Recommended stuff to clean cycle chain/gears?
19 June 2007, 01:46 PM
#1
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,413
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Recommended stuff to clean cycle chain/gears?
I've had my new bike for 6 months now and the chain and gears could do with a good clean. I used a teflon spray on them every ride as per the shop I bought it from, but it's looking very dirty and gunged up so is in need of a good clean.
Can anyone recommend a decent product to use? Is it worth getting one of those chain cleaner things?
Cheers
Can anyone recommend a decent product to use? Is it worth getting one of those chain cleaner things?
Cheers
19 June 2007, 01:59 PM
#2
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Mars
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dry lube is better for your chain - it sort of "drips" on and looks a it like j**z.
I use and old washing up brush to clean both bits but tend to slice my hands to pieces!
I use and old washing up brush to clean both bits but tend to slice my hands to pieces!
19 June 2007, 03:09 PM
#3
Scooby Regular
Get yourself a chain-cleaner (cheap ones from Halfords work perfectly ok) and buy some Muc off or similar de-greaser
Muc-Off Bike Cleaner 1 Litre Bottle With Trigger Kit for £6.49 | Muc-Off Cleaner - Bike | Cycle | Wiggle
Spray over your gears and fill the chain cleaner with the de-greaser. Spin your chain for around a minute or so, then make sure you rinse it well off with clean water. Also make sure you rinse out your chain cleaner.
Dry the chain with an old rag and apply a little dry lube that Matteeboy suggested or similar (I use a motorbike chain lube for riding throughout the winter on salted roads etc)
Lightly oil the spring and relevant cables on your gears with the same lube and you'll be fine.....
Ideally that should be done after every ride in bad conditions
Muc-Off Bike Cleaner 1 Litre Bottle With Trigger Kit for £6.49 | Muc-Off Cleaner - Bike | Cycle | Wiggle
Spray over your gears and fill the chain cleaner with the de-greaser. Spin your chain for around a minute or so, then make sure you rinse it well off with clean water. Also make sure you rinse out your chain cleaner.
Dry the chain with an old rag and apply a little dry lube that Matteeboy suggested or similar (I use a motorbike chain lube for riding throughout the winter on salted roads etc)
Lightly oil the spring and relevant cables on your gears with the same lube and you'll be fine.....
Ideally that should be done after every ride in bad conditions
19 June 2007, 03:13 PM
#4
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,236
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I got one of these, it's fantastic! 
eBay.co.uk: Barbieri Bike Chain Cleaner With Lube & Degreaser NEW! (item 170122017703 end time 24-Jun-07 12:08:27 BST)
eBay.co.uk: Barbieri Bike Chain Cleaner With Lube & Degreaser NEW! (item 170122017703 end time 24-Jun-07 12:08:27 BST)
19 June 2007, 03:14 PM
#5
You can clean it all using "Wickes Paintbrush cleaner", a powerful degreaser, which then washes off with hot water.
When I do mine, I go about it as follows:
You need: old paintbrush, about 1" or less. Old coffee jar for PBCleaner. Old washing up bowl.
Release chain off front chainrings, let it hang into bowl, and work PBC well into each link.
With bowl in place under chainrings, repeat for each ring and front mech.
With bowl in place under rear mech and cassette, repeat for each.
Now get a watering can full of the hottest water you can. Pour it through/over each part, spin cassette to allow water to clean out the crap inside it. It should spin with a metallic clicking sound. Allow to dry, the hotter the water the less time it takes.
Relube bearings with a decent oil/spray grease, chain with drylube in summer and a good wet lube in winter.
Don't forget to get lube into the cassette bearings, and the rear mech jockey wheel bearings.
I usually do this near a drain as the crap that comes off has to be seen to be believed. DON'T do it over a clean concrete path, the oil will stain it. DON'T use a power washer, it wrecks sealed bearings.
Of course, if you REALLY want to go the whole hog, buy a chain splitter and a couple of joining links, a cassette removal tool and a chain whip, and take the whole thing to bits. Somehow it's VERY satisfying
Alcazar
When I do mine, I go about it as follows:
You need: old paintbrush, about 1" or less. Old coffee jar for PBCleaner. Old washing up bowl.
Release chain off front chainrings, let it hang into bowl, and work PBC well into each link.
With bowl in place under chainrings, repeat for each ring and front mech.
With bowl in place under rear mech and cassette, repeat for each.
Now get a watering can full of the hottest water you can. Pour it through/over each part, spin cassette to allow water to clean out the crap inside it. It should spin with a metallic clicking sound. Allow to dry, the hotter the water the less time it takes.
Relube bearings with a decent oil/spray grease, chain with drylube in summer and a good wet lube in winter.
Don't forget to get lube into the cassette bearings, and the rear mech jockey wheel bearings.
I usually do this near a drain as the crap that comes off has to be seen to be believed. DON'T do it over a clean concrete path, the oil will stain it. DON'T use a power washer, it wrecks sealed bearings.
Of course, if you REALLY want to go the whole hog, buy a chain splitter and a couple of joining links, a cassette removal tool and a chain whip, and take the whole thing to bits. Somehow it's VERY satisfying
Alcazar
19 June 2007, 03:18 PM
#6
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Mars
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Alcazar - How long does THAT take you?!!!
I just get a new chain every year!
In fact bike currently in for a new cassette, chain and XT rear mech.
10 miles a day really does wear the bike our quickly!
I just get a new chain every year!
In fact bike currently in for a new cassette, chain and XT rear mech.
10 miles a day really does wear the bike our quickly!
19 June 2007, 03:25 PM
#7
Scooby Regular
You can clean it all using "Wickes Paintbrush cleaner", a powerful degreaser, which then washes off with hot water.
When I do mine, I go about it as follows:
You need: old paintbrush, about 1" or less. Old coffee jar for PBCleaner. Old washing up bowl.
Release chain off front chainrings, let it hang into bowl, and work PBC well into each link.
With bowl in place under chainrings, repeat for each ring and front mech.
With bowl in place under rear mech and cassette, repeat for each.
Now get a watering can full of the hottest water you can. Pour it through/over each part, spin cassette to allow water to clean out the crap inside it. It should spin with a metallic clicking sound. Allow to dry, the hotter the water the less time it takes.
Relube bearings with a decent oil/spray grease, chain with drylube in summer and a good wet lube in winter.
Don't forget to get lube into the cassette bearings, and the rear mech jockey wheel bearings.
I usually do this near a drain as the crap that comes off has to be seen to be believed. DON'T do it over a clean concrete path, the oil will stain it. DON'T use a power washer, it wrecks sealed bearings.
Of course, if you REALLY want to go the whole hog, buy a chain splitter and a couple of joining links, a cassette removal tool and a chain whip, and take the whole thing to bits. Somehow it's VERY satisfying
When I do mine, I go about it as follows:
You need: old paintbrush, about 1" or less. Old coffee jar for PBCleaner. Old washing up bowl.
Release chain off front chainrings, let it hang into bowl, and work PBC well into each link.
With bowl in place under chainrings, repeat for each ring and front mech.
With bowl in place under rear mech and cassette, repeat for each.
Now get a watering can full of the hottest water you can. Pour it through/over each part, spin cassette to allow water to clean out the crap inside it. It should spin with a metallic clicking sound. Allow to dry, the hotter the water the less time it takes.
Relube bearings with a decent oil/spray grease, chain with drylube in summer and a good wet lube in winter.
Don't forget to get lube into the cassette bearings, and the rear mech jockey wheel bearings.
I usually do this near a drain as the crap that comes off has to be seen to be believed. DON'T do it over a clean concrete path, the oil will stain it. DON'T use a power washer, it wrecks sealed bearings.
Of course, if you REALLY want to go the whole hog, buy a chain splitter and a couple of joining links, a cassette removal tool and a chain whip, and take the whole thing to bits. Somehow it's VERY satisfying
That's verging on OCD
Just get yourself a chaincleaner, some degreaser and you're done in 5mins max
Trending Topics
19 June 2007, 03:28 PM
#8
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,413
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You can clean it all using "Wickes Paintbrush cleaner", a powerful degreaser, which then washes off with hot water.
When I do mine, I go about it as follows:
You need: old paintbrush, about 1" or less. Old coffee jar for PBCleaner. Old washing up bowl.
Release chain off front chainrings, let it hang into bowl, and work PBC well into each link.
With bowl in place under chainrings, repeat for each ring and front mech.
With bowl in place under rear mech and cassette, repeat for each.
Now get a watering can full of the hottest water you can. Pour it through/over each part, spin cassette to allow water to clean out the crap inside it. It should spin with a metallic clicking sound. Allow to dry, the hotter the water the less time it takes.
Relube bearings with a decent oil/spray grease, chain with drylube in summer and a good wet lube in winter.
Don't forget to get lube into the cassette bearings, and the rear mech jockey wheel bearings.
I usually do this near a drain as the crap that comes off has to be seen to be believed. DON'T do it over a clean concrete path, the oil will stain it. DON'T use a power washer, it wrecks sealed bearings.
Of course, if you REALLY want to go the whole hog, buy a chain splitter and a couple of joining links, a cassette removal tool and a chain whip, and take the whole thing to bits. Somehow it's VERY satisfying
Alcazar
When I do mine, I go about it as follows:
You need: old paintbrush, about 1" or less. Old coffee jar for PBCleaner. Old washing up bowl.
Release chain off front chainrings, let it hang into bowl, and work PBC well into each link.
With bowl in place under chainrings, repeat for each ring and front mech.
With bowl in place under rear mech and cassette, repeat for each.
Now get a watering can full of the hottest water you can. Pour it through/over each part, spin cassette to allow water to clean out the crap inside it. It should spin with a metallic clicking sound. Allow to dry, the hotter the water the less time it takes.
Relube bearings with a decent oil/spray grease, chain with drylube in summer and a good wet lube in winter.
Don't forget to get lube into the cassette bearings, and the rear mech jockey wheel bearings.
I usually do this near a drain as the crap that comes off has to be seen to be believed. DON'T do it over a clean concrete path, the oil will stain it. DON'T use a power washer, it wrecks sealed bearings.
Of course, if you REALLY want to go the whole hog, buy a chain splitter and a couple of joining links, a cassette removal tool and a chain whip, and take the whole thing to bits. Somehow it's VERY satisfying
Alcazar
Mmmmm.... Chain cleaner it is then...
19 June 2007, 03:29 PM
#9
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 364
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I use old fashioned method of toothbrush with Halfords Citrus De-Greaser. Spin chain whilst holding toothbrush over and under chain - then rinse (i use hose on low pressure). Fantastic on sprockets, jockey wheels etc too.
Dry off with rag - and apply favourite spray lube to chase away the moisture - then I apply final coat of suitable lubricant.
Do this after every muddy ride and you cant go wrong.
Dry off with rag - and apply favourite spray lube to chase away the moisture - then I apply final coat of suitable lubricant.
Do this after every muddy ride and you cant go wrong.
19 June 2007, 03:30 PM
#11
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Perthshire
Posts: 6,396
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There's no need for expense.
Buy an alloy wheel cleaning brush, a washing up brush and a scrubbing brush from Tesco some Muck-off and some Muck-off Bike Spray. 5 min job after each ride, wet with hose, spray with Muck-off and scrub, rinse well, bounce excess water off, dry and spray liberally with Bike Spray. I've had my bike for 6 months done 100's of miles on it and its components still look like new. (I am on my 3rd chain right enough
)
Don't use anything too harsh as as it will strip the chain of all grease and will just do more harm than good
Buy an alloy wheel cleaning brush, a washing up brush and a scrubbing brush from Tesco some Muck-off and some Muck-off Bike Spray. 5 min job after each ride, wet with hose, spray with Muck-off and scrub, rinse well, bounce excess water off, dry and spray liberally with Bike Spray. I've had my bike for 6 months done 100's of miles on it and its components still look like new. (I am on my 3rd chain right enough
)Don't use anything too harsh as as it will strip the chain of all grease and will just do more harm than good
Last edited by PG; 19 June 2007 at 03:33 PM.
19 June 2007, 03:45 PM
#13
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: SE15/EC4
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Changinig the chain regularly is worth doing, cos an old chain will eat the teeth on your rings/sprockets. A new chain every year is cheaper than a new chain, rings and cassette every three years. And easier.
19 June 2007, 06:30 PM
#15
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Edinburgh (ish)
Posts: 8,089
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I use parafin to clean my chain - works well and is cheap ! Purple Extreme oil is great, or Cross Country synthetic oil for half the price. The chain cleaner is a must, although I also use an old paintbrush for the cogs.
19 June 2007, 08:19 PM
#17
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,413
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well bought a multi-pack of Muc-off and Bike Spray from Halfords for £10 plus some synthetic lube. I've already got a nylon brush from on old Alloy wheel cleaning kit. I'll give it a go tomorrow if the weather is OK. I may take some before and after pics as well
Paul3446, I like the look of that, so may purchase..
Paul3446, I like the look of that, so may purchase..
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Sub-Subaru
General Technical
1
28 September 2015 12:47 PM