AZORCH

From time to time I read different approaches to cleaning chains. What's your strategy?

iab

I occasionally wipe it with a rag.

When it wears out, I buy a new one at the LBS for $10.

Since they are so cheap, I won't go through contortions to clean it.

Steve Whitlatch 

That is my strategy too.

Spaghetti Legs 

Wipe it down every 2 or 3 rides, lube with White Lightning every couple hundred miles. I don't generally ride in the rain, so it never gets that dirty, but back when I commuted rain or shine, that same process worked well, just more frequent wipe downs.

randyjawa 

I add Prolink lube, one link/pin at a time (carefully cause I am cheap). Then I wipe the excess (not really much excess) off with a rag. I clean between link plates, one at a time, with Q-tips (need several per cleaning), until the chain looks pretty good. Then...

I add more Prolink, to each pin, a drop or two at a time, ensuring that I get every pin lubed. Run the drive backward, hoping to draw the lube into the chain. Lube one more time, run drive backward and then wipe off the excess.

Been doing it that way for many years and, to date, only two broken chains. One on a Giant XTC and one on a Miyata 1000.

gomango

Pretty much the same.

When we went out to Moab I used a Park CM5 to get the silt and gunk off the chain.

Use it at the cabin after it gets all mudded up.

Works fine.

Chrome Molly

Lately I've done this, and been happy with the results...

I put slightly used Seafoam in a park chain scrubber and run it through for about a minute as a "cleaning step"
I have second chain scrubber (a cheapie version from a dept store) that gets newer Seafoam as the "lubricating step"
Quick wipe of excess and done. The Seafoam both cleans and lubricates, and is comparatively inexpensive for the volume used.

When the "lubricating" Seafoam becomes dirty, it goes in the "cleaning" scrubber. When the dirty Seafoam is spent, I toss it in with the waste oil for recycling.

Sounds involved, but it takes maybe 5 minutes to clean a chain to like new. They run quietly and smoothly, for a long time.

easyupbug 

Same here, but when I ride through a lot of sand/silt I will run the chain through a brush before wiping with rag.

StephenH

You can get terrycloth washcloths at Walmart at 18 for $4 or so, which makes them basically disposable. So I rotate the chain while putting lube on it, rotate it around a few times, then take the washcloth and wipe about 8" at a time until the black gunk is off.

gugie 

+1 for a new one

When I worked as a bike sales rep I used to buy a box of Sedisports (10 per box) for $28 wholesale (as I recall). Every 1000 miles, just put a new one on, more often in rainy season.

AZORCH

I guess I'm a little floored - no one cleans their chains? The consensus seems to be replace it when it starts to look dirty. I've always wiped my chain down after several rides; immediately afterward if it's been raining. I'd never imagined I would be in such a minority.

coolkat

Soak it in simple green for an hour or so, wash off, dry in the oven, then relube. I've heard some people caution against using simple green, but I've never had a problem

Pars 

What is Seafoam?

seedsbelize 

I have a Finish Line chain cleaner that I've used once. I'd like to use it more because it does a good job. But I don't take the time, usually. I wipe it down, or not, and put a drop of Triflow on each knuckle, let it soak in, and wipe it down again.

iab

Not what I wrote. Wipe it down and when it wears, replace it. You know, when it "stretches" to 12.060", put on a new one.

But if it takes more than 2 minutes per month to clean the chain, I'm out.

ThermionicScott 

Maybe people are hesitant to contribute to yet another religious debate... I clean mine in mineral spirits (shaken in a mason jar) every 750 miles or so before relubing, and rotate between two chains for each bike.

AZORCH

That certainly wasn't my intention. I'm just curious how different people approach what I presumed to be a pretty basic maintenance issue.

iab, sorry - I didn't mean to presume.

ThermionicScott 

Yeah, I didn't figure you wanted to start a debate, and I find the subject interesting, too.

Spaghetti Legs 

Yes, replace when its worn. This is probably my oldest chain (but not oldest bike!) in my stable at about 3000 miles, using the wipe and occasional lube method.

CliffordK

I pin my chains. So, once it goes on the bike, it stays on the bike until it is time for replacement. I'm trying to be a bit more proactive with replacing.

I'm of the wipe & lube camp. A little chain grease on it doesn't hurt.

gaucho777 

I thoroughly clean my chain every few months, but I let the ultra-sonic cleaner do most of the work for me. It may appear like a lot of steps, but none of these steps takes more than a few seconds. Total actual work time is close to iab's couple minutes every few months threshold.

1. Remove chain completely. (30 seconds)
2. Place in shallow tray or Regina chain tin with kerosene. (30 seconds)
3. Agitate & let soak for a couple minutes. (15 seconds)
4. Place in ultra-sonic cleaner. (15 seconds)
5. Remove from ultra-sonic cleaner and apply WD-40 to remove any excess water. (30 seconds)
6. Hang on hook and wipe dry. (30 seconds)
7. Re-install chain on bike. (45 seconds)
8. Lube with your preferred grease. (15 seconds)

I sill use some expensive vintage chains (Regina Superleggera hollow pin chains on a couple bikes, vintage Dura-Ace and Sedis chains, etc.) so it's worth it to me to do a little extra maintenance. I also use Regina freewheels, vintage chainrings, and Bullseye pulleys, so I do what I can to minimize overall wear. I like a clean drivetrain overall, as well. I think a bike looks best when you can see clean metal between the cogs.

fietsbob

Ideally? off the bike in a basket in Kerosene in a bucket . crud goes thru the basket and settles in the bottom of the pail.

gomango

Yeah, I don't get fussed up about chains much.

I get rid of chains on my off road stuff fairly quickly.

I do try to clean them after a heavy weekend of use.

Last thing I want is a chain failure in the middle of nowheresville.

ButchA

As I wrote in the other thread, where I mentioned that you all might think I'm crazy!

I actually used gun cleaner on an old rag, and to oil the chain and freewheel, I carefully applied synthetic, water-proof, trombone slide oil from a spray bottle! Don't knock it... It is ultra lightweight and actually worked really well!

See post #8 below...
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...l#post18122556

RIP Chainrings

Usually WD-40 and a rag
Every now and then if i need it thoroughly clean then chain tool and deisel in a tin can