Chain cleaning

Aspergers said:

G'day cyclists

What is the best way to clean a chain without removing it?

How much oil should be used on the chain after it is cleaned?

Keep cycling

hi mate,

do a search on the subject, you should find loads of info.

FWIW dont put 'oil' on your chain afterwards, go to you LBS & buy a proper chain lubricant.

good luck

Lama said:

hi mate,

do a search on the subject, you should find loads of info.

FWIW dont put 'oil' on your chain afterwards, go to you LBS & buy a proper chain lubricant.

good luck

Which oil is not a proper chain lubricant? (-apart from WD40.)

artemidorus said:

Which oil is not a proper chain lubricant? (-apart from WD40.)

Extra virgin olive oil...

sogood said:

Extra virgin olive oil...

Why not? Inner-city types would wipe it off with ciabatta?

artemidorus said:

Which oil is not a proper chain lubricant? (-apart from WD40.)

Maybe I shouldn't say this....but I use DW40 to clear the chain, remove all the grit and then use a dry teflon lube.

artemidorus said:

Why not? Inner-city types would wipe it off with ciabatta?

Because EVO is now $50 for a tin of Spanish. Too expensive to waste. 😉

artemidorus said:

Which oil is not a proper chain lubricant? (-apart from WD40.)

I would avoid using any non chain oil, because it may flick so bad that you end up getting too much on your tyre, which would make for some unexpected interesting riding on a right hand corner.

The only thing that WD-40 does is absorb water..it tends to pull moisture off whatever you spray it on ..but it does not get rid of the water and actually attracts dirt...as most locksmiths and machine shop owners will tell you. Use a Chain Wax that has paraffin in it to create a waxy film that does not attract dirt and is found in most quality bike shops. Good Luck.

If the chain is pasty looking caked in grit and dust probably a chain cleaning gizmo machines with specific chain cleaning fluid then a light rinse and wipe down with a dry cloth. I usually let it dry then reapply the proper chain lube and run the chain through a cloth to remove excess.
I tried the spray on citrus chain cleaner stuff, much to messy for my liking as it keeps splashing all over the bike and wheels.

Aspergers said:

G'day cyclists

What is the best way to clean a chain without removing it?

How much oil should be used on the chain after it is cleaned?

Keep cycling

I had the same problem...

I use WD40 which makes the grit just fall off...just wipe it off with an old rag. I also sometimes use Qtips and go in between all of the links...when I'm feeling patient.

Spray some on your cassete too, and go inbetween all of the rings in the cassette...good luck.

Bikelyst said:

Spray some on your cassete too, and go inbetween all of the rings in the cassette...good luck.

Why would you want to do that? There's wear deep b/n the cogs. It'll only lay a layer of oil film and attract dirt. The wear points on the cassette are those teeths and a well lubed chain should cover that.

If my chain is really dirty I take my bike out to the backyard and spray it with(refillable pump container) a biodegradeable concrete cleaner or use petrol on it.

Lubing them - on my training bike I use a chainsaw bar lube or spray on motorcycle lube - both cheap, stay on well and good in rainy weather.

For my race bike(s) I use a bicycle specific lube and generally keep my chain / bike much cleaner.

ProLink Gold every week or so (about every 200 miles). That's it. Chain cleaning/lubing can be dead simple.

sogood said:

Extra virgin olive oil...

I use a good vinegar to clean the chain and a lower grade olive oil to lube the chain afterwards. Extra virgin is a bit to much for ordinary riding in my opinion. It is almost as simple as using Prolink Gold. The Prolink, however, does not taste as good.

vascdoc said:

I use a good vinegar to clean the chain...

Be careful of the acid. 😉

Get a chain cleaner. It snaps on while the chain is still on the bike. If you have a singlespeed or gear hub or some other bike without a derailleur, you'll just have to get a SRAM powerlink. It makes the chain easy to remove. I like to give my cassette and rings a brush and then pour a bucket of water over them. Don't use a hose or water and/or grit may be forced into your bearings or chain rollers.

I have been using Moly Dri-Slide but mean to give Pro-Link a shot to see if it attracts grit. I tried the waxes but they don't last very long at all and the chain starts squeaking if you're caught out in the rain.

whittod said:

The only thing that WD-40 does is absorb water..it tends to pull moisture off whatever you spray it on ..but it does not get rid of the water and actually attracts dirt...as most locksmiths and machine shop owners will tell you. Use a Chain Wax that has paraffin in it to create a waxy film that does not attract dirt and is found in most quality bike shops. Good Luck.

wd40 does not absorb water. W (water) D (displacement) 40 (attempts to create wd40). Its original purpose was for space and its function is now , not just a lubricant of sorts, but a water displacer...

jechilt said:

wd40 does not absorb water. W (water) D (displacement) 40 (attempts to create wd40). Its original purpose was for space and its function is now , not just a lubricant of sorts, but a water displacer...

It's also an excellent rust preventative, being formulated with fish oil. BTW I think it was developed for Convair's nuclear missile program. That is space, sort of.

garage sale GT said:

It's also an excellent rust preventative, being formulated with fish oil. BTW I think it was developed for Convair's nuclear missile program. That is space, sort of.

looks like you are closer than I was 🙄

WD40 facts: wd40.comour history.htmlOpen ↗