Cleaning Chain

[BeaverTail]

I bought some Finish Line Dry Teflon lube for my bike and use it for the gears and chain. Though the stuff is expensive. I usually put some on a towel or paper town and run the chain through the lubed part of the towel, this gets a lot of the gunk and grit off the chair and cogs. But what I wanted to know is there is cheaper way to clean the chain, and then be able to apply the dry teflon lube afterwards.

[MiniTrail]

NYer myself and I have used the finish line Teflon and wet lube in the past. Just started using Prolink gold at the start of our not so summer here and it's far and away cleaner and easier to deal with. It is both a cleaner and lube and much cheaper overall than Finishline. I'll never go back.

Lots of choices for chain lube so I'm sure others will chime in. You've got my 2 cent on the subject.

[b-kul]

i like phil wood.

[clutch_08]

i was reading this link. i think im going to try it once i finish the lube i have and buy bar chain oil for chain saw its cheaper and you get more the 4 oz
heres the link
http://www.nordicgroup.us/chain/

[tomsmoto]

ive tried homebrews.. oil and solvent mixes of a few kind. they're either dirty, or a pain in the ass.

i dont want to spend all day wiping homebrew off every link so it doesnt attract dust. i dont want to do wacky sonic cleaning or have cans of mineral spirits soaking chains. ive got better things to do! get prolink

apply prolink to each link, wipe off and ride. takes 30 seconds and you're done. nice and clean, doesnt attract dirt or waste all your time. a bottle should last 1-2 months, not unreasonable.

[ibis26]

Hi all ! i agree with tom here...btw , just wiping the outside of the chain wont get it done. lube has to get inside of the chain...

[louisssss]

i use the park tools chain gang cleaner + citrus chain cleaner fluid. then i use prolink to relube

[BigSharks]

^^I use the chain gang too. I'm more likely to use water and a little dish soap than the citrus stuff (since it appears that about 3 cleanings will exhaust the bottle).

I relube with the Finish Line stuff - I think it was like $7.95 for the bottle, and seems like it'll last quite awhile.

[louisssss]

yea, i'm looking for a new bottle, where can i find one?

is water + dish soap okay? or hand soap?

[Qatarbhoy]

I use dish soap. Not cool but it seems to work. I also like Ice Wax as it does remove the gunk as well, but then I don't encounter much rain here - apparently rain and wax lubes don't play well together.

[BigSharks]

I'd imagine you can get a new one at a LBS or Park Tool's site. The instructions that came w/the Chain Gang said water and dishsoap can be used as a substitute.

[MiniTrail]

Originally Posted by louisssss

i use the park tools chain gang cleaner + citrus chain cleaner fluid. then i use prolink to relube

Why? Do you like cleaning your chain or would you rather ride?

[louisssss]

Originally Posted by MiniTrail

Why? Do you like cleaning your chain or would you rather ride?

i clean my chain so i can continue riding, you don't clean yours?

[Ken in KC]

Lube and cleaning are two different things. Any degreaser will work to clean the chain (Dawn dish soap and Simple Green are two that I've used).

Lube serves two purposes:

1. To reduce friction on metal parts.
2. To take up the void in the chain links to prevent unwanted FOD inside the chain.

Which lube is a personal preference and is often based on geography.

[MiniTrail]

Originally Posted by louisssss

i clean my chain so i can continue riding, you don't clean yours?

Solvents with messy wet lubes I can see but you're missing the beauty of prolink IMO. If you're that fussy use a brush before re-application.
Not saying you're wrong just seems like a waste is all.

[Bikinfoolferlife]

I remember when I first got serious about cycling and for some reason the chain cleaner devices seemed like a good idea. Didn't use it for long, pretty messy compared to just wiping/brushing down the chain after a ride and keeping a moderate state of lube on the chain with a good lube (I've liked Boeshield/T9 for much of my riding, somewhat the Finish Line CC Wet Lube, and lately been using FBinNY's Chain-L). I rarely need to take my chain off and do a full clean/degrease (but I don't ride a lot in adverse conditions either).

[voxbby]

cleaning make me happy

[tomsmoto]

Originally Posted by louisssss

i clean my chain so i can continue riding, you don't clean yours?

lube has solvent in it to suspend it.. its otherwise too thick to get where it needs to go. in the process of lubing your chain, you're solvent flushing the old lube and crap out with it.

i took a quick poll a while ago of mileage vs lube type and cleaning.. factoring in a slight variation for riding style and weight, pretty much everyone got the same mileage as long as they actually lubed it with something.

it really seems like you get roughly the same amount of mileage whether you spend 2 hours a ride cleaning or just hosing on lube and wiping it off a while later.

using degreaser on the other hand has a strong potential to cause damage to your chain. it displaces lube and rubs metal to metal.. unless you're rinising the living hell out of your chain afterwards and fully drying it, you're not getting the degreaser out, which is really worse than not cleaning it at all.

[siwilliams]

I use Rock n Roll Lube, it's great! bought a chain cleaner but hardly use it. Only comes out for a really dirty chain like my girl friends department store bike BEFORE I started using Rock n Roll on it. It's pretty dry in Brisbane so R n R followed by wiping down with a rag works great. I imagine it might be different if I was riding in the wet more (like back in NZ).

[louisssss]

Originally Posted by tomsmoto

lube has solvent in it to suspend it.. its otherwise too thick to get where it needs to go. in the process of lubing your chain, you're solvent flushing the old lube and crap out with it.

i took a quick poll a while ago of mileage vs lube type and cleaning.. factoring in a slight variation for riding style and weight, pretty much everyone got the same mileage as long as they actually lubed it with something.

it really seems like you get roughly the same amount of mileage whether you spend 2 hours a ride cleaning or just hosing on lube and wiping it off a while later.

using degreaser on the other hand has a strong potential to cause damage to your chain. it displaces lube and rubs metal to metal.. unless you're rinising the living hell out of your chain afterwards and fully drying it, you're not getting the degreaser out, which is really worse than not cleaning it at all.

so you're saying using soap/water or the degreaser that came with the Park Chain Gang is actually bad for the chain?

so next time my chain is all dirty, just wipe it down with a rag/brush off dirty then drip on the prolink on each chain link?

[kukulkan]

I use this to degrease my chain, check the information of the product it works great it dries in 2 secs won't hurt anything and removes grease, dirt like no other I tried before works fast,then I use a dry lube for my terrain. now whatever u use is a personal preference cleaning is part of performance on your bike
hope it helps good luck

http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/340186.asp

[MiniTrail]

Originally Posted by tomsmoto

lube has solvent in it to suspend it.. its otherwise too thick to get where it needs to go. in the process of lubing your chain, you're solvent flushing the old lube and crap out with it.

i took a quick poll a while ago of mileage vs lube type and cleaning.. factoring in a slight variation for riding style and weight, pretty much everyone got the same mileage as long as they actually lubed it with something.

it really seems like you get roughly the same amount of mileage whether you spend 2 hours a ride cleaning or just hosing on lube and wiping it off a while later.

using degreaser on the other hand has a strong potential to cause damage to your chain. it displaces lube and rubs metal to metal.. unless you're rinising the living hell out of your chain afterwards and fully drying it, you're not getting the degreaser out, which is really worse than not cleaning it at all.

Bingo! That's what I'm discovering. I know I did more harm than good. My chain life has easily doubled and counting since I stopped cleaning and it's been a real disaster of a summer. Super wet and sloppy.

[louisssss]

so i'm better off NOT cleaning my chain at all and just wiping/brushing the crap off and applying lube over everything?

[clutch_08]

Originally Posted by louisssss

so i'm better off NOT cleaning my chain at all and just wiping/brushing the crap off and applying lube over everything?

i believe thats what he is saying

[tomsmoto]

Originally Posted by louisssss

so you're saying using soap/water or the degreaser that came with the Park Chain Gang is actually bad for the chain?
[

so next time my chain is all dirty, just wipe it down with a rag/brush off dirty then drip on the prolink on each chain link?

not rising off soap and degreaser is bad for your chain, cassette and rings. it really does take some serious flushing to get all that stuff off your chain, and then some heat to evaporate all the water before it rusts your chain out.. so yeah, id strongly recommend you stop unless you really do want to spend an hour or more doing it thoroughly!

i dont believe degreasing your chain and fully flushing it leads to any real increase in life of any component.. so it just seems like a waste of an hour to me.

once you start following the prolink hose-on/wipe-off/ride method, you'll kinda find your chain stays pretty clean on its own! when im riding a lot ill just wipe down the chain, lube it up and wipe it off after i get my gear together (10-15 minutes maybe) and ride. ill lube it and let it sit overnight every couple weeks or so.

i think prolink cleans better. ive used finishline and a couple others and just didnt like them. your experiences with lubes may vary, but i think its a solid recommendation not to degrease chains.

[louisssss]

^^ okay i'll take your advice on:

stop using degreaser on the chain and only using prolink.

i dont see how that would keep my chain all shiny and silvery, like new though... after a few rides in NYC my chain would pick up some dirty and dust and crap... should i just leave that on and brush off the excess?

[clutch_08]

i think i will try this to

[tomsmoto]

chain lubes are solvents. chain lube dissolves grease and grime, and washes off dirt and anything else. the solvent suspends the lube, effectively thinning it out (think paint when you mix in thinner.. can seep into smaller places). the thinned lube makes it into your chain where it needs to be and you wipe the rest off leaving a very very thin film which keeps crap from really sticking to it.

you really dont need a sparkly chain.. but prolink does keep it looking presentable.

[BeaverTail]

So it seems most people like ProLink, but isn't this a wet lube which will attract dust and dirt.

[MiniTrail]

Originally Posted by BeaverTail

So it seems most people like ProLink, but isn't this a wet lube which will attract dust and dirt.

If it was a problem I wouldn't be using it in fact I've gone to it because of issues with several other lubes. I'm lazy, I like to ride, I hate to clean anything.

Wipe or brush off the chain and gears
apply a drop on each link
wipe off excess and let dry
ride

[jeffscott]

Originally Posted by tomsmoto

it really seems like you get roughly the same amount of mileage whether you spend 2 hours a ride cleaning or just hosing on lube and wiping it off a while later.

using degreaser on the other hand has a strong potential to cause damage to your chain. it displaces lube and rubs metal to metal.. unless you're rinising the living hell out of your chain afterwards and fully drying it, you're not getting the degreaser out, which is really worse than not cleaning it at all.

What a crock of BS.....

Come home from a muddy ride, hose the chain off, then use soap and water to clean of the old gritty lube, get the dirt out from inside the rollers, rinse, then re-lube...

After a week of riding snowy, salty car snot, wash the chain with soap and water and a rag (hose doesn't work in winter), rinse, and relube.

Geez I can blow through a chain in a month, if I don't clean it up before re-lubbing it...last year I got a full winter on one chain...(that is a record)

Course I suppose if you ride manicured paths you might not have to wash it much.

[jeffscott]

Originally Posted by tomsmoto

chain lubes are solvents. chain lube dissolves grease and grime, and washes off dirt and anything else. the solvent suspends the lube, effectively thinning it out (think paint when you mix in thinner.. can seep into smaller places). the thinned lube makes it into your chain where it needs to be and you wipe the rest off leaving a very very thin film which keeps crap from really sticking to it.

you really dont need a sparkly chain.. but prolink does keep it looking presentable.

Again what a crock of BS

Chain lubes don't wash the grit from inside the rollers, they don't even get al the srap off most of the time, wash (soap and water), rinse (doesn't take much and re-lube...

Again unless you are riding manicured paths etc.

[nachomc]

I wipe down my chain after every ride. I then relube the chain. I use Dumonde Tech (green) lube on all three of my bikes. I get 30-40 miles on the mountain bikes during normal conditions, 20 miles or so when it's SUPER dusty (we have really fine, powdery dirt and/or sand in a lot of the places I ride).

Once a month or so, I pull the chain off the bike, drop it in a bottle of degreaser, soak it for a bit, then rinse the chain and scrub it where necessary with a brush, then dry and put it back on the bike, then relube once it's dry. FWIW, I generally follow the Sheldon Brown guide: http://sheldonbrown.com/chains.html. I've noticed a HUGE difference in how clean the chain stays and how easy it is to clean by lubing the inside of the chain as opposed to the outside, which is how I lubed at first.

[tomsmoto]

Originally Posted by jeffscott

Again what a crock of BS

Chain lubes don't wash the grit from inside the rollers, they don't even get al the srap off most of the time, wash (soap and water), rinse (doesn't take much and re-lube...

Again unless you are riding manicured paths etc.

so SOLVENT doesnt wash dirt off? but getting water inside your chain, thats good for it? talk about bs.

yes chain lube is full of solvents. yes it cleans. yes lots of people do the wipe and lube and get the same chainlife as everyone else. takes 5 minutes instead of hours waiting for water to evaporate off a chain (especially in winter? come on.)

[jeffscott]

Originally Posted by tomsmoto

so SOLVENT doesnt wash dirt off?

but getting water inside your chain, thats good for it? talk about bs.

No you are pissing around with a couple of ml of fluid and $8.00 an oz.

I am washing the chain off with several liters of water, the last rinses come off shiny clean...so no grit...

The cahin dries quickly with no rust, (I have taken the links off after cleaning before re-lube)...

The new lube can get into the rollers easily and well,

So no couple mls of fluid does not wash a chain, anywhere near as well as a couple liters of water...

Oh and then lets talk about all the road salt all over the chain....in winter.

[Zoke2]

+1 for ProLink ... the stuff works

or to do it right try this method

[carrot_top]

I just wipe down/re-lube after every other ride....

if its muddy and the chain is gritty, i take a water bottle, fill w/ degreaser and water and put the chain in it....shake vigorously, pour out all the liquid, then refill and do the same until water comes out clear.......after this, i just wipe it clean with a towel and dry it, then put it back on bike and re-lube....

I use tri-flow on my chain....because it rains at times, i try to stay away from wax or teflon lubes, as they muck up pretty bad in the wet.....

[tduro]

I spent some years degreasing and re-lubing regularly, then some years just re-lubing regularly. There was no noticeable difference in wear and tear. The only way to solve this is with well-designed scientific experiments. Problem is, many don't believe in that crap anyway.

[Bikinfoolferlife]

Originally Posted by carrot_top

I just wipe down/re-lube after every other ride....

if its muddy and the chain is gritty, i take a water bottle, fill w/ degreaser and water and put the chain in it....shake vigorously, pour out all the liquid, then refill and do the same until water comes out clear.......after this, i just wipe it clean with a towel and dry it, then put it back on bike and re-lube....

I use tri-flow on my chain....because it rains at times, i try to stay away from wax or teflon lubes, as they muck up pretty bad in the wet.....

Tri-Flow comes in various forms, you might want to check which ones have paraffin (wax) and PTFE....

[moldau94]

I wipe down my chain after every ride and relube so I'm ready to go for the next time out. Once a month or so I'll give it an hour-long soak in kerosene, brush it off and let it dry for a few hours in the sun (I don't rinse it in water, I just let the kerosene evaporate). Works well enough for me so far.

[AndrwSwitch]

I just wipe my chain with a dry rag after most rides, and re-lube if it was a wet ride or it's starting to squeak. I sometimes also reapply if I'm going racing the next day.

If my hour is worth $17 (stupid economy...) and a chain is worth $15, and I buy two chains a year instead of one but save hours, over time, of messing around with it, I come out ahead. Honestly, though, I don't think I buy more chains per mile than I did when I was being much more uptight about it.

[HSMITH]

Simple Green automotive is the best chain cleaner I have found. Put the chain in a tub with 100% SG, let it sit for two minutes, long enough to wipe down the chainrings, swish it around for one minute, rinse with HOT water until the water is clear. All the dirt and dirty lube will come out of the chain. The chain will be very HOT so it will dry. Wipe the cassette down, install the chain and lube. 10 minutes for a super clean chain properly lubed back on the bike. Even the dry lubes pick up a lot of crap here so chain cleaning is a must every 20 miles off road if you want the bike to actually shift right and the chain to stay on. Before I used the Simple Green I was using dish soap and a brush, took minimum 30 minutes to get the chain somewhat clean. I have 1000 miles on one chain and it is not worn out, still at .25 on my chain checker and that is where it was at 600 miles. I used a bottle of Finish Line Dry on it and recently White Lightning Dry.

[vfrrider17]

Take the chain off

WD-40

perfectly clean every time.

[drexlerkm]

I'm with jeffscott here...

Take chain off, degrease (simple green), rinse thoroughly--

Dry in front of a fan.. has no one heard of a fan here? It, like.. removes residual wetness, and like... dries it to prevent corrosion.

Then wipe, rinse, repeat, blah blah... it really not that time consuming. Especially when its much more than the chain you're maintaining...

Then re-lube. +1 to whoever said you're lubing the inside of the chain, not outside. Sounds simple but may not be obvious to some. Only need to lube the rollers!