Best stuff for getting oil off chain ?

Minusorange · 8 Mar 2018 at 16:49

Trying to give my bike a clean but everytime I clean near the chain I'm somehow managing to smudge the black oil onto the white paint and it's ******* me off as my bike is looking less clean than before I began.

Preferably stuff that's safe to use on the frame to get rid of the new smudges too, I'm thinking to take the whole chain set off so I can clean the frame properly, clean the chain set then put it all back together fresh and clean or is this a bad idea ?

Bear · 8 Mar 2018 at 18:07

Depends if you want good solvent type degreaser or a friendly citrus cleaner. Both work well. I use the Park Tools citrus cleaner and chain cleaning tool and it works really well

Minusorange · 8 Mar 2018 at 18:59

I'll have a look for a citrus cleaner then as I'd rather avoid the solvents with them not being bio friendly seen people suggest this stuff https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-heavy-duty-degreaser-5ltr/88668 doesn't say whether it's citrus based or solvent though

Bear · 8 Mar 2018 at 21:11

Minusorange said:
I'll have a look for a citrus cleaner then as I'd rather avoid the solvents with them not being bio friendly seen people suggest this stuff https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-heavy-duty-degreaser-5ltr/88668 doesn't say whether it's citrus based or solvent though

You can see what’s in it in the COSHH sheet under specification. Whatever is in it is nasty, warning that it is seriously damaging to eyes, don’t let it reach water course or the sewage system :eek:

Minusorange · 8 Mar 2018 at 21:39

Bear said:
You can see what’s in it in the COSHH sheet under specification. Whatever is in it is nasty, warning that it is seriously damaging to eyes, don’t let it reach water course or the sewage system

None of them are toxic though, I just googled the ingredients they are found in household detergents, laundry detergent, shampoo, beauty cosmetics and strangely.... chicken nuggets, cat food and toothpaste so I'm assuming it's safe to wash down the drain, just not splash in my eyes or drink

Steedie · 8 Mar 2018 at 21:40

I've always used Morgan Blue Degreaser, not cheap but always does an awesome job

Saytan · 8 Mar 2018 at 22:14

10 miles in torrential rain.

Roady · 9 Mar 2018 at 11:29

Or the tears from multiple long turbo sessions.

Seriously though, the Lifeline stuff is pretty good and ok priced for a small quantity (only 1 bike/isolated cleaning?).

I'm using a cheaper & weaker non-cycling branded/specific stuff but only for the volumes I get through regularly cleaning 2-3 bikes. YMMV

BennyC · 9 Mar 2018 at 13:16

Steedie said:
I've always used Morgan Blue Degreaser, not cheap but always does an awesome job

I use this too on occasion for really stubborn stuff. Works a treat and you don't need to use much.

Minusorange · 9 Mar 2018 at 17:41

Cheers for the responses, ended up going with https://www.screwfix.com/p/swarfega-oil-grease-remover-5ltr/20817 will post how it worked tomorrow when I use it, hopefully it'll do the job

bloodiedathame · 9 Mar 2018 at 17:43

Minusorange said:
Cheers for the responses, ended up going with https://www.screwfix.com/p/swarfega-oil-grease-remover-5ltr/20817 will post how it worked tomorrow when I use it, hopefully it'll do the job

I've used this on my chain in a parktool style chain cleaner. I'm always careful to wash it off immediately as it's strong stuff. Might be worth diluting it.

jpaul · 10 Mar 2018 at 00:01

I've posted on the swarfega before https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/posts/30517939, it has salt,
as bloodied said, it's strong, I use it w/gloves diluted with boiling/kettle water for the chain and other removable components, which I can rinse thoroughly,
negligible foam if you want to use it on 'whole' bike.
(would also like to try a cheap ultrasonic bath too and see how that might help)

Minusorange · 10 Mar 2018 at 01:23

Got an empty coffee jar I was going to use for holding it so I'll mix with some water, also bought a box latex gloves and a paintbrush to get it on as I don't fancy spraying/splashing it everywhere if it's only the chain set I want degreasing and the little part of frame/bottle holder I've managed to coat in oily residue from trying to clean without degreaser :confused:

Never knew cleaning a bike would require such research though, always in the past a rinse with soapy water seemed good enough but that was only for £100 cheapo bikes so didn't really care as much I do my more expensive one just got to hope the rain holds off long enough for me to get the chain sorted

Minusorange · 10 Mar 2018 at 21:50

Well the Swarfega stuff worked a charm, started off with diluted but ended up just using it neat as the gears needed it, now got a completely clean chain and gears, only thing I was missing was a crank removal tool so I could get at the part of the frame covered by the crank which is the most oily/dirty so I'll have to come back to that Monday when my tools arrive.

It's certainly been a great learning experience

bloodiedathame · 10 Mar 2018 at 21:56

Bear said:
You can see what’s in it in the COSHH sheet under specification. Whatever is in it is nasty, warning that it is seriously damaging to eyes, don’t let it reach water course or the sewage system

It's water based and biodegradable...

jpaul · 11 Mar 2018 at 11:33

gears - you mean rear block / chainwheels - what utensil did you apply it with ?

It's water based and biodegradable...

well - I would not put it on my breakfast cereal

General notes: Do not allow product to reach ground water, water course or sewage system. Danger to drinking water if even small quantities leak into the ground. In accordance with the requirements of the RVO in the Act on Detergents and Cleansing Agents, tensides are biodegradable up to at least 90 %
Recommendation Small amounts may be diluted with plenty of water and washed away. Dispose of bigger amounts in accordance with Local Authority requirements. Smaller quantities can be disposed of with household waste.

mattyfez · 11 Mar 2018 at 12:37

When the chain gets to the point its covered in black muck it needs cleaning and re lubing, or even just a wipe down to get the black muck off, as dirty lube on the outside of the chain serves no purpose.

So clean your chain up before washing the bike, just make it part of the washing schedule, if you keep on top of it it'll never get too bad, and will be quicker.

Minusorange · 11 Mar 2018 at 14:02

jpaul said:
gears - you mean rear block / chainwheels - what utensil did you apply it with ?

The whole drivetrain, I've always called the cassette and crankset gears though, used a paintbrush to put the degreaser on

jpaul · 12 Mar 2018 at 10:07

I have only used the degreaser on individual disassembled components, and, so far, have not used it on still mounted chain rings/sprockets for fear of getting some in the vicinity of the bottom bracket/frewheel bearing or even chain ring bolts, where alkinlinity might cause sticking/corrosion.

Currently use old bottle of shampoo and a muc-off sponge(1st dedicated sponge I ever bought) on 'whole' bike.

mattyfez · 12 Mar 2018 at 13:31

If you keep the chain reasonably clean and lubed, you'll never really need to clean the cassette /chain rings aside from a simple wipe down if it's gotten muddy.