Old 10-03-11 | 11:00 PM
  #6  
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BCRider
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,559
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From: The 'Wack, BC, Canada

Bikes: Norco (2), Miyata, Canondale, Soma, Redline

You're using expensive chemicals and making the job a lot harder and more time consumning on yourself all at the same time.

First of you don't need all that fancy and expensive stuff. A basic mineral spirits solvent sold typically as "low odor paint thinner" works just fine. Cleaning a chain isn't rocket surgery and it doesn't require the sort of fancy stuff you're using. Not to mention the expense.

Like you I don't want to take the chain off the bike. So I use the clip on cleaner gizmo that has the three wheel brushes in them. These things work superbly if you run the chain until the solvent is dirty then unclip the gizmo and pour out the dirty solvent into a settling jar. Then blot away the solvent on the chain with a paper towel. Put more solvent into the gizmo and repeat the cleaning and blotting until you see the towel is only stained a light grey.

Typically this takes me 3 to 4 solvent and blot repititions. About 5 minutes total to do the job. If the chain is super dirty I may need to repeat the clean and blot cycle one or two more times.

Save the solvent in a settling jar. After a couple of days it'll be a clear tea like color and you can use it again... and again.... and again.....

On the other hand if you insist on this one shot aerosol philosophy you're condemning yourself to always having the most messy possible chain cleaning jobs imaginable.

I'm also wondering what the hell you're using for a chain lube if Brake Cleaner doesn't remove it. The Gunk brand Brake Clean I use for some other things removes oil and greases lickety spit quick.
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