/index.php/cleaning-products</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620&page=2#post-103231 Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:10:38 +0000 Instography 103231@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>No Scottoilers? I was given one to try out but I haven't got round to fitting it on the bike. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620&page=2#post-103221 Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:44:38 +0000 amir 103221@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Not cleaning your chain to save factory lubricants smacks of a convenient urban myth to get you out of a potentially mucky task! "</p> <p>You may be correct (judging by the rusty chains I see in the bike shed) but you really don't need to use a degreaser to clean the chain unless perhaps you are off-roading. I do happen to use a degreaser on occasion but to clean other parts of the bike. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620#post-103205 Thu, 07 Mar 2013 10:35:21 +0000 remberbuck 103205@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Not cleaning your chain to save factory lubricants smacks of a convenient urban myth to get you out of a potentially mucky task! I'd think that the greasy grimy grey mess you pick up on your chain in winter would do a very effective job of stripping any lubricant. </p> <p>Bike cleaning machines are great - I've been through loads - and by making the job easy they make it easy for you to do the job. Quick five mineute, chain still in place, wash off, leave overnight to dry out properly - hairdryer if you're really desperate to get going again - and relube before setting off. If you're worried about the degreaser doing things it shouldn't, then just dilute it and compensate by some extra turns of the cranks. </p> <p>If you don't like the chemicals Green Oils do an organic version that you just drip onto the chain and rotate the cranks - no machine needed. Very simple, but not as penetrative as the brushes on the machine.</p> <p>(WD 40 is a very light oil so you might find it washing off on days ... like today). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620#post-103181 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 22:17:45 +0000 Nelly 103181@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Said it before, the crunching noises are not necessarily your chain, more like junk in jockeys etc. </p> <p>My singlespeed is at least 5 weeks @ 60 miles / week since a wash - silent as the grave tonight on way home. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620#post-103179 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 21:53:33 +0000 Charterhall 103179@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Inspired by this thread I gave my chain a liberal dose of 3-in-1 this evening. Am I the only one still using such an unfashionable product ? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620#post-103054 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 14:12:40 +0000 neddie 103054@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I would recommend a 3-speed or 8-speed hub. Saves the knees and the chain will take a lot more abuse/only need cleaning once every 2 months. Not for everyone though, I agree </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620#post-103043 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 13:48:35 +0000 Cyclingmollie 103043@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There's a lot of contradictory advice. I agree PS that wax lube is best. The chain never needs washed as the dirt just slews off. But it's not good in rain. </p> <p>I used a chain cleaning machine for years until I read an article that made it sound like a bad thing. It strips the internal lube and drips degreaser into the jockey wheels.</p> <p>Now I wipe with a rag to get the worst off, use cheap oil to flush the remaining dirt out, leave it overnight and then apply decent oil and wipe. I'm told that surface oil has no value; all the important lube is within the rollers. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620#post-102987 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 09:24:30 +0000 TractorFactory 102987@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I was thinking about the whole don't or rarely clean the chain above and was considering the implications. It does sound sensible to not clean out the manufacturer's lubricate which you can feel on a new chain as being very good.</p> <p>But I find myself thinking about the other neighbouring parts which chain dirt can affect. The dirt and dust on a chain could quite easily help errode and lessen the life of the front chain rings and rear cassette and I always find that on a Friday after a weeks commute that my chain system is a lot more gritty and grinding sounding that it is on the Monday after my weekend chain spruce.</p> <p>My chain spruce entails cleaning the chain and sprockets with just washing up liquid in warm water. Drying off with rag, GT85 right along the chain to loosen dirt and expel water, Dry off. Then a drop of oil in each link along the chain using the powerlink as start and finish, spin a couple of times to work it in, then again dry off. Gets the chain feeling nice and smooth for the Monday. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620#post-102976 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 23:37:43 +0000 Kenny 102976@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em> Do these sort of cleaning tools really work? </em></p> <p>Yes, they do. I have one and I find it marvellous, the chain comes out looking amazing, indeed I used it last weekend when the chain sounded like it was a pile of rusted crap, and it came out functioning beautifully and silently again.</p> <p>The resultant liquid left behind is similar to that what is in the Vax when taken over our living room carpet after all my daughters and dogs have given it some standard abuse. Once it's clean, wipe it off, lube it up and you're ready to go. Best bit is you don't need to take the chain off - you attach the device to the chain and turn your cranks backwards to drag the chain through the device. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620#post-102964 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 20:52:42 +0000 gembo 102964@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@eddie h - rag soaked in GT85/WD40 good call, otherwise the GT85 might get inside the chain and strip the lubricant too? I have a very cheap chain cleaning tool from Aldi that I like to think is so bad that it only cleans the surface gunk. I have used wax stuff, dry lube, wet lube, oil rags, the pipe from a can of GT85/WD40 to poke out the mud. I have never used paraffin and a toothbrush, nor have I resorted to a hairdryer </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620#post-102943 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 16:50:20 +0000 PS 102943@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@DaveC TBH I can't remember what it's called. Got it from The Bike Chain. </p> <p>You skoosh it on while turning the cranks, then wipe it off with a cloth. It claims to take a lot of the dirt out of the chain (which I can believe on the basis of the colour of the stuff that gets wiped off). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620#post-102941 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 16:42:34 +0000 EddieD 102941@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I used to use two chains - one in use for a week, the other immersed for the first day in white spirit (the sheldon shake), then hung up to dry for a day, then left for two days in a thick (warmed) lube, then hung up to dry, and then wiped clean, and then reattached to the bike.</p> <p>After I moved to 10speed chains, and one shot (3.99) links, I adopted the strategy of wiping the chain of an eveing with an oily rag, and once a week wiping with a GT85 soaked cloth and new layer of finish line. The chains seem to last the same amount of time :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620#post-102927 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:42:57 +0000 DaveC 102927@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>PS typed "I've been using the wax-based lubricants for a few years now"</p> <p>Oh what do you use??</p> <p>Do you use the Karate kid method?? Wax on, wax off??</p> <p>I have worn through one chain and cassette in a year and a half since I bought my Cotic, with my usual cleaning regime. I bought replacements for ~£26, which for a years commuting, I don't regard as steep. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620#post-102926 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:25:57 +0000 Nelly 102926@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think it all depends - if you are CX or MTBing, mud will compromise gears etc so a deep clean 'might' be required - but woudl rather have a slightly dirty chain than one stripped of lube.</p> <p>I also think its different for a geared and non-geared bikes.</p> <p>I virtually never clean the Single Speed commuter chain - might occasionally clean off the salty gunk when the bike gets cleaned and if it looks a bit dry, drip some chain lube on the links.</p> <p>Would be useful to get a pro-bike mechanics view on chain cleaning. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620#post-102924 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:10:45 +0000 wingpig 102924@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>On the two occasions in the past year when I've found myself with a really manky chain and a spare half-hour when there were no other maintenance or household tasks to perform I went along the chain poking the gunk out of the inside with a cocktail stick or wooden food-skewer, wiping the fished-out gunge off onto a baby wipe. Also works for getting the gunge off the sides of the jockey wheels and off the teeth of the chainring where they hide behind the crank spider. I'd rather have a heavily-gunged chain than a rusty chain, so generally go for what would be seen as excessive lubing by people with opinions on excessive lubing, particularly if it looks like heavy rain. This greater stickiness does result in greater pickup of NEPN-leafmulch and roadfilth but does prevent embarrassing orange oxidations, which can occur even on a nickel-plated SRAM in my experience. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9620#post-102919 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:52:09 +0000 PS 102919@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've been using the wax-based lubricants for a few years now - they seem to keep the chain "cleaner" than oil (the inner calf chainring tattoo isn't quite so obvious with it, anyway). </p>