Road Cycling - Does this look clean enough?

I decided it was time to clean my chain. I bought some White Lightning and went to work. I first used some orange degeaser to get the crap off. That seemed ok, but it didn't really take care of it like I would have wished. (This is all being done while the chain is on the bike) Then I brushed and wiped and rinsed and dried. It just didn't seem like all the grit was going away. I was getting tired so I decided to apply the lube. I used alot and that seemed to get rid of even more black junk. Anyway, the only thing I liked about the whole experience was the smell of the lube. (Is that weird?) Does it look clean enough? Does it ever really get super clean?

Ok, the tiny images I had to use didn't exactly give the effect I was looking for. Check this out for detailed pics.

http://home.mn.rr.com/wisnim01/images/gear%20002.jpg

http://home.mn.rr.com/wisnim01/images/gear%20005.jpg

I love the look of a spanking clean drivetrain!!

So where's the problem. That's clean.

Well, I'm not sure. If that is clean enough, then you are saying that the little pieces of sand and little bits of black junk are ok on the chain. This is my first time cleaning my chain and I wanted to know how clean people get them, what is acceptable, you know?

You missed a speck.

Originally posted by princebaal
Well, I'm not sure. If that is clean enough, then you are saying that the little pieces of sand and little bits of black junk are ok on the chain. This is my first time cleaning my chain and I wanted to know how clean people get them, what is acceptable, you know?

it's clean enough for government work... unless you take off the whole cluster and clean each cog individually you probably will never get everything off a drivetrain...

Originally posted by shokhead
You missed a speck.

Darn, you beat me to it.

Anyways, I usually get mine pretty clean, but not that clean. Good job.

If you use a wax based lube, the only way to get the stuff off is really hot water and a scrub brush. Remember tho, the parts that really needs lube are the interfaces between the plates and the pins and rollers. Cleaning the outside is mostly for looks and some for keeping the cogs and chainrings from wearing.
Down with White lightning, up with Tri flow, seriously Triflow is a great lube and washes off with Dawn and water.

Dude,
You COULD get a scanning electron microscope image that would be ALMOST as closeup as those linked pics you got.

That's pretty clean.

Ok, I guess I am just freaking out. From the few replies here I guess I did ok. If I would not have asked and got feedback, I would have bought a chain tool and taken the thing off and started over. It just doesn't seem like there should be sand and crap in there still. I will ride tomorrow and see if it stopped being loud.

Ahh..........I love the smell of clean chain in the morning..........smells like.......

....VICTORY!

Dude...what did you take the cassette photos with...a Nikon with 105 micro and bellows with ring lights??? My God, that is the best pictures of a cassette in use with a digital that I've ever seen.

BTW, saw the Cannondale rep at my LBS yesterday..he's sending me some of that special Blood Red touch up paint for the R800..email me if you need some :D

It is easy to get a cassette/chain clean, and I mean spotless. The important part is that the chain MUST be removed, the cassette also. Drop both into a liquid de-greaser bath and clean with an old toothbrush. Dry off and repeat the process for the chain. I only do this once a year. I use a SRAM chain as they are removable. It will shine like new.

CHEERS.


Mark

My first thought was: You're missing a gear! Then I remembered not everyone rides Campy :)

Hehe, the pictures were taken with an old Fuji 2.1 megapixel camera in macro mode. Nothing special. And heck yeah, some touch up paint would be cool. I am assuming that after time my frame will get nicked and the paint will need touching up?

Your hubshell is dirty. So is mine. i can never seem to get it clean! dang spokes!