Originally Posted by
80sKidd
Decades ago when I worked in a bike shop, we soaked chains and bearings in varsol to clean them up. I still remember the smell, which wasn't too bad as solvents go. Nothing is ever as thorough as removing the chain and agitating it in a good solvent and drying it well. The key step that is mentioned several times here is to make sure that after you lubricate the chain, wipe it down thoroughly when using a liquid (oil) lubricant.
After cleaning my chain with an on-bike cleaner and then wiping dry, I apply chain lube (75W-90 gear oil) via a covid-test dropper bottle, one drop at each roller. That doesn't leave much excess after wicking into the roller and inner plates and pin.
But yeah, gonna go back to wax.