Bicycle Mechanics - Chain Cleaning & Maintneance

All knowledgeable cyclists know that THE most important thing in cycling is proper chain cleaning and maintenance...yet, most cyclists neglect this essential task, or use slapdash lazy techniques that are letter better than pure neglect.

Mostly this is due to ignorance. Few cyclists are aware that there is really only ONE RIGHT WAY to care for your all-important chain.

Now, the bicycle scientists of ShelBroCo have codified the PROPER METHOD and offer a complete kit, the:

*********ShelBroCo Bicycle Chain Cleaning System.**********

http://sheldonbrown.com/chainclean

Now you have not excuse for skimping on this most vital aspect of cycling!

Sheldon "The One Right Way" Brown
+---------------------------------------------------+
| "O, don't the days seem lank and long |
| When all goes right and nothing goes wrong, |
| And isn't your life extremely flat |
| With nothing whatever to grumble at!" |
| --W.S. Gilbert |
+---------------------------------------------------+

Hmmm, I got a feeling that the Deakinol tastes like a commonly known mint mouth rinse. While the Shelbroconol has that "mediciny" taste...

I use nothing but the very best: hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide.
Perhaps it is the placebo effect, but sometimes I feel like I fly up hills.

I've seen the light. I'm going to order this kit as soon as I get out of this institution that is my temporary home.

Sheldon, I'm glad to see you've not lost your sense of humor. Do you accept Discover? :D

... Brad

All knowledgeable cyclists know that THE most important thing in cycling is proper chain cleaning and maintenance...yet, most cyclists neglect this essential task, or use slapdash lazy techniques that are letter better than pure neglect.

Mostly this is due to ignorance. Few cyclists are aware that there is really only ONE RIGHT WAY to care for your all-important chain.

Now, the bicycle scientists of ShelBroCo have codified the PROPER METHOD and offer a complete kit, the:

*********ShelBroCo Bicycle Chain Cleaning System.**********

http://sheldonbrown.com/chainclean

Now you have not excuse for skimping on this most vital aspect of cycling!

Sheldon "The One Right Way" Brown
+---------------------------------------------------+
| "O, don't the days seem lank and long |
| When all goes right and nothing goes wrong, |
| And isn't your life extremely flat |
| With nothing whatever to grumble at!" |
| --W.S. Gilbert |
+---------------------------------------------------+

Thanks for finally giving us a definitive link for the much debated chain cleaning issue. Now can you come up with one for Walmart bikes and "Which Bike to Buy?"

If only there was a Campy kit! I'd gladly pay $$$ for that to keep my shiny 10-sp Record chain going strong, especially if the solvents were all specially reformulated with Italian sounding names.

Has anyone attempted DIY solutions, Sheldons prices seem a bit steep.

Has anyone attempted DIY solutions, Sheldons prices seem a bit steep.

You may save using some alternative products but I would definilty not contest Sheldon's advice on taking the chain completly apart! ;-)

I'm calling 'copy cat'!

I've been doing it this way for years. I'm currently running a 20 year old chain, yes I have to peen over the pins as the plate holes are a bit oblong from all that pin removal, but think of the money I've saved on chains!

That's the last time I'll share a secret with you Mr. Sheldon Brown. :lol:

ok. sucked in. gawd. but that is a good one. i needed that for today.

I've been doing it this way for years. I'm currently running a 20 year old chain, yes I have to peen over the pins as the plate holes are a bit oblong from all that pin removal, but think of the money I've saved on chains

That's why I invested in my own machine shop. When the plates and pins become to worn, I manufacture replacements.

I've accumulated quite a pile of scrap metal, I'm currently researching opportunities to operating my own smelter.

That's why I invested in my own machine shop. When the plates and pins become to worn, I manufacture replacements.

I've accumulated quite a pile of scrap metal, I'm currently researching opportunities to operating my own smelter.
I'm not worthy!

I'm not worthy!

I'm also researching options to replace the metal pins with ceramic composites. Cash investment opportunities for those interested in getting in on the ground floor.

Warning

Sheldon neglected to inform you that you must lable each pair of plates and their corrsponding pins and these must be reattached in the correct order and orientation. During the annealing process in the manufacture of chains, each plate is mated to another plate to sensure exact equal dimensions. Each other pair of plates, although being very close in measure, will not be exact. This will result in chain warping and in severe cases will produce a mobius chain.

You had be for a minute. Having witnessed many chain cleaning fights I was expecting another anal chain cleaning lesson.
I agree with unkchunk's recommendation to number the links though, however I am absolutely convinced that you must NOT reassemble in the same sequence, but instead need to count your links then move every other link to the furthest point from it's original position (count total links, divide by 2, then move every other link that many positions back). This is the only way to get the ultimate wear from your chain.
You should also make it a point while riding to count your forward chain revolutions then occasionally pedal backwards one revolution for every 5 forward revolutions to help reset the links.

however I am absolutely convinced that you must NOT reassemble in the same sequence, but instead need to count your links then move every other link to the furthest point from it's original position (count total links, divide by 2, then move every other link that many positions back). This is the only way to get the ultimate wear from your chain.

You, my man, are a genius. I think the key though is to not only move the original position of the link plate, but to also reverse the side and orientation.

I put mine in a gatorade bottle full of brake clean, shook it up for a while, then shook it some more.
When I took the chain out the solution looked pretty much like, Grape Gatorade, sure enough, nephew had ice in it before I know what he was dong.

Gotta keep the kids out.......

I think the key though is to not only move the original position of the link plate, but to also reverse the side and orientation.

No, that's what one must do when crossing the equator. Chains are manufactured for either the northern hemisphere or the southern hemisphere and are not interchangacle due to the coriolis effect. Go to Peru if you don't believe me. There you will see cyclists carring an extra chain so they can switch when they cross the equator. Believe you me it can be a real PITA on those long winding roads that they have down there.

I use nothing but the very best: hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide.
Perhaps it is the placebo effect, but sometimes I feel like I fly up hills.

The Nazis were using this technique in 1944.