Chain Cleaners
 

Local bike shop has the chain cleaners on sale. Reg.$35.00 Sale $19.95 and I have never used one but wonder if anyone has used this and how well they work. Seems to me it would be much easier using one of these than having to break a link.

Ted

i use the old fashion degreaser and rag

i have done it both ways. once i got my technique down with my new Park Tools chaing cleaner it made my chain look brand new. i could never get it that clean using the towel / degreaser method. later.

I had a Finish Line chain cleaner and it worked great. The solution provided doesn't last long and the replacement stuff is WAY over priced. I normally use regular mineral spirits (paint thinner) to clean chains but it may eat the plastic of the chain cleaner thus you need to find some reasonably priced material to use - maybe simple green? At any rate, a chain cleaner is much better than just wiping with a rag since it gets the grit off on the inside of the chain.

I use the Pedro's chain cleaner. Awesome! First time I used it, couldn't believe the crud that came off that I wasn't getting with cleaner, a rag, and a toothbrush. A chain cleaner is essential!

I use the Park Tools 'Cyclone' and use simple green 1:1 as a cleaner. Works great.

+1 (except I use 2:1 water:simple green)

Wipperman Connex link.


1. Toss chain into a coffee can 1/8 full of Industrial MK-V Super Solvent.

^^^ (Sorry, you guys do not have access to this stuff. It kills baby otters.)

2. After soaking and swirling for a while, remove chain and wipe dry with a clean rag.

(Unlike Sheldons joke, DO NOT SWALLOW MK-V, or you really will be a goner.)

3. Soak that puppy with some Liquid Wrench w/PTFE. Let sit for a while to thicken.

(DO NOT SPRAY Liquid Wrench in your eyes!!! It really stings. Don't ask me how I know that)

(You do have access to this stuff. Same as Tri-Flow, only in big cans from Home Depot for $3.00)

4. Insall on bike, wipe off excess goo with clean rag.


Go ride your bike.

Sheldon
 

It seems to me Sheldon skipped a step or two....

Finish Line Chain Cleaner. Does a great job. Use it about every 6-8 lubes (Finish Line dry aerosol lube). No problems. I live in a house and do this on my deck, but I know some apartment dwellers who find this device very convenient, as it only requires one section of newspaper under the bike.

You have got to be kidding me. Sheldon Brown is awesome, but that is the most OCD thing I've ever seen.

You have got to be kidding me - you thought he was serious?

Apparently he did...

I replaced an oooooold Park chain cleaner with a new type Park CM-5 "cyclone" recently. Both worked well, but the new one has some advantages.
- brushes all sides of the chain
- has a big handle, so you can hold it easily in the left hand while backpedaling w/ the right hand
- sits level on the floor or workbench without spilling
- magnet in the bottom for collecting ferrous spooge (and wow does it ever work)

For chain cleaning juice, I use whatever is handy. Really. All sorts of stuff works. Last time I think it was hot water, ammonia and laundry detergent. Just rinse with water when done, dry, and lube.

Dang it, ususally I don't fall for things like that. Sheldon just offers so much serious advice, I didn't expect it.

I'm a moron.

Ive actually been trying out PB Blaster PTFE Dry Lube on chains. It's available at Lowes for like $4.50. So far it seems to work pretty well.

Kerosene. It works wonders on my motorcycle chain, it's more than enough for the road bike.

Do you light that, for the hard-to-remove road grime? :D





:p <-- means j/k, so's that ya don't think I'm serious. :rolleyes:

That's how I've always done it!!!

+1 to the new Park cleaning system. I've tried several. This is the best.

How did you determine they are the same? Not saying your wrong I just want to make sure before I buy a gallon.

I like the Finish Line Cleaning machine. I use to take the chain apart and put in my solvent basin but as I got older I got lazier, so I tried the Finish Line product. And I actually like it a lot. I find myself cleaning my chain more often now because it's so easy-about every 150 miles. I also found that after using the product for a year I removed the chain and cleaned it the old fashion way and found very little dirt coming off the chain. I still remove the chain once a year since I'm anal about some things.

I have the older version of this machine and heard the newer ones use a foam pad that after 20 or so chain washings will begin to fall apart, Finish Line said they will replace those pads for free if you e-mail them!

I also use the Finish Line Solvent because it's earth friendly and it works way better then Simple Green that reportedly can pit metal.

I like rock-n-roll gold. No separate step for cleaning. Just apply lubricant liberally and wipe off. Clean and lube in one easy step.

Mineral spirits, old spaghetti sauce jar, toothbrush. Mineral spirits don't stink.
Put chain in, shake, use toothbrush to get all over.