Chain cleaning

Steve F said:

This is really an extension of the "Chain Lube" thread below. Anybody out there use products like
Simple Green or citrus-based cleaners for their chain. If so how well do they work and can they
cause damage to aluminum, carbon, etc?

I use mineral spirits. But to really get the chain clean, you should remove it from the bike and
immerse it.

Art Harris

Steve F said:

This is really an extension of the "Chain Lube" thread below. Anybody out there use products like
Simple Green or citrus-based cleaners for their chain. If so how well do they work and can they
cause damage to aluminum, carbon, etc?

I've been cleaning my chains with Simple Green for years. I've noticed no damage, but then chains
are steel and I wouldn't have expected any.

I've also been cleaning my chainrings with Simple Green but I guess I've never left them soaking
long enough to cause any surface discoloration/damage.

jeverett3<AT>earthlink<DOT>net home.earthlink.net~jeverett3Open ↗

<snip> "Steve F" <[email hidden]> wrote

Anybody out

Quoted message said:

there use products like Simple Green or citrus-based cleaners for their chain. If so how well do
they work and can they cause damage to aluminum, carbon, etc?

I use citrus cleaner (Very large industrial size bottle available at Homedepot, Lowe's, etc.) and
have soaked a chain in it for as long as two weeks with no measurable damage to the chain.
Measurement was via ruler, using the standard method to determine "chain stretch." After soaking in
citrus cleaner, I rinse several times by shaking in a jar of hot water. I change the water several
times until the water is pretty much clear. Then I hang to dry or dry with a heat gun (not
recommended after a chain is cleaned with petroleum based solvents). This seems OK to me.

Since the citrus solvent never comes into contact with other bike parts, I can not comment on its
interactions with aluminum, carbon fiber, titanium, etc.

Thanks to all who gave suggestions. Great information.

Steve

<< I use citrus cleaner (Very large industrial size bottle available at Homedepot, Lowe's, etc.) and
have soaked a chain in it for as long as two weeks with no measurable damage to the chain.
Measurement was via ruler, using the standard method to determine "chain stretch." After soaking in
citrus cleaner, I rinse several times by shaking in a jar of hot water. I change the water several
times until the water is pretty much clear. Then I hang to dry or dry with a heat gun (not
recommended after a chain is cleaned with petroleum based solvents). This seems OK to me >>

Sounds like a time-consuming process. My method takes less than five minutes. Buy a gallon can of
laquer thinner at Home Depot. Attach a piece of hobby wire to the end of the chain, and suspend it
in the can of solvent. Cover the top, and shake for a minute. Pull the chain out slowly, to let the
solvent drip back into the can. Take the chain outdoors, and whip it around for half a minute. Chain
is now completely clean and dry. Untwist the wire from the end, and you're done.

In article <[email hidden]>, "Steve F"

Quoted message said:

This is really an extension of the "Chain Lube" thread below. Anybody out there use products like
Simple Green or citrus-based cleaners for their chain. If so how well do they work and can they
cause damage to aluminum, carbon, etc?

Good reading!!! I wondered if anyone has been using those plastic chain cleaners. I bought a cheapy
one at Performance a couple months ago. It's great for the in-between-serious cleanings, but it
leaves the chain quite clean and happy for a new coat of fresh lube. Has anyone had positive or
negative results from this?

Donny Harder Jr. said:

In article <[email hidden]>, "Steve F"

Quoted message said:

This is really an extension of the "Chain Lube" thread below. Anybody out there use products like
Simple Green or citrus-based cleaners for their chain. If so how well do they work and can they
cause damage to aluminum, carbon, etc?

Good reading!!! I wondered if anyone has been using those plastic chain cleaners. I bought a
cheapy one at Performance a couple months ago. It's great for the in-between-serious cleanings,
but it leaves the chain quite clean and happy for a new coat of fresh lube. Has anyone had
positive or negative results from this?

That's all that I use (I don't have a cheap one 🙂). I've tried soaking in solvent and found that my
chain and drivetrain doesn't last any longer, so why bother?

David

OliverS said:

Rohloff strongly advises against using chain cleaners. His argument: It merely helps work the grit
further into the links, and the residual cleaner inside dilutes the after applied lubricant. He
recommends wiping off the chain and applying more lubricant. You can go to the site
rohloff.derohloff.deOpen ↗, but the information may only be posted there in German -- I don't recall
whether it is on the English pages. I have two bikes with Rohloff Speedhubs and Rohloff chain, and
I respect the technical capabilities of Mr. Rohloff and his company. I used to be fastidiuous
about using a chain cleaner with a citrus based solvent, but now I am inclined to follow the
Rohloff advice.

I just found the following information at the site, which is pretty well mirrored in English
rohloff.derohloff.deOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

Chain cleaning Particles already in the link can hardly be removed by any cleaning method (not
even with ultrasonic waves). In order to prevent particles being transported into the link in the
first place, the chain should be kept dry and clean on the outside by being wiped from time to
time with an oily cloth. Additionally, sprockets, pulleys and chainrings should be kept clean as
well because these parts are in direct contact with the rollers of the chain.

Only a very dirty chain should be cleaned intensively. We do not recommend any of the currently
available chain cleaning devices because the liquids used normally have a very negative effect in
the chain links. The links will not be free from particles after the application but the cleaning
liquid will mix with the lubricant which in most cases destroys its lubricating feature.
Therefore, before using a cleaning liquid, test it by mixing it with the lubricant you use.

We recommend cleaning liquids which do not have 100% degreasing effect, such as diesel or
paraffin. Environmently more friendly are products based on modern washing-up liquids. They work
quite well and can be easily washed out of the link with water.

Please make sure that the chain is lubricated correctly after an intensive cleaning!

Last changed: 10.07.2003

I tried the wiping method and had the shortest chain life of any other method that I tried (1k
miles). The only thing that I haven't tried is diesel (I've tried wiping, chain cleaning toy with
Simple Green and lots of rise water (best for me), and paint thinner in a jar). Maybe it's time to
give diesel a try...

David