Chain cleaner

agnes · 13 Dec 2013 at 09:47

Argh! I forgot how much commuting ruins everything on a bike lol. I'm having to adjust/clean my chain every weekend it seems. Last weekend I just went at it with WD40 and then sprayed on my chain wax once I was happy. However, I don't think that's cutting it.

Any suggestions? I need something that will cut through thick grease and crap.

Thanks!

wazza300 · 13 Dec 2013 at 11:32

some paraffin or petrol in a container and an old brush

Fireskull · 13 Dec 2013 at 11:39

Just use brake cleaner in the cans, cheaper usually than chain cleaner but its the same thing they just like to charge more

I use that along side one of these: http://www.getgeared.co.uk/KETTENMA...utm_medium=shopping_feed_uk&utm_source=google

agnes · 13 Dec 2013 at 11:48

Fireskull said:
Just use brake cleaner in the cans, cheaper usually than chain cleaner but its the same thing they just like to charge more

I use that along side one of these: http://www.getgeared.co.uk/KETTENMA...utm_medium=shopping_feed_uk&utm_source=google

Do those things actually work? I really can't see it working lol, looks cheap and tacky to me!

Fireskull · 13 Dec 2013 at 11:57

Yep they really work, cleans my chain up perfectly

Dogbreath · 13 Dec 2013 at 12:21

Clean the chain and fit a Tutoro automatic oiler and you then have one less messy job to do on your bike.

agnes · 13 Dec 2013 at 13:45

Fireskull said:
Yep they really work, cleans my chain up perfectly

Doesn't it leave like one half of the chain un touched as all the bristles will be swept backwards? Unless you push forward and back along the chain and do it like that?

Worth the investment? What cleaner do you use with it?

Fireskull · 13 Dec 2013 at 14:05

Never tried it, don't the inner links spin? never checked lol, but never noticed any dirt left so must be working, the bristles are pretty long so I guess they clean one side over the top then down the back, and the bottom ones will catch the underneath.

Worth the investment if you don't mind a bit of a faff once a month, it really does clean my chain well, usually only have to do this a few times during the summer, in winter usually once a month and just use cleaner direct every weekend.

Nothing special either Hein Gericke or Halfords brake cleaner.

agnes · 13 Dec 2013 at 14:16

Sweet, stopping by a bike shop on the way home, think they have them in stock. Will give it a shot tomorrow

I will post results

I'm very anal about my chain lol

m4rkw7 · 14 Dec 2013 at 15:33

Petrol is a good cleaner, just use a bit with a chain brush then a cloth.

Tefal · 15 Dec 2013 at 22:27

i used muc off chain cleaner worked great, sprayed it on put it o nthe stand an spun nmthe back wheel while holding a spong around the chain, sponge is now black chain is now silver lol

PieEater · 16 Dec 2013 at 06:00

I'd personally not use petrol as it doesn't get on well with rubber so it may effect the O rings. Most manuals recommend paraffin and a brush but I've always used the spray cans of brake / chain cleaner with good results.

kitfit1 · 16 Dec 2013 at 20:37

PieEater said:
I'd personally not use petrol as it doesn't get on well with rubber so it may effect the O rings. Most manuals recommend paraffin and a brush but I've always used the spray cans of brake / chain cleaner with good results.

Spot on. Unfortunately for Agnes, he may well have done his chain a lot of damage already. WD40 attacks and slowly destroys the O-rings in a chain. Even some branded chain cleaning liquids do. A chain with O-rings or X-rings should only ever be cleaned with a chain cleaner that says it's suitable, or Paraffin.
Nearly everything else should be avoided like the plague.

MADMAN69UK · 16 Dec 2013 at 22:00

I'm a paraffin user. That and an old toothbrush

Normally get a big tub from B&Q for a few squids, and that'll last me a year or two. One of the only places that still deliver if you order off the interwebs too

agnes · 17 Dec 2013 at 09:40

MADMAN69UK said:
I'm a paraffin user. That and an old toothbrush

Normally get a big tub from B&Q for a few squids, and that'll last me a year or two. One of the only places that still deliver if you order off the interwebs too

How do you apply it to the chain? Use a spray bottle or just a rag?

I might pick some up, the can of chain cleaner I picked up for the weekend just gone, was all used in one sitting... £6.50 down the drain, did an 'ok' job.

wazza300 · 17 Dec 2013 at 11:20

ive never had any issues with petrol either

get a small plastic container,like a microwave meal container and hold it under the chain,then dip your old paint brush in and scrub away

think petrol stations sell containers of paraffin aswell

MADMAN69UK · 17 Dec 2013 at 14:23

agnes said:
How do you apply it to the chain? Use a spray bottle or just a rag?

I might pick some up, the can of chain cleaner I picked up for the weekend just gone, was all used in one sitting... £6.50 down the drain, did an 'ok' job.

I tip some into a bowl, place the bowl under the rear sprocket to catch drips, then just keep dipping my toothbrush while scrubbing

agnes · 17 Dec 2013 at 14:28

MADMAN69UK said:
I tip some into a bowl, place the bowl under the rear sprocket to catch drips, then just keep dipping my toothbrush while scrubbing

Makes sense.

My 748S, I rode all year, commuting, I used to clean it using WD40 and a brush. But it was never really that great and I only ever used Wurth Dry chain lube, so had to clean the chain weekly. The 1098S, cleaned weekly as well, unless I didn't ride it.

The multi... Seeing as I really bought it for a commuting/touring bike, I don't want to spend every waking minute at the weekends cleaning it and making sure it isn't going to throw a hissy fit because I left a bit of grit. So I'm really looking for the most effective solution for cleaning and then lube. I'm very happy with the WD40 chain wax, it does fling a bit. But I'd rather that than no protection.

MADMAN69UK · 17 Dec 2013 at 22:29

Yeah, I think if I used the bike in all weathers I'd be sticking something like one of them there Scottoilers on it. Keeps the chain healthy and well lubed, albeit a bit mucky. Wouldn't need to clean it as often as with a dry lubed chain I don't think.

I use the Wurth Dry lube myself. It didn't perform very well during our 5/6 wet day Scotland tour this year though.

agnes · 18 Dec 2013 at 08:51

Yea, Wurth dry chain lube is amazing, but you have to reapply every few hundred miles, even sooner if it rains

Great for track bikes though.