Best way to scub of encrusted black chain lube from chains or cassette cogs.
05-08-15, 07:39 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 3,681
Bikes: Puch Marco Polo, Saint Tropez, Masi Gran Criterium
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1163 Post(s)
Liked 441 Times
in
314 Posts
Best way to scub of encrusted black chain lube from chains or cassette cogs.
I ran into some really badly encrusted chain lube on my drivetrain today while trying to prep my rain bike to get it back in action. I was having a real uphill battle with various brushes using mineral spirits and even gasoline. Very time consuming. Any suggestions on how to dissolve this stuff away to minimize scrubbing. I finally got the cassette clean with much scrubbing. Going to soak the chain overnight and hope it scrubs up tomorrow. Any further suggestions would be appreciated.
Last edited by masi61; 05-08-15 at 07:54 PM.
05-08-15, 07:48 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: NorCal
Posts: 546
Bikes: 2009 Surly Cross Check Frankenbike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Drop them in the mineral spirits and let them soak. Sooner or later the gunk will soften up.
05-08-15, 08:03 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,646
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5755 Post(s)
Liked 2,524 Times
in
1,395 Posts
+1, soaking long enough for the solvent to do it's job. One mistake people make is using a solvent that evaporates too quickly. The crud is dissolved, then left to harden back in place when the solvent evaporates.
BTW- the easiest way is to dry wipe the chain from time to time BEFORE the crud builds up and gets ahead of you.
BTW- the easiest way is to dry wipe the chain from time to time BEFORE the crud builds up and gets ahead of you.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
05-08-15, 08:06 PM
#4
On Your Left
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Long Island, New York, USA
Posts: 8,373
Bikes: Trek Emonda SLR, Sram eTap, Zipp 303
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3004 Post(s)
Liked 2,433 Times
in
1,187 Posts
I'd put them in a automotive parts washer.
I restored vintage VWs and it's amazing how much old crud can be removed if you let the chemicals do the work.
I restored vintage VWs and it's amazing how much old crud can be removed if you let the chemicals do the work.
05-08-15, 08:22 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Roswell, GA
Posts: 8,319
Bikes: '93 Trek 750, '92 Schwinn Crisscross, '93 Mongoose Alta
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1438 Post(s)
Liked 1,092 Times
in
723 Posts
Please don't ever use gasoline for anything except fueling a motor vehicle. It is highly flammable and emits explosive fumes which can travel a long distance to an ignition source. It is toxic to inhale and by skin absorption and removes skin oils which can lead to dermatitis, and is likely carcinogenic.
05-08-15, 08:34 PM
#7
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,773
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3580 Post(s)
Liked 3,392 Times
in
1,927 Posts
05-08-15, 08:42 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: The Sunny South
Posts: 1,906
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 29 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
Use a gallon ziploc bag.....add chain....m spirits..and force out excess air......forget it for a day or 2........
05-09-15, 06:33 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Siberia West .. aka Central Wisconsin... USA
Posts: 308
Bikes: 2000 Litespeed Appalachian, 1998 Litespeed BlueRidge.. 1977? Schwinn LeTour 12.2 'Rain Daze'
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 64 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 17 Times
in
14 Posts
05-09-15, 07:49 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Southern Ontario
Posts: 1,883
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 263 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
8 Posts
I usually go over cogs, jockey wheels and chainrings with a screwdriver to remove the ridges of gunk before I clean with soaps or solvents. Then they clean up easily. If you are worried about scratching then use a Popsicle stick or plastic.
05-10-15, 04:36 PM
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 3,681
Bikes: Puch Marco Polo, Saint Tropez, Masi Gran Criterium
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1163 Post(s)
Liked 441 Times
in
314 Posts
Gasoline was not even quite strong enough. Heated mineral spirits over a Coleman stove wasn't enough. Found some white lightening spray degreaser that, combined with a brass brush or a stiff Park Tools drivetrain brush begins to allow removal of the grunge...
05-12-15, 08:03 AM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Bozeman
Posts: 4,094
Bikes: 199? Landshark Roadshark, 198? Mondonico Diamond, 1987 Panasonic DX-5000, 1987 Bianchi Limited, Univega... Chrome..., 1989 Schwinn Woodlands, Motobecane USA Record, Raleigh Tokul 2
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1131 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If you guys are spending this much time cleaning your encrusted chain, why not simply buy a new one and clean it more often (so it doesn't get... you know... encrusted?)
05-12-15, 10:06 AM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 389
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
05-12-15, 01:46 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 932
Bikes: '04 LeMond Buenos Aires, '82 Bianchi Nuova Racing, De Rosa SLX, Bridgestone MB-1, Guerciotti TSX, Torpado Aelle, LeMond Tourmalet 853, Bridgestone Radac
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 101 Post(s)
Liked 46 Times
in
36 Posts
Gunk Engine Degreaser may work. I've had a can for a long time but never used it until recently. I didn't have "encrusted" parts, but everything pretty much melted off. Gunk is intended to be rinsed with water.
The stuff does really stink up your workspace for awhile, though. It definitely does not have the fruity, sweet smell of most cleaners associated with bicycles.
The stuff does really stink up your workspace for awhile, though. It definitely does not have the fruity, sweet smell of most cleaners associated with bicycles.
05-13-15, 07:31 AM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Toronto
Posts: 1,261
Bikes: Salsa Vaya
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 172 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
[QUOTE=Slash5;17790227]I usually go over cogs, jockey wheels and chainrings with a screwdriver...QUOTE]
Or a butterknife. It seems obvious.
Or a butterknife. It seems obvious.
05-13-15, 07:41 AM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: D'uh... I am a Cutter
Posts: 6,139
Bikes: '17 Access Old Turnpike Gravel bike, '14 Trek 1.1, '13 Cannondale CAAD 10, '98 CAD 2, R300
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1571 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
9 Posts
There is no best way to undo poor maintenance. Five minutes worth of cleaning performed from time-to-time.... can not be "made-up" with an hour or two of hard scrubbing. Unfortunately... the crud wasn't just on the outside of the chain... but also in the non-visible insides grinding away at the moving parts. If the chain is that bad... it is most likely that so is everything else.
This might be a good time to replace the chain..... and then disassemble clean and re-lube the entire bicycle. Then develop a plan/process to clean and prevent that type of abuse in the future.
This might be a good time to replace the chain..... and then disassemble clean and re-lube the entire bicycle. Then develop a plan/process to clean and prevent that type of abuse in the future.
05-13-15, 05:58 PM
#22
Senior Member
Cheap wire brush from Harbor Freight. Pizza box w/slot cut to fit around free hub & protect rim & tire. Diesel fuel. Elbow grease.
