Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Almost ruined my chain!

Since there are so many threads about getting rid of chain noise I thought I would post a funny story about that.
Some folks recommend cleaning the drivetrain to get rid of noise. I sometimes ride on gravely and dusty bike trails, so I thought I would give the 2L Coke bottle method (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chains.html#cleaning)a try. This is where you remove your chain, put it in a 2L bottle, squirt in some solvent and shake. Afterwords you rinse the hell out of your clean, yet differently toxic chain.

I did this and then found this as I tried to put my chain back on.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3335/3221446977_0585d9afc5.jpg
See the missing bushing? I almost didn't and would have ruined the hell out of my chain and possibly my entire drivetrain.
The *******s get loose and then fall down your disgustingly infectus and slime filled drain.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3401/3222298744_c6a120f4be_m.jpg
There the ******* sits, with its watery grave in the background. I spent about 1 1/2 hours looking for the POS tonight.

Cleaning the chain this way does get things clean, but taught me much more about the difference between mulched lentils, coffee beans and steel bushings. Be careful when you try this method. It gets gross!

Sounds like you got real lucky noticing that small detail. Did you put the bike back together and did the cleaning reduce the noise? I might try it if it works out for you. What solvent did you use, and will it affect the color(s) of the KMC chains?

use an organic degreaser
like pedro's oranj peelz or bio cleaner
or el duke's degreaser.

or even simple green.

My chain makes noise after two weeks of riding, usually. I clean the drive train with a rag and soapy water, and then lube it after. It's stealth for almost two weeks afterwards.

I use Pedros Orange solvent. The BioClean stuff might be less harsh. My chain isn't colored, but my chainring is. I saw no change in the chainring, but it wasn't dunked. I'm thinking about getting a colored chain as well, so if someone knows about solvents messing things up, I'd also like to hear about it.

Once the oil had time to get back into the chain it was substantially quieter.

a little simple green goes a long way.

el duke.

pedros citrus degreaser is what we use at the shop. that and biocleaner. good stuff.

spend the 20 bucks and buy the park chain cleaner tool. It works real good and it beats the hassle of breaking the chain in order to get it off the bike every time.