xilios

Looking for a beter way to clean the chains on our bikes other than (cyclon bionet) chain cleaner, bucket and brush.
Has anyone ever tried one of these? Or is it a waste of money.
How do you clean your chains?
On the road or at home.
Any tips would be welcomed.

Lolly Pop

I used one a few weeks ago for the first time -- brilliant!

lebowitz

I have a removable link and I soak it for a couple of nights in a row in palmolive dish detergent and hot water in a bottle. I shake the bottle a lot. Then I wipe it down with a rag and hang it to dry.

Marylandnewbie

I use one of the chain cleaners once a week since I put about 120 miles on commuting each week. It works well if you change the solution about 3 times and really run it through extensively. About once a month I augment the chain cleaner by removing the chain completely and doing a thorough soak and brush scrubbing, which does do a bit better job. The chain cleaner is quick and easy so it makes it simple to do regular maintenance. I've never carried one on tour since I've never done that long a tour.

veloGeezer

I use a cloth rag. I prefer linens, the weave seems to clean grit better, but I basically cut up fabric scraps for cleaning rags.

Then I use a dry rag to wipe the chain links and clean everything, then I use a clean rag and some chain lube to wipe the chain down in oil.

I do this after nearly every ride. I keep my chain very clean all the time.

I know, I'm a nut, but my chain is so clean and turns so quiet I can sneak up on deer.

acantor

The Park Chain Cleaner works very well, although to do a good job, you must change the solution several times. There is also work involved in cleaning the chain cleaner itself. I usually wash the entire unit in hot water with lots of liquid detergent. The brushes and the foam piece attract a lot of grit and grease. If you don't clean the brushes and foam, you will be smearing your chain with gunk the next time you use the chain cleaner.

There are special chemical solutions you can buy for the unit, and I prefer them to the less expensive alternative, which is a homemade mixture of water and dish detergent. The homemade solution works, but you must repeat the procedure five or six times (approximately) to get the chain really clean. Also, you must make sure that the chain is absolutely free of water. Otherwise, the chain will develop rust, guaranteed!

When I use my homemade cleaning solution, I finish by spraying the chain with WD40 (petroleum distillate). This is one of the few situations I use WD40 on a bike. WD40 displaces the minute quantities of water that will eventually cause rust. After spraying the chain and waiting for it to evaporate, I apply "regular" chain oil.

xilios

Thanx for all the replies, acantor does have a point about having more to clean using the Park chain cleaner. I'm still not sure if I want to spend 35 euro's and have more to do.
Just looking for a product that I can apply, leave for a few minutes, rinse with water (garden hose) and oil. Maybe the best solution is to clean the chain more often to reduce the risk of any build up.
Thanx again

Lolly Pop

€35?! That's outrageous! I got one in Canada for $5!

Mountain Equipment Co-Op Chain Cleaner thingie

Revtor

Once you really clean your chain, really well, and wipe it all down and let it dry and then use a good dry lube (white lightning) the chain will stay pretty darn clean for a long time. Once a week! Once a month even seems like overkill.. maybe 4 times a year. unless your commute is getting your bike particularly dirty...

~Steve

gregw

White Lightning and never clean again.

teamcompi

The park cleaner works great as does the MEC one, but I have switched to wax and this for us seems to be the best. I have just bought a bottle of Pedros wax and I think it may work better than white lighting. The down side with wax is it needs to be applied more often but its so clean its worth it. The chains seem to be lasting longer too. So my advise forget the cleaner try a bottle of wax you may save the oil for the salad.