Mountain Biking - Chain Cleaning without removing chain....

Yes I have done a search, and I did get some information....but not exactly what i wanted:

1....how do I clean the chain down without removing it?
2....what stuff should I give it a clean with?
3....how should I re-lube it?

Thx for any help, I'm starting to seroiusly get back in the sport and just wanted to learn some basic skills.

Yes I have done a search, and I did get some information....but not exactly what i wanted:

1....how do I clean the chain down without removing it?
2....what stuff should I give it a clean with?
3....how should I re-lube it?

Thx for any help, I'm starting to seroiusly get back in the sport and just wanted to learn some basic skills.

Buy a Chaincleaning Tool from your LBS.
Many degreasers on the Market, that are suitable, once again your LBS will advise. In the UK we have a product called Muck-off that is a general bike cleaner that also is used in the Chaincleaners.
Before re-lubing, wash off the chain to get rid of the cleaner, Spray with a light water repellant oil to get rid of the water,(WD40 etc.) and relube as normal.

Dead easy, but Do it after all rides, not only after you think it is dirty.

Well my usual method is a cloth, soap and water. For a deeper clean I use a toothbrush. When I got the cash I got this (http://www.parktool.com/tools/CM_5.shtml) and then when clean you dry and then add lube.

Relube is even easier, just take the bottle, pedal the bike (with your hand) and put a little lub on it for one full rotation :)

Works for me every time.

After all rides...holy crap that would suck. I am pretty lazy I do it after every 4 or 5, unless otherwise muddy as crap.

I didn't want to buy the chain cleaning kit..... but yeh i would plan to scrub it down.

What is there to use besides soap and water?... Any stronger chemicals that would do the job better?

If you want stronger use stepfams instructions. Many industrial and/or environmental available. I used some citris one for a bit before I realized soap and water worked fine. I find most cleaning agents part of the cycling hype for $$$$. Lube is about the only cycling specific thing I buy. As soon as it become 'cycling' cleaner its more expensive. :)

A good degrease you can buy from an auto shop would likely work well and be cheaper than any cycling product :)

Thanks, also for re-lubing..... someone recommended to get an old sock or cloth, put some lube on it, and rube that along the chain... i've done the back pedaling and putting lub in link thing, but the lube alwasy seems to get all over my legs after a long ride. ......

which way do you think is better?

My chains pretty dirty aswell, i've been thinking of getting a chain cleaning kit and easily doing it after each ride. But I guess I need to give my chain a good scrub down aswell.

Simple Green is pretty cheap and works extremely well. I cut it about 50/50 with water when I clean my MTB chain although I do remove the chain from my bike for cleaning. However, you use it in a chain cleaning machine too or via the toothbrush method if you wish. Remember to rinse the chain really well before relubing because Simple Green is a detergent and if any of it is left on, the lube won't take. Oh and BTW, you'll eventually get used to the smell. ;)

The BEST way is to take it off the bike and use the following instructions

You'll need a few things.
A SRAM power link (makes chain removal a snap)
A plastic container (I'm partial to Country Time Lemonade powder containers but 20 ox Pepsi bottles work well with the wise mouth)
Some degreaser (Simple Green works well as does the dollar store's Awesome Qrange))
A toothbrush (One that you no longer use for your teeth)
Water
A large rag of some kind
Remove the chain place it in the container fill the container 1/2 to 3/4 full of degreser seal and shake for a minute or five. Remove the chain. Use the brush to get any residual gunk off (there won't be much) Rinse the chain using water. Proceed to do a general drying of the chain using the towel (doesn't have to be perfect as you'll let the rest air dry) Reinstall and relube

Reposted from another chain cleaning post
http://img245.echo.cx/img245/9869/search7ro.gif

Raiyn....i have searched the forums...and I have already seen that post...but if you read my post carefully it says WITHOUT removing the chain. Please read my posts more carefully next time.

For the shaking part, I recommend placing the container on top of a running washing machine, dryer or bed in a sleazy motel and letting the vibration do its magic.

To the OP, just curious as to why you don't want to remove the chain. I have found that doing so not only gets you a better cleaning job on the chain but also on the rest of the drivetrain too. It makes things so much simpler and easier.

..I have read all about taking the chain off and shaking it up in degreaser etc...but i dont have a power link right now, so i wanted help of cleaning it while it was on the chain....which I got..

thanks for your replying

..I have read all about taking the chain off and shaking it up in degreaser etc...but i dont have a power link, so i wanted help of cleaning it while it was on the chain....

Okay... but PowerLinks are pretty cheap (under $5) and work with Shimano chains if that's what you have.

Thanks, also for re-lubing..... someone recommended to get an old sock or cloth, put some lube on it, and rube that along the chain... i've done the back pedaling and putting lub in link thing, but the lube alwasy seems to get all over my legs after a long ride. ......

which way do you think is better?

When you do the drip-drop method of lubing your chain, you're still supposed to wipe the excess off. I usually perform a couple of backspins of the crank to drag the chain through a rag after lubing.

...yeh ok. i might look at getting one of those..but i wouldn't know how to put it on?..i'm also thinking that if i give the chain a good clean, i will buy a chain cleaner and use it after each ride...cause its problaby a bit late for a chain cleaner to do its work now.

Raiyn....i have searched the forums...and I have already seen that post...but if you read my post carefully it says WITHOUT removing the chain. Please read my posts more carefully next time.
I did read it carefully. As I said "the BEST way is to....." So watch who you jump on there Sparky.
Putting them on is easy. Hell they have instructions on the package

I did read it carefully. As I said "the BEST way is to....." So watch who you jump on there Sparky.
Putting them on is easy. Hell they have instructions on the package

Raiyn...i said that because you posted some 'search' animation under your post.....i clearly said at the start of my post that i had searched but not found what i was looking for..i aslo said without taking the chain off..so i'm not sparky, but you need to read posts more carefully.

When you do the drip-drop method of lubing your chain, you're still supposed to wipe the excess off. I usually perform a couple of backspins of the crank to drag the chain through a rag after lubing.

well i think that might have been the problem...the lube hadnt spread out enough...and flicked up on my shins when riding.

Raiyn...i said that because you posted some 'search' animation under your post.....i clearly said at the start of my post that i had searched but not found what i was looking for..i aslo said without taking the chain off..so i'm not sparky, but you need to read posts more carefully.

Dont worry about it, its 4am for Rayin. I'd be like that if I was up that late too. Rayin its past your bedtime, get some sleep! :p.

To the chain cleaning, just use some de-greaser and tooth brush, and give it a good scrub over. The chain cleaning tools would work well. Also try and get a power link, like the others have said, it makes removing a chain so easy.

Raiyn...i said that because you posted some 'search' animation under your post.....i clearly said at the start of my post that i had searched but not found what i was looking for..i aslo said without taking the chain off..so i'm not sparky, but you need to read posts more carefully.
The hell I should.
It's been covered a thousand times- The chain cleaner devices don't really work worth a damn & trying to clean it on the bike with degreaser and a toothbrush is more of a pain in the ass than its honestly worth. The BEST way (as you would have found had you actually READ the threads you claimed to have searched) would be the method I posted above and have re-posted EVERY SINGLE TIME this topic has come up for the last few months. That's right I finally got tired of people not searching or not reading and comprehending when they DID search. I can't help the fact that for some strange reason you have an aversion to breaking your chain to install a Power-Link to make your job easier.

Dont worry about it, its 4am for Rayin. I'd be like that if I was up that late too. Rayin its past your bedtime, get some sleep! :p.

To the chain cleaning, just use some de-greaser and tooth brush, and give it a good scrub over. The chain cleaning tools would work well. Also try and get a power link, like the others have said, it makes removing a chain so easy.
4:30 to be more precise

okok...lets not argue..i will be getting a powerlink...but i just wanted a way to clean my chain within the next 24horus withought getting a power link.....thanks guys for you hlep...thankyou raiyn anyway....

okok...lets not argue..i will be getting a powerlink...but i just wanted a way to clean my chain within the next 24horus withought getting a power link.....thanks guys for you hlep...thankyou raiyn anyway....

Well I think the powerlink idea seems good. I recommend you buy a chain cleaner, then you can easily clean it after each ride.

I bought a bottle of Zep citrus degreaser with a spray trigger. I rotate the chain slowly backwards while spraying the Zep directly onto the chain where it rolls over the cogs. The force of the Zep coming out of the trigger spray was more than enough to loosen the gunk in the chain.

With the gunk loose, I then used my garden hose and sprayed water directly onto the chain at that same point. This flushed everything from between the chain plates and left it perfectly clean. It also did a good job of getting the grime out from between the cogs.

After completely flushing everything, I relubed with White Lightning and it ran like new.

Thread closed as per the mtb48.