cleaning The Chain
03-24-17 | 11:26 AM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 984
Likes: 243
From: Boston Roads
Bikes: 2012 Canondale Synapse 105, 2017 REI Co-Op ADV 3.1
I can never get my chains clean & shiny, even if I soak them in mineral spirits. I clean and lube my road bike chain when shifting starts suffering or if it starts squeaking (and once in a while I'll wipe it down with a cloth). My winter bike chain doesn't get cleaned unless it's the end of the season, I have a wet/salty ride, or if I leave it outside - and it starts showing signs of rust.
03-24-17 | 11:35 AM
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,524
Likes: 57
From: Chicago
Bikes: Marin Four Corners, 1960's Schwinn Racer in middle of restoration, mid 70s Motobecane Grand Touring, various other heaps.
I "clean" my commuter chain by dragging the chain through a filthy rag, then heavily oiling the chain, then repeating the drag through the rag again. That's as clean and oiled as it's going to get.
For bikes I buy off craigslist to work on...if I tear it completely down to bare frame, I'll fill up a water bottle full of simple green, drop the chain in there, give it a good shake, leave it for a couple days, then give it a scrub with a nylon brush, then another dunk in the simple green to dissolve some of the gunk, then rinse with water, then spritz with wd40. Once that evaporates, it gets a generous oiling, followed by a wipe with the rag. This is only for clearly nasty looking a neglected looking chains though.
For bikes I buy off craigslist to work on...if I tear it completely down to bare frame, I'll fill up a water bottle full of simple green, drop the chain in there, give it a good shake, leave it for a couple days, then give it a scrub with a nylon brush, then another dunk in the simple green to dissolve some of the gunk, then rinse with water, then spritz with wd40. Once that evaporates, it gets a generous oiling, followed by a wipe with the rag. This is only for clearly nasty looking a neglected looking chains though.
04-01-17 | 12:10 PM
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,943
Likes: 23
From: Thornton, CO
Bikes: 2003 Orbea Orca, 2003 Bianchi Imola, ? Waterford
I'm with [MENTION=158672]FBinNY[/MENTION]. I just use paper towel to wipe the chain after every ride. Then if the chain looks dry, I lube it with air tool oil. If I ride every weekday, then the lube can be as frequent as once per week. That's it. I used to use a park chain cleaning tool. But read here that using solvents might cause more chain wear. Theory is that the solvent can carry more grime into the chain inner surfaces. I don't know if it's true or not. But the wipe routine is easier so that suits my laziness. 
04-01-17 | 02:03 PM
#30
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
Given It's Saturday , (outside job) a quick link equipped chain can be removed, soaked in solvent, dried (solvents evaporate,
that's why you do it outside)
and put back on, in an afternoon.
that's why you do it outside)
and put back on, in an afternoon.
04-02-17 | 01:00 AM
#32
Mostly harmless ™
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,462
Likes: 243
From: Novi Sad
Bikes: Heavy, with friction shifters
On my route it hardly matters how "long" it is. I have put a brand new chain on, ridden 10 miles to work (at the old place). 4 miles of that is gravel road. If it's raining, I'll park the bike in the stairwell and when I get back on it in the evening, the 10 mile old chain won't bend anymore because it's entirely caked in dried clay.
I got to the point where I just power wash it and daub some lube on it when it's dirty, and put lube on when it starts making noise. I tried keeping it clean and lubed and my payoff for hours of work over the life of the chain was an extra 150 miles (about 2 weeks) life on a $6 chain. I decided diligence is overrated.
The BEST I can do, if I'm super diligent and spend hours cleaning the chain, is about 2000 miles on a chain. If I am lazy, I get 1800 miles.
I've gotten to where I don't bother measuring my chain anymore either. I just run it until it starts to skip - about 8000 miles, and then replace the entire drivetrain. It's actually LESS money than replacing the chain every 2K.
I got to the point where I just power wash it and daub some lube on it when it's dirty, and put lube on when it starts making noise. I tried keeping it clean and lubed and my payoff for hours of work over the life of the chain was an extra 150 miles (about 2 weeks) life on a $6 chain. I decided diligence is overrated.
The BEST I can do, if I'm super diligent and spend hours cleaning the chain, is about 2000 miles on a chain. If I am lazy, I get 1800 miles.
I've gotten to where I don't bother measuring my chain anymore either. I just run it until it starts to skip - about 8000 miles, and then replace the entire drivetrain. It's actually LESS money than replacing the chain every 2K.
Some steel cranksets can even outlive at least one fully stretched chain that has started skipping on the cassette, having all started from new (and after about 10000 kms).
I also prefer cheaper chains/cassettes and less hassle with maintaining them.
BTW, for novices, I explained chain stretch, cleaning and lubing technique with pictures here:
Best bicycle chain lube
And gave an overview of various lube types with their pros and cons, in a (very) long post here:
Bicycle chain lubricants - explained - Cycle Gremlin
04-02-17 | 06:05 PM
#33
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 588
Likes: 3
From: Southern California
Bikes: Gary Fisher Hi-Fi Deluxe, Giant Stance, Cannondale Synapse, Diamondback 8sp IGH, 1989 Merckx
I wipe my chains with a very lightly dampened towel (mineral spirits) & add a drop of thick oil to each roller. Chain-L is the best available for this.
I never wash chains & they last a very long time.
The thick oil (Chain-L or something like it (140W gear oil) will not allow grit to enter the chain's moving parts and the re-application keeps the side plates & rollers filled thus excluding grit ingress.
Chain lubrication can be reduced to a simple procedure and sequence:
1) Wipe the outside clean.
2) Apply a drop of thick oil to each roller.
3) Let sit for a time.
4) Rotate the crank a few turns.
5) Wipe everything you can off the outside of the chain.
Joe
I never wash chains & they last a very long time.
The thick oil (Chain-L or something like it (140W gear oil) will not allow grit to enter the chain's moving parts and the re-application keeps the side plates & rollers filled thus excluding grit ingress.
Chain lubrication can be reduced to a simple procedure and sequence:
1) Wipe the outside clean.
2) Apply a drop of thick oil to each roller.
3) Let sit for a time.
4) Rotate the crank a few turns.
5) Wipe everything you can off the outside of the chain.
Joe
04-02-17 | 10:47 PM
#34
Mostly harmless ™
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,462
Likes: 243
From: Novi Sad
Bikes: Heavy, with friction shifters
I wipe my chains with a very lightly dampened towel (mineral spirits) & add a drop of thick oil to each roller. Chain-L is the best available for this.
I never wash chains & they last a very long time.
The thick oil (Chain-L or something like it (140W gear oil) will not allow grit to enter the chain's moving parts and the re-application keeps the side plates & rollers filled thus excluding grit ingress.
Chain lubrication can be reduced to a simple procedure and sequence:
1) Wipe the outside clean.
2) Apply a drop of thick oil to each roller.
3) Let sit for a time.
4) Rotate the crank a few turns.
5) Wipe everything you can off the outside of the chain.
Joe
I never wash chains & they last a very long time.
The thick oil (Chain-L or something like it (140W gear oil) will not allow grit to enter the chain's moving parts and the re-application keeps the side plates & rollers filled thus excluding grit ingress.
Chain lubrication can be reduced to a simple procedure and sequence:
1) Wipe the outside clean.
2) Apply a drop of thick oil to each roller.
3) Let sit for a time.
4) Rotate the crank a few turns.
5) Wipe everything you can off the outside of the chain.
Joe
04-03-17 | 10:08 AM
#35
aka Tom Reingold
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,127
Likes: 6,343
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Which emphasizes that there is no method that suits everyone and every condition, and no method works perfectly for anyone. All of this involves compromise.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
04-03-17 | 11:28 AM
#36
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,524
Likes: 57
From: Chicago
Bikes: Marin Four Corners, 1960's Schwinn Racer in middle of restoration, mid 70s Motobecane Grand Touring, various other heaps.
Has anyone tried waxing their chain? I think I'm going to give it a whirl. More out of curiosity than anything, rather than OCD.
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