Degreasing chain

[stevenaaus]

Do none of the above. Go to your LBS & pick up a bottle of chain lube. Dribble the lube onto the chain while backpedalling, sufficient for a drop on each link. Run through the gears for 30 seconds or so to work it into the links where it needs to be, then thoroughly wipe off the excess.. That's all you ever need to do.

Kindof what i do, but i admit to using a soft water based degreaser and a mechanical cleaner whenever it gets too nasty.

Duck - i suppose you just leave the shimano chain grease *on* the chain when installing, without any extra lube initially ?

[Duck!]

Duck - i suppose you just leave the shimano chain grease *on* the chain when installing, without any extra lube initially ?

Yes.

[trailgumby]

I've just recently switched to 10% teflon/90% paraffin wax mix applied hot to a clean chain. I run three chains in rotation. This is on a 2x10 drivetrain.

It runs nice and silent, and in dry conditions I'm getting 5-600km+ between treatments. Cleaning consists of dropping the chain into a kitchen sieve and dousing with boiling water, wiping down and hanging up to dry. The wax keeps the grit out. I use a dedicated $25 Target slow cooker to stay married

In wet conditions, treatment life drops to 300-350km, or less if it's really nasty.

I've tried it on my MTB with 1x12 and a narrow-wide front chainring, but I suspect the tolerances on the chainring are too tight as the wax layer on the inside faces of the links seems to trigger chain grab after about 100km when conditions are wet and gritty. At that pint I need to top up with Squirt, which means I have to go through the full petrol -> citrus + water -> alcohol 3-stage degrease process you use with a new chain before re-waxing, instead of just boiling water.

Smoove seems to be getting rave reviews from the marathon MTB guys so I'll give that a go next for the dirty bikes.

[marcogiampa23]

Just started riding again after many years layoff. Just wondering how to degrease the chain, it's looking a bit tacky. I have a new hybrid and probably done about 1000kms without much TLC except oil and cleaning.

i use this stuff, its finish line degreaser
https://www.pushys.com.au/finish-line-c ... lsrc=aw.ds

i just get a rag and put not alot, about a 4cm circle once it soaks in, then i grip the rag around the chain and run the drivetrain, pushing the wet bit into the rollers ontop of the chain and the side aswell

[outnabike]

Do none of the above. Go to your LBS & pick up a bottle of chain lube. Dribble the lube onto the chain while backpedalling, sufficient for a drop on each link. Run through the gears for 30 seconds or so to work it into the links where it needs to be, then thoroughly wipe off the excess.. That's all you ever need to do.

I like this post from Duck...I have never ever removed a chain for cleaning, and done this all my life. It is what my dad ever told me to do.

That is not proof of anything as he was no mechanic, but no chain on our family of 4 bicycles ever had a chain problem.

And the oil was used motor oil change oil in a hand operated can oil pump. Later I graduated to mums singer sewing machine oil as it had a spout on the bottle.
These days I use a bottle of whatever I was sold in a bike shop to salve my conscience.
But it goes on with a trickle and then a rag is used to wipe clean, that's it.

If the theory is that our bikes of the day were simple things, it may be true. But mine was a you beaut Healing semi racer with 3 speed Sturmy Archer gears. Brand new it cost 42-00 Pound. My dad earned 19 pound a week in those days....

[10speedsemiracer]

mums singer sewing machine oil

Ah memories...

[g-boaf]

I tried the CeramicSpeed UFO drip after cleaning off the chain:

https://cyclingtips.com/2020/11/ceramic ... r-cheaper/

I used the original version- couldn’t believe how silent everything ran yesterday. I applied it and left it overnight. Smoothest and most silent I’ve ever noticed the bike running.

It is strange stuff, runs out of the bottle like water and has a milk like colour. But it so far works beautifully.

[Scott No Mates]

Brand new it cost 42-00 Pound. My dad earned 19 pound a week in those days....

Almost as expensive as an engagement ring back in the day.

[outnabike]

He he,Who would pay 42 pound for an engagement ring... I paid 19 pound for that....
I was a 5th year apprentice married at 20 years of age. She still gots the ring i still gots the girl.....The bike went its owne way once the car xame into the picture. shame I never kept that bike.

It was the first bike too have a light that included a speedo. It had a cable that went to a gear on the front hub and just was spinning away like a motor car speedo. It was wonderful ...

[malnar]

Anyone tried coke or sports drink? Just used sports drink on my driveway and it degreased it well. It's the acid I believe. Any concerns for using on a chain?

[Andy01]

Anyone tried coke or sports drink? Just used sports drink on my driveway and it degreased it well. It's the acid I believe. Any concerns for using on a chain?

Probably cheaper to buy degreaser I would think some of the (large amount of) sugar might be left inside the chain rollers ?

[10speedsemiracer]

Anyone tried coke or sports drink? Just used sports drink on my driveway and it degreased it well. It's the acid I believe. Any concerns for using on a chain?

Probably cheaper to buy degreaser I would think some of the (large amount of) sugar might be left inside the chain rollers ?

Is this how we get Fat Bikes ?

[MichaelB]

Anyone tried coke or sports drink? Just used sports drink on my driveway and it degreased it well. It's the acid I believe. Any concerns for using on a chain?

Probably cheaper to buy degreaser I would think some of the (large amount of) sugar might be left inside the chain rollers ?

Is this how we get Fat Bikes ?

That made my day !!

[Andy01]

Anyone tried coke or sports drink? Just used sports drink on my driveway and it degreased it well. It's the acid I believe. Any concerns for using on a chain?

Probably cheaper to buy degreaser I would think some of the (large amount of) sugar might be left inside the chain rollers ?

Is this how we get Fat Bikes ?