Chain cleaners

[Slowbee]

So the time has come. Been for a few rides on the mtn bike and its time for a clean. Which is the better chain cleaning thingymabob gadget to buy:

RavX,

Park tool,

or the BBS one ?

 

(i think these are the ones I looked at at the LBS).

 

Apologies to any editors, I never really paid much attention in afrikaans, english.

[Baaisikilist]

To be honest, none of em really last, had expensive ones (parktool) and cheapies (barberi), both only lasted a couple months, tho i do scrub my chain every time i wash the bike, which is after every ride, so 3 to 4 times a week. Most mtbaaisikilists wash their bikes once every 6 months, if you're the same, the cheap barberi will suffice...

[Slowbee]

MtBaai - how often do you take you chain off and give it a good scrub?

[Baaisikilist]

My bikes get serviced religiously every 3 to 4 months, it gets removed and scrubbed then, along with the unreachable 'back' of the cassette. The rest of the time just usin a chain scrubber n cleen green is sufficient...

[Tumbleweed]

that's a little too much, like home-schooling a child. your chain won't get used to the enviroment, and will pick up bad habits. clean it when it needs it. park tool does the job brilliantly. go the powerlink route if you want, but it's a bit too much. personal opinion.

[Slowbee]

and you use clean grean ?

 

is the stuff safe for the paint work and stickers on the bike?

 

[Slowbee]

HR, so the parktool is the way to go if I want to do it after everyfew rides ?

 

 

[Baaisikilist]

Cleen green is fine, dilute it to wash the bike, undiluted for the chain. It's biodegradable too so can't be bad for yr frame etc... The parktool one is over 300 bux, the barberi just over 100, so if you only gonna clean your chain now n again, the barberi works well. Just rinse it n shake any excess water out of it, leaving it wet or submerged in water in a bucket etc makes the plastic bend all out of shape, resulting in the lil brush wheels falling out or becoming misaligned...

[Dirtbreath]

Had my Park Tools scrubber for years. Looks worn and the handle and clips dont work but it still scrubs the chain fine.

 

I use Reinol BH38 which you can get at any hardware store. Remember to rinse your solution well after scrubbing. Keep running in clean water until it is clear and then run a few times until chain is dry.

[XTC OKE]

My Bike get serviced every 2nd week

[MTB MAN]

Use paraffin cheap and easy shake in a bottle and there you go lube it and you on your way................

[Guest Big H]

If you use paraffin you will have to degrease the chain. The "fatty" residue left by paraffin will dilute your oil and stuff up the viscosity.

 

I use a BBB clamshell washer with Sunlight liquid.

[mountain_lion]

Since I fitted a quick link to my chain, I have stopped using a clam shell type cleaner gadget.

 

Much easier, quicker and more efficient to remove the chain to clean it with your choice of degreaser.

I have not tried it, but hear Prepsol is a good solution. Will try some when my current bottle of engine cleaner runs out.

 

 

[Guest Big H]

In Pretoria is one of those soap shops that sell no name brand soaps. They sell a "heavy duty" cleaner. This stuff works extremely well. Prepsol will also work, I suspect it is very much the same stuff as the "heavy duty"

[Slowbee]

thanks BigH. Do you think a quick link is a better way to go ?

[Guest Big H]

Quicklinks do work and many cyclists are very happy with them. I carry them as spares on the tandem if my chain breaks. I also carry a chainbreaker and Shimano link pins.

I find breaking the chain at the quick link is messy and dirty, I only wash my chain with the clamshell washer, make sure to let it dry properly and then lubricate with Squirt. Do not lubricate just before your ride. As the lubricant must penetrate and dry properly. Wipe the excess off the chain before riding.