Ok it is time to clean and lube my chain how and what do you guys suggest I do?

Thanks
Mike

I'd say the search button.

I did! That's how I got here!

The best way to clean the chain is with it off the bike. Does it have a connecting link? Once off you can snake the chain into a pop bottle partially filled with a solvent. Shake, drain and repeate with fresh solvent untill there's no grime any longer. hang the chain to dry. Lube. Before reimstalling clean off the sprockets and derailures. lube pivots, pullies and cable entry points. If you don't know what you're doing I wouldn't suggest that you take the chain off the bike if you have to drive out a pin with a chain tool. So you do the above with a chain cleaning box or spray solvent (Clean Streak is nice).

Now that you have a basic guide link to Park Tools and see their chain section. Andy.

https://draco.nac.uci.edu/rbfaq/FAQ/8d.2.html

Yes , clean it (solvents) and lube, with bike chain oil.

If there is a quick link in the chain, you can remove it and soak it clean in a tin can,
then hang dry/vaporize volitile solvents.

then put it back on.

As usual I just got done with my winter cleaning of my chains. I cover them with kerosene and let them soak a couple of hours. I then use a brass bristle brush to brush loose any remaining dirt and girt. It is amazing how much dirt and fine grit is left in the pan. I then put them into a big plastic jar with fresh kerosene an slosh and shake them. I hang them up to dry for two or three days. I then put them on the bike and trike and lube each roller. I use Mobil 1 oil. I spin the chain backwards for many revs, and then wipe the chain down of excess oil. Then during the summer, I usually wipe the chain down with a dry absorbent rag, and relube about every 200 miles.


This has worked well for me, as the first chain on my Stratus lasted 8000 miles. And even at that I changed it out when my Park chain wear tool just started showing .75 wear in some areas.