What is the best way to clean a MTB chain?

[StokedAboutSpokes]

What is the best way to clean a MTB chain?

[jacques(masons)]

washing powder and warm water it realy works

[Minion]

Best as in most convenient, or best as in cleanest?

 

If the second, fit a quick link so you can easily remove and mount the chain.

Take the chain off, put it in a bottle of paraffin, seal and shake.

Next put the chain in a bottle of degreaser (Prepsol) and shake to remove the paraffin.

Rince and dry the chain, put it back on the bike and oil it.

Dispose of used paraffin in the correct, environmentally friendly, manner.

 

You can also use undiluted Kleen Green instead of paraffin and Prepsol. I've found it doesn't completely remove all the grease but it still does a very good job and you can get rid of it afterwards by pouring it down the drain.

 

[StokedAboutSpokes]

I have tryed that before and it DOES work VERY well but i heard that it isn't gud taking your chain off unless you really need to.

[Dirtbreath]

http://sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html 

[StokedAboutSpokes]

Ha Ha. There is no ways im gonna do that!!!

[Christopher Brunsdon]

My LBS sold me some Finish Line Chain Degreaser with Citrus - best thing I've ever used.

 

Drowned my chain in wet lube last week to give it a test. Took everything off. Pricey, but worth.

 

[Mutt]

http://sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html?

 

 

 

 

Those okes are nutters. Hell even as a joke it is madness to crack every link like that.

[Johan Bornman]

Chain cleaning is a religion on its own and I don't want to get ex-communicated. However, none of the above methods work if you've lubricated the chain with that wax rubbish.

 

Edit:    The word lubricated is not applicable when talking about wax, the word I was looking for was punished/harmed/disfavoured/wronged/abused/damaged

 

 

[Hog_]

Pffft. Just buy a new one every week, much easier than cleaning the thing.

 

 

 

[DownhillingKing]

haha or the braai cleaner degreaser works great but remember to lube it after wards

[BrendonMyb]

Chain cleaning is a religion on its own and I don't want to get ex-communicated. However' date=' none of the above methods work if you've lubricated the chain with that wax rubbish.

 

Edit:    The word lubricated is not applicable when talking about wax, the word I was looking for was punished/harmed/disfavoured/wronged/abused/damaged

 

 

[/quote']

 

johan, im curious !!, what makes you say that wax lube is rubbish ? this is purely a question & ive often wondered how effective wax lube really is. Sure it keeps my drive train clean but ive also wondered how effective it really is in preventing wear as there isnt really a lubricating property, all that there is, is a wax layer & the minute your chain starts turning on the cogs the wax starts peeling off & then after about 30 or so KM's the chain starts squeeling like pig begging for some lubrication. I use white lightining dry lube ( Blue & White bottle ) at the moment but i tend to find it a mission & a half to clean the wax off my chain. I use prepsol degreaser & a nail brush & toothbrush & sheesh that wax is stubborn especially inbtween the links....It tends to clog up in the wrong places & this is just what ive experienced. Perhaps someone else has too im not sure ?

 

now i dont overdo the lubing but i also dont underdo the lubing leaving me wondering is this stuff really working.

 

could you perhaps tell me what type of lube you would recomend ? Ive been thinking of perhaps using the below instead, as its got a bit of a wet lube property in as well as a dry keeping your drive train fairly clean depending on the conditions.

 

Johan please give me your thoughts

 

 

 

BumpNgrind2009-07-30 00:05:16

[Johan Bornman]

Chain cleaning is a religion on its own and I don't want to get ex-communicated. However' date=' none of the above methods work if you've lubricated the chain with that wax rubbish.

 

Edit:    The word lubricated is not applicable when talking about wax, the word I was looking for was punished/harmed/disfavoured/wronged/abused/damaged

 

 

[/quote']

 

johan, im curious !!, what makes you say that wax lube is rubbish ? this is purely a question & ive often wondered how effective wax lube really is. Sure it keeps my drive train clean but ive also wondered how effective it really is in preventing wear as there isnt really a lubricating property, all that there is, is a wax layer & the minute your chain starts turning on the cogs the wax starts peeling off & then after about 30 or so KM's the chain starts squeeling like pig begging for some lubrication. I use white lightining dry lube ( Blue & White bottle ) at the moment but i tend to find it a mission & a half to clean the wax off my chain. I use prepsol degreaser & a nail brush & toothbrush & sheesh that wax is stubborn especially inbtween the links....It tends to clog up in the wrong places & this is just what ive experienced. Perhaps someone else has too im not sure ?

 

now i dont overdo the lubing but i also dont underdo the lubing leaving me wondering is this stuff really working.

 

could you perhaps tell me what type of lube you would recomend ? Ive been thinking of perhaps using the below instead, as its got a bit of a wet lube property in as well as a dry keeping your drive train fairly clean depending on the conditions.

 

Johan please give me your thoughts

 

 

 

My thoughts?

 

I think you should trust your powers of observation more. What you have observed is precisely the problem.

 

Chain lubricant needs to flow. In the tension cycle of the chain (when it travels from the sprocket to the chainring in front), the oil gets squeezed out of the pressure interfaces.

 

In the return cycle, oil flows back, mostly due to capillary action. If you have a solid lubricant in there, it peels away as you say and collects on your pulleys where it does no good.

 

After just a few Kms, your chain becomes noisy and thus unlubricated.

 

Soapy degreaser will not remove those wax residues. You'll need a wax solvent of sorts and I have no idea what will do the job. Where's Homer when we need him? Hooooomer! You'r phone's ringing. What dissolves wax?

[Johan Bornman]

Forgot to answer the last part of your question:

 

Oil.  There is no such thing as wet lube and dry lube. Oil is oil. That stuff doesn't look robust enough. Find something with the approximate consistensy of engine oil. Engine oil works well as a chain lubricant but it splatters a bit. The other guys here will give you their preferences. Mine is Pedro's Syn Lube.

 

[AndreZA]

I found this stuff called "Red Hot Products Chain and Sprocket cleaner" at Dunkeld. It does work well but I think it's a bit expensive at R80 a can.

 

 

 

http://www.redhotproducts.co.za/

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Azonic]

I believe in a chain cleaner device. Fill it with the choice of parafin, turps or petrol (whichever is cheapest), clamp it onto the chain and backpedal slowely. When the liquid becomes very black, empty it out and refill with new. Do that like 3-4 times and you'll have one very clean chain.

 

To dry the chain very quickly, keep a cloth under the chain and let the chain lightly run over it, that sucks up allot of the liquid that hides inside the links.