Cleaning a chain

[RbelYous]

Hi,

 

Any advice on cleaning a MTB chain, and gears, etc?

 

I have seen the chain cleaner systems and degreaser solutions available, but is there any other options as opposed to this? Perhaps old toothbrushes, rags, etc?

 

I would like to clean the chain and lube it properly, but unable to purchase the chain cleaner system and degreaser at the moment.

 

Thanks!

[Brickleberry]

Lightly diluted dish liquid will clean an oil based lube well. If wax based pour boiling water on first then do the same . And old toothbrush will do the job.

[rvdm1]

I have a master link in my chain. When the time comes to clean it, I take it off and let it soak in some prepsol (R30 or so from midas), give it a quick brush with an old toothbrush and rinse with water. Works like a charm.

[popcorn_skollie]

Take your chain off the bike. Soak it in paraffin. Take it out. Dry it off. Put back on bike and lube. It will look like a brand new chain

[scotty]

For quick and easy version I spray degreaser on, pour boiling water and use toothbrush, otherwise as mentioned remove and soak in cleaning liquid, scrub and refit. 

[AlanD]

Ja, i remove my chain via a quick link amd soak it in a degrease (dirt nurse) while i clean the bike.

 

Then take an ild rag and give it a good wipe down, rinse and put back in.

 

Re: cassette, i spray the degreaser on and let it soak in while cleaning the rest of the bike. Then take an old nail brush amd give it a rubbing amd rinse

[BenReaper]

As has been mentioned parrafin is a cheap way to clean youre chain.

For a quick clean just use a paintbrush or tooth brush and scrub the chain while on the bike.

For a decent clean remove the chain and let it soak in parrafin for a while,also scrub the cassette and chainrings at this time.

In both instinces wipe clean with a cloth afterwards and lube well before use.

[Uni]

Recently while pondering the difference between chain degreaser, chain cleaner and and and ..... The bike shop guy said to me don't bother just use paraffin, so that's what I've been doing and it works a charm, but I don't take the chain off simply because that seems something I'll take off and can't put back.

 

On an aside, what's the responsible way of disposing dirty paraffin?

[Veebee]

Anything else you guys use?  Maybe stuff like clean green or similar?  

 

Going through quite a few of these spray on de-greaser as I can't stand looking at a dirty bike or black chain so need to find a cheaper solution.

[Spank]

Take your chain off the bike. Soak it in paraffin. Take it out. Dry it off. Put back on bike and lube. It will look like a brand new chain

What he said.

[Albatross]

I use Kleen Green undiluted in a chain cleaning machine (no need to remove chain) and I spray the KG onto cassette whilst brushing. Always rinse off pretty quickly with water, had no issues to date and everything looks shiny.

[MSquared]

Parktool chain cleaning apparatus, a floor scrubbing brush, old tooth brush,some clean green in a spray bottle and hot water.

 

The key is the hot water. Without it you're wasting your time.

 

Rinse bike with hot water. Use chain cleaner on chain, then spray clean green on brush and tackle the blade and then the cogs. Use tooth brush on derailleur. Rinse with hot water and repeat.

 

Don't forget to oil chain once dried from water.

[Eugene Brown]

Take chain off and clean in petrol, hang to dry, refit and lube. Works great. Don't throw the petrol away, pour through a coffee filter, and re-use. 500ml lasts me about 4 months before it's too sif to use anymore

[Ysterperd]

I alternate between 2 chains. Weekly i take the one that I was using that week of. Put it in a plastic bottle ( those that have the ice tea concentrate works well, good large opening)

Fill bottle half full with diesel. Put cap on ans shake well. Soak overnight and shake again next morning. Take second empty bottle and funnel. Stuff bottom part of funnel with something like fishtank filter fluff and drain dirty diesel into second empty bottle. May need to filter more than once depending how dirty it is.

I find that i can re-use diesel indefnitely.

Take chain and hang it to dry.

Use second chain while waiting working on dirty chain this will also lengthen your chain use.

[Ysterperd]

With cassette i take a stiff brush and rush the casette and jockey wheels with soap water when i wash my bike. Hold cassette with hand brush, rotate untill you have done whole cassette

[Eugene Brown]

I alternate between 2 chains. Weekly i take the one that I was using that week of. Put it in a plastic bottle ( those that have the ice tea concentrate works well, good large opening)

Fill bottle half full with diesel. Put cap on ans shake well. Soak overnight and shake again next morning. Take second empty bottle and funnel. Stuff bottom part of funnel with something like fishtank filter fluff and drain dirty diesel into second empty bottle. May need to filter more than once depending how dirty it is.

I find that i can re-use diesel indefnitely.

Take chain and hang it to dry.

Use second chain while waiting working on dirty chain this will also lengthen your chain use.