Originally Posted by
BCRider
...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.
I like to post this info once in a while just stir things up.
"Low odor paint thinner" does work fine. At my Walmart, the regular "paint thinner" costs half as much as the "low odor", so I use that, which works fine too. My bikes are stored in a ventilated garage, so odor/inhalation of chemical vapor is not a big problem.
Even better than cleaning with paint thinner, you can mix it with any automotive engine oil to make your own "chain lube and chain cleaner in one", or DIY lube. This saves money and time, in both lubes/cleaners and bike parts via extended life/lower replacement frequency.
Mix 1 part motor oil to 4-7 parts paint thinner. Ratio is not critical - just eyeball it. It works best if you mix, store and dispense in an old bike lube container - something you can control flow and dispense drop-wise. I've used an old White Lightning bottle for the past decade.
Before each ride, apply DIY lube to the the top of lower chain run, one visible section at a time. Make 2-4 passes (depending on dirt), catching the runoff in a paper towel with gloved hand. This washes the dirt out of the chain. Move chain to next dirty section and repeat till entire chain is cleaned and lubed. Then turn crank around several times while gripping chain firmly with paper towel, to further remove excess DIY lube. After cleaning/lubing, the paint thinner will evaporate and leave a thinned coating of oil on a clean chain.
Engine oil is too viscous to use without solvent dilution. Bike chains require only a light lubrication film and protection from oxidation. Most any light oil will work for bike chains. I use automotive engine oil because I always have some in the garage. I also have paint thinner around for paint thinning and cleanup - an obvious alternate use to DIY lube.
I've used SRAM chains since 2000. They are easily removeable, but it's not necessary using DIY chain lube and the procedure described above.
DIY chain lube is cheap and easy. It's so cheap you can clean/lube before every ride, which is where the real savings occur. I get more life from chains, rings and cassette than anyone else I know. And I mean miles ridden, not the years a bike hangs in the garage. The key to component longevity is to get all the abrasive debris out of the chain.
Ironically, some conventional bike lubes accelerate wear. Wax-based lubes in particular form an excellent grinding paste once a little road dirt is added. Because these lubes usually cost >$100 per gallon, people are reluctant to overuse them, which also leads to less frequent chain cleaning.
BTW - get some fenders - they're not just for rain riding - they keep dirt off your drivetrain too.