chain clean

You can use a citric based cleaner from a hardware store. But be care full around polished alum
parts it might discolor them.

--
J/O Trailblazer At large !!

Hi, Paul, if you don't mind taking the chain off, I would recommend 'Gunk' (a product we have in
auto stores here in the USA)

Its a really great degreaser but don't get it on your lawn.

Another good product is 'Berryman's Carburetor Cleaner'.

Hope this helps.

Lewis.

**********************************

Paul Jones <"katpaul"@dodo.com.au(nospam)> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hello all

Ive been using the finish line chain cleaning tool, with their chain cleaner fluid.

Problem is, ther chain cleaner is very, very expensive in Australia.

Can kerosene be used instead? Does anyone know if using kero would either damage the bike, or the
chain cleaner tool?

Also, if there are some other cheap alternatives I would be interested

Paul

Kerosene will work. not that flammible either. I don't kniow how much it costs where you are, but I
find Gunk works great on all oily things. Chains, bearings, whatever.

May you have the wind at your back. And a really low gear for the hills! Chris

Chris'Z Corner "The Website for the Common Bicyclist": geocities.comczcornerOpen ↗

Lewis Campbell said:

Hi, Paul, if you don't mind taking the chain off, I would recommend 'Gunk' (a product we have in
auto stores here in the USA)

Its a really great degreaser but don't get it on your lawn.

Another good product is 'Berryman's Carburetor Cleaner'.

When a chain is clean should I still be getting the feeling of sand being stuck inside when flexing
it laterally? I can't really see how soaking in degreaser for any length of time would get rid of
this trapped grit, though I must admit all I did was scrub like hell with a rag and spray on
degreaser repeatedly.

(TBGibb) may have said:

In article said:

When a chain is clean should I still be getting the feeling of sand being stuck inside when
flexing it laterally? I can't really see how soaking in degreaser for any length of time would get
rid of this trapped grit, though I must admit all I did was scrub like hell with a rag and spray
on degreaser repeatedly.

If you get that feeling it isn't clean.

Thrashing the chain in several changes of solvent in a closed plastic bottle works the best for me.

For solvent, the cheap "paint thinner" grade of mineral spirits is more than adequate; here in the
US, it can easily be had for about 75 cents per liter (if you buy it in gallon cans) and often for
less than that.

You might also try uring a spray-on degreasing cleaner from a local auto parts store as a first
step, but I'd really recommend taking the chain off *before* trying that, since many of them will
etch aluminum rims and/or damage the paintwork. If the packaging admits what's inside, I find the
"butyl based" cleaners to be particularly effective. (They'll also remove every bit of oil from your
skin, so please use latex gloves when working with this stuff unless the dry, tight, chapped-hands
look is what you crave.)

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail. Yes, I have a killfile. If I
don't respond to something, it's also possible that I'm busy.

I struggled with this and appreciate your logic. I use the DISHWASHER, thinking that lots of 'soapy'
water will rinse the grit out. Indeed it does and it seems that this will be part of my chain
cleaning protocol.

"asqui" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Lewis Campbell said:

Hi, Paul, if you don't mind taking the chain off, I would recommend 'Gunk' (a product we have in
auto stores here in the USA)

Its a really great degreaser but don't get it on your lawn.

Another good product is 'Berryman's Carburetor Cleaner'.

When a chain is clean should I still be getting the feeling of sand being stuck inside when
flexing it laterally? I can't really see how soaking in degreaser for any length of time would get
rid of this trapped grit,

though

Quoted message said:

I must admit all I did was scrub like hell with a rag and spray on

degreaser

Quoted message said:

repeatedly.

Doug Huffman said:

I struggled with this and appreciate your logic. I use the DISHWASHER, thinking that lots of
'soapy' water will rinse the grit out. Indeed it does and it seems that this will be part of my
chain cleaning protocol.

Oh dear. I think my parents would have a breakdown if I tried that. They go ballistic about food
scraps being left on plates and collecting in the bottom of the dishwasher, in the *gasp* food
scraps collector mesh.

I can't really tell if you are being serious or winding me up here, to be honest 🙂

Dani

asqui' may have said:

Doug Huffman said:

I struggled with this and appreciate your logic. I use the DISHWASHER, thinking that lots of
'soapy' water will rinse the grit out. Indeed it does and it seems that this will be part of my
chain cleaning protocol.

Oh dear. I think my parents would have a breakdown if I tried that. They go ballistic about food
scraps being left on plates and collecting in the bottom of the dishwasher, in the *gasp* food
scraps collector mesh.

I can't really tell if you are being serious or winding me up here, to be honest 🙂

It sounds like a reasonable procedure; I may give it a try with the next load. There's almost always
at least *one* chain around here that could stand a good cleaning nowadays.

Maybe the trick is to run a load of dishes for them while they're out. As long as the chain doesn't
leave greasy marks on the rack, I can't see that this should do any harm. Just make sure that it's
not laid where it can hang down and foul the rotating arms.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail. Yes, I have a killfile. If I
don't respond to something, it's also possible that I'm busy.

Werehatrack said:

asqui' may have said:

Doug Huffman said:

I struggled with this and appreciate your logic. I use the DISHWASHER, thinking that lots of
'soapy' water will rinse the grit out. Indeed it does and it seems that this will be part of my
chain cleaning protocol.

Oh dear. I think my parents would have a breakdown if I tried that. They go ballistic about food
scraps being left on plates and collecting in the bottom of the dishwasher, in the *gasp* food
scraps collector mesh.

I can't really tell if you are being serious or winding me up here, to be honest 🙂

It sounds like a reasonable procedure; I may give it a try with the next load. There's almost
always at least *one* chain around here that could stand a good cleaning nowadays.

Maybe the trick is to run a load of dishes for them while they're out. As long as the chain
doesn't leave greasy marks on the rack, I can't see that this should do any harm. Just make sure
that it's not laid where it can hang down and foul the rotating arms.

So you're not only talking about putting a chain in a dishwasher, but putting it in with a regular
load of dishes??? Grease, degreaser, teflon, grit, horse [censored], and you're game to put this next to
your dishes in the dishwasher???

Insanity.

I clean the chain's exterior first and empty the DW and run it empty after the chain is removed. And
I am serious and have posted this idea a number of times. Please give it a try.

"asqui" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Doug Huffman said:

I struggled with this and appreciate your logic. I use the DISHWASHER, thinking that lots of
'soapy' water will rinse the grit out. Indeed it does and it seems that this will be part of my
chain cleaning protocol.

Oh dear. I think my parents would have a breakdown if I tried that. They

go

Quoted message said:

ballistic about food scraps being left on plates and collecting in the bottom of the dishwasher,
in the *gasp* food scraps collector mesh.

I can't really tell if you are being serious or winding me up here, to be honest 🙂

Dani

Doug Huffman said:

I clean the chain's exterior first and empty the DW and run it empty after the chain is removed.
And I am serious and have posted this idea a number of times. Please give it a try.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I can't really tell if you are being serious or winding me up here, to be honest 🙂

I used to practise target shooting (which I gave up to pay for all of the bikes I have now..) and I
can tell you there are many people who clean their empty shells in a washing machine, so I wouldn't
be surprised !

Greets, Derk

In article <[email hidden]>, Werehatrack

Quoted message said:

(TBGibb) may have said:

In article said:

When a chain is clean should I still be getting the feeling of sand being stuck inside when
flexing it laterally? I can't really see how soaking in degreaser for any length of time would
get rid of this trapped grit, though I must admit all I did was scrub like hell with a rag and
spray on degreaser repeatedly.

If you get that feeling it isn't clean.

Thrashing the chain in several changes of solvent in a closed plastic bottle works the best
for me.

For solvent, the cheap "paint thinner" grade of mineral spirits is more than adequate; here in the
US, it can easily be had for about 75 cents per liter (if you buy it in gallon cans) and often for
less than that.

You might also try uring a spray-on degreasing cleaner from a local auto parts store as a first
step, but I'd really recommend taking the chain off *before* trying that, since many of them will
etch aluminum rims and/or damage the paintwork. If the packaging admits what's inside, I find the
"butyl based" cleaners to be particularly effective. (They'll also remove every bit of oil from
your skin, so please use latex gloves when working with this stuff unless the dry, tight,
chapped-hands look is what you crave.)

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail. Yes, I have a killfile. If I
don't respond to something, it's also possible that I'm busy.

Definitely right. I've been using paint thinner for three decades. Put your chain in a can with a
bunch of the stuff. Shake it up. The grit falls off. Then dry the chain. I like Boeshield as a chain
lubricant and White Lightning seems good too.

Paying more seems wasteful to me.

Matt Temple