Bicycle Mechanics - I have found an amazing degreaser

I have found it at Costco in a gallon container. It cuts grease like no other deggreaser I have used. Very harsh on hands so use gloves.. www.oileater.com (http://www.oileater.com/Oil%20Eater/oelogo6.gif)

I used it to clean my chain and rear casstte/deraillour, and they look like new...

http://www.oileater.com/Oil%20Eater/oelogo6.gif

I'm new to stuff like this, but can it be too strong to use on bike parts?

You know what I have found that is great also, looks similar to what sorebutt has... The company is called Method (I can only find it at Target, but Lowes has its own brand) and it is a non-ionic surfacant and biodegradable. I use the kitchen formula (they have all sorce, for floors, bathrooms, ect.) and it will not eat up your hand.

I tried a citrus based degreaser this weekend that just gummed up the chain. It was not good. Not having anything else to un-gum things, I had to resort to gas and just be very careful not to get it all over things.

What is the best was to clean a rear cassette without making too much of a mess or messing things up?

What is the best was to clean a rear cassette without making too much of a mess or messing things up?

Simple Green and a tooth brush work for me.

I've used carberator cleaner. It works great. I hope it's not too strong.

What is the best was to clean a rear cassette without making too much of a mess or messing things up?

I use a spray bottle with degreaser and an old rag. I just spray on the degreaser let it soak for a minute then place the rag inbetween the cogs and run it back and forth. The freewheel spins and holds the cogs for me. Works for me.

Although I will look for the stuff SB found.

I like the idea of the degreaser in the spary bottle and rag. Puling the tire will make cleaning this much easier. Thanks.

It's a safe bet that any degreaser that's hard on your hands is pretty caustic, and has to be used with caution on aluminum surfaces. I've tried a couple different brands of citrus cleaner, and I can't see that it works any better than Simple Green. As far as using carburetor cleaner, try to avoid it. Most contain trichlorethane, which is pretty carcinogenic and is absorbed through the skin. Mineral spirits works just about as well and is a lot safer to use.

can you use plain old engine degreaser?

I bought this automotive grade degreaser from Casterol and used it; turned my chain black! Maybe I didnt dilute it enough?

Blue Dawn dishwashing soap. Watch out for the heavy duty cleaners/de-greasers.... hard on the seals and brake pads.

Any degreaser will work on chains and gears, but some will damage seals, brake pads, paint and finishes so be careful not to get it on anything else. I used automotive degreaser's without problems; I used Simple Green but found it to be not as strong as I like it; now I use Finish Line degreaser and it actually works the best of the biodegradeable stuff I've used in the past...though still not quite as good as automotive degreasers.

I've had awesome luck with that Costco Oil Eater stuff. Been using it for approx 2 years now, on all my bikes. It makes your hands actually feel SLICK to the touch... kinda interesting.

I don't dilute it on my chain / cassette / derailleurs. I just use the s[ray bottle, and let it sit on there for a few minutes while I'm soaping over my frame, fork, wheels, and tires. It works great. Hasn't destroyed anything on any of my bikes, and cuts the grease off like you wouldn't believe.

2 thumbs up ( 5 stars) (yadda yadda) for Oil Eater. That stuff is tha' shiznit.

-Matt

I would SERIOUSLY avoid anything 'caustic' like the plague. Degreasers that work by causticity rather than being solvent based are EXTREMELY alkaline. Strong alkalines dissolve the anodizing on any aluminium surface.

Anyone who doubts this, dip a cloth in causic soda (Americans call it LYE?) and rub an anodized bike part. After a few minutes, the anodizing will have come clean off to reveal dull aluminium :(!

Simple green and a toothbrush for me too...it's safe for the environment...and me. You can almost drink the stuff if you want (or...that's what i am told.) You can get it in 1 gallon jugs from home depot. Full strength is not even necessary. For my chain, I just stick it in a 2 liter bottle, add a couple capfulls of Simple green, screw on the lid and shake. Works like a champ. Won't do anything to your hands or skin, either. Even works on grease stains in the laundry

I use mineral spirits. I think the citrus stuff gums up sometimes because its water based and emulsifies the oil into a mayonaise like goo. The mineral spirits do not need to be rinsed off, just wiped off. I would think the residue from things like simple green would break down the oil.

"Orange Clean", if you can find it, works well for me.

with the hard core stuff watch you rubber as it can damage it and cause premature failure.

CPcyclist: "with the hard core stuff watch you rubber as it can damage it and cause premature failure."

are we still talking about bikes here? :)

Well yes and no I relized the double meaning after posting decided the shot was high enough not to re-word.

I whipped out the Purple Power tonight and tore down the Stumphumper. Watered the stuff down to 2:1, maybe weaker, and it still ate right through the grease and grime. Drivetrain looks new. $3 a jug at Autozone, biodegradable.