Digital Gee

Do these things work well? Anyone using this or something similar care to share your opinion?

Chain Scrubbers

Beverly

That's the one I have and I love it. It does a good job of cleaning the chain and cuts down on the mess of just using a brush. Those brushes can really splatter on you if you're not paying attention

bac

I used one of those puppies for several years. Then, I found an easier way. Now, I just use a rag and ProLink lube. The first wipedown cleans - the second lubes. Gotta silver chain again. I'll never go back.

... Brad

Jet Travis

We have better chain scrubbers in Virginia.

stapfam

Most chain cleaners work- and The main thing is that they are messy to use. All that Dirty Black solvent Going on the carpet does not please the housemaid so be carefull using one.

BluesDawg

They do a great job of getting black runny mess all over your tires.

BSLeVan

+1 had the same experience. Chain is silver once again, and very easy to clean without all the fuss of a dedicated scrubber and cleaning solution.

Kestrelman

I had one like that - piece of junk. Used it 3 times, maybe. Waste of money and plastic.

linux_author

- chain scrubbers are awkward and inconvenient to use...

- i have to echo other posters:

ProLink + rag = FTW!

(for the price of a single chainscrubber you'll have enough ProLink for a couple years)

stapfam

Not trying to run you down but the important bit of a chain is the bit you cannot see. The place where all the grit and Grinding paste collects- Inside the chain. A chain cleaner will get most of the gunge out.

Jet Travis

I've tried several and would agree in general, but the one Park makes is really better than the others.

Sandwarrior

I have the same chain cleaner and have used it for years. I have a rag/old towel to collect the slop that leaks from the chain. I have never used prolink, so I can't comment on that, but my chain always comes out clean.

Digital Gee

Maybe we need a poll? About half of the respondents like the chain scrubbers, and the other half seems to prefer a rag and ProLube. Come to think of it, perhaps we don't need a poll after all!

cyclinfool

This is the one I bought last year https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...%3A%20Cleaners

It works great - I even use it with the bike upside down, took a little practice but I can do it easily now. I just add some biodegradable degreaser and spin it, no spray because there is a sponge that catches it. The chain is like new after a whip down with a rag. I do it about every 500 miles (about every third week). The drive chain runs so smooth and the shifting stays buttery smooth. It won't work very well if you use a wax based lubricant though - too gooey.

pdq 5oh

I have one. It works great. I can clean the chains on mine, my wife's and our son's bikes with one filling. We ride a lot on a crushed lime stone trail, and our chains are like new after lots of miles.

richjac

That depends on your beliefs. You can spend hours, if not days, just reading BF posts on the subject, but as usual, the topic is covered pretty thoroughly here:

https://sheldonbrown.com/chains.html

By the way, I have an older version of the Park chain gang which I have not yet used on my road bike. The chain stays clean with just the regular lubrication. If I rode anything other than asphalt, that might not be the case.

cgallagh

That is the one I use on all my chains and I do have a few to deal with. I use simple green or orange oil, biodegradable solvent. Works great for a deep clean of all the really dirty hard to get to spots.

maddmaxx 

I suspect that the no chain scrubber crowd is predominately running on asphault. On the dry summer trails around here the chain will be covered with corrosive fine grinding compound after just a few rides. I use the Park chain cleaner as do some above. As we move over to 10 speed chains (which according to the manufacturers should not be removed from the bike as often) on bike cleaning will become more important.

The rag rubdown cleans the chain to a nice shine but unfortunately, the outside of the chain (although pretty) is not the part that is being chewed up by the grit.

For general use, by a small cheap rug about 4 X 2 to put under the bike during general cleaning and oiling to catch the stuff that drips off before it gets to your carpet or floor.

If you wet wash the chain (especially if you use one of the wax lubes) then wait several hours or overnight before reoiling to let the water dry before being trapped inside the lube.

rm -rf

I have a Connex quick link so the chain is easy to remove. You just pivot it 90 degrees and slide it apart. I'm using the 6.05mm one with a Campagnolo ultra narrow 10 speed chain.

Then shake it in plastic half gallon milk bottle with some citrus cleaner. Rinse it a few times and let it dry. A hair dryer heats it up quickly if you are in a hurry.

In between, I wipe off the chain and use prolink.

BluesDawg

You would be mistaken.

epcolt

I use the Park unit and it really does a good job for me.

Monoborracho

I like this method also, but my understanding is the chain manufacturers do not recommend immersion as it washes all that nice sticky lube from inside the chain connections where it is difficult to replace.

Comments ???

I also have a Parks scrubber which I sometime use.

CrossChain

If you have the time and desire, remove the chain, soak it in solvent for a few hours, scrub it briefly with an old toothbrush, lube and install. Your chain will be thoroughly clean.

(Single guys can also put the chain in the dishwasher on "pot-cycle" and see how it turns out. Married men may want to critically examine this idea however.)

Dogbait

I have the Park cleaner and it works well with EcoTech2 degreaser or Simple Green. However, I seem to remember reading somewhere that chain cleaners will not work in California or Missouri.

rm -rf

I've heard that, too. But: the cleaner can get in those tiny gaps with enough volume to wash out the lube. But then the thin prolink lube can't get back in somehow?