Solvent + chain = disaster ?
09-22-03 | 12:25 PM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 1
From: Spokane WA
Bikes: Seven Axiom Ti, Trek 620, Masi cylocross (steel). Masi Souleville 8spd, Fat Chance Mtn. (steel), Schwinn Triple Bar cruiser, Mazi Speciale Fix/single, Schwinn Typhoon
Using a light lubricant as a degreaser- Will NOT hurt your chain
Diesel oil is probably the best- recommended by guys who've worked the Giro and stuff like that.
If you use a lubricant that doesn't play well with others, ie. Pro-Link, wash your chain with detergent (Dawn) and HOT water and rinse with HOT water after you've degreased it with the Diesel Oil. Doing that gets a little more junk out too.
I normally take the chain off and give it two or three baths using progressively cleaner oil, while also degreasing and washing the bike. If I'm doing "touch-up" or in a hurry, I just use a parts brush with diesel on it to wet down the chaind on the bike and wipe it off.
And, Yes, I recycle my diesel by pouring the dirty oil in a glass jar and letting the junk settle to the botom and pouring the good stuff into a container to re-use.
I've found Pro-Link (1st choice) and Finish Line ( 2nd choice) to be my favorite lubes of all the dozens I've tried over the years.
Ride Greased- not!
Pat
Diesel oil is probably the best- recommended by guys who've worked the Giro and stuff like that.
If you use a lubricant that doesn't play well with others, ie. Pro-Link, wash your chain with detergent (Dawn) and HOT water and rinse with HOT water after you've degreased it with the Diesel Oil. Doing that gets a little more junk out too.
I normally take the chain off and give it two or three baths using progressively cleaner oil, while also degreasing and washing the bike. If I'm doing "touch-up" or in a hurry, I just use a parts brush with diesel on it to wet down the chaind on the bike and wipe it off.
And, Yes, I recycle my diesel by pouring the dirty oil in a glass jar and letting the junk settle to the botom and pouring the good stuff into a container to re-use.
I've found Pro-Link (1st choice) and Finish Line ( 2nd choice) to be my favorite lubes of all the dozens I've tried over the years.
Ride Greased- not!
Pat
09-22-03 | 07:49 PM
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
Yes, I was thinking of using diesel to clean the chain too. Tho I didn't think about diesel not being compatible with some special bicycle chain lubes...I aint got time/energy to do the extra wash with detergent/hot water.
Maybe the mechanics at the Giro figure they have to clean everything daily anyway, so they use a more basic and traditional oil type lube...if it picks up a little more crap in the space of 1 day (180kms), what difference does it make to them?
I'd like one of those little electric pressure washers with a detergent bottle feeding in...set it up near the garage door and clean the whole chain/cassette/derailleur in seconds when I get back from a ride.
Maybe the mechanics at the Giro figure they have to clean everything daily anyway, so they use a more basic and traditional oil type lube...if it picks up a little more crap in the space of 1 day (180kms), what difference does it make to them?
I'd like one of those little electric pressure washers with a detergent bottle feeding in...set it up near the garage door and clean the whole chain/cassette/derailleur in seconds when I get back from a ride.
