Bicycle Mechanics - Cleaning products for drive train?

what do you guys ude to clean your drive train? WD-40?

Also when do you know your chain has to be replaced?

Check this over and see if it helps...
http://spindoctorcyclewerks.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=90

Regards,

Savant

what do you guys ude to clean your drive train? WD-40?

Also when do you know your chain has to be replaced?

For cleaning, go to the autoparts store and buy a can of Brake Cleaner. Its about $2 in a big aerosol can, and is the same exact thing as the $10 half sized can of Clean Streak you will find at most bike shops.

Simplegreen or Purple Power also work well and are more bio-friendly, but require more soaking and rinsing.

For the chain, Park makes a chain gauge tool that snaps in between the links and gauges the wear. It does a fair job and is easy to use. If your chain is toast you should replace the cassette at the same time since they wear together.

that's a great link savant, good illustrations and instructions there.

I use Simple Green, full stength in either a chain cleaning machine or in an old plastic gatorade powder container. If you soak in a container, you can reuse the Simple Green many times before replenishing it.

I use a measuring tape to check the chain for wear. 12 links (24 pins) should measure exactly 12 inches pin center to pin center with tension on the chain.

Avoid aerosol automotive products. Citra-solv works as well as any petrol-based solvent. Simple Green is more earth friendly but it's a detergent, Citra-solv is an organic solvent (more powerful).

Simple Green & an old tooth brush.

I don't find Simple Green to be strong enough but it does work-eventually. There are a lot of products on the market, especially in auto stores; but I now use and like the convenience of the Finish Line Cleaning machine and their biodegradeable cleaning fluid. The cleaning machine works very well and cleans the chain and derailleur pulleys with little hassle so I find myself doing it more often. I then put some of the cleaning liquid on a toothbrush and scrup the gears.

I was thinking simple green wasn't strong enough but I found myself cleaning my bike with a dry rag because citra-solv is too strong. Use the most benign liquid that can do the job. I'm getting some simple green, a little on my rag would have helped today for routine wipe down.

I've been using paint thinner. It gets things clean.