Chain cleaning for poor people

"Doug Kanter" <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Between fishing and boating, I've already got too damn many little maintenance toys stashed
under/behind the seats. Do I really need one of the fancy chain cleaning gadgets I see at bike
shops, or is an old toothbrush and a can of spray silicone enough to rinse off dirt?

I've heard of people cleaning their chains with a sponge and toothbrush. I don't see how this can
clean the inside of the chain (what really matters). My method is to take the chain off the bike and
put it in an empty plastic bottle (e.g., a 1L or 2L soda bottle). Add an inch or so of your favorite
degreaser and shake for a minute. Let the chain soak for another minute, then shake again. If the
chain was really dirty, repeat once. Depending on the degreaser you used, you may need to rinse with
water. Oil the chain and put it back on the bike. Used degreaser is toxic waste, so treat it
accordingly.

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

Quoted message said:

Not-so-hypothetical situation: After driving all day with a bike in the

back

Quoted message said:

of my pickup, the chain is sometimes dirty, just from highway dust, or perhaps that and a
combination of that and whatever it picked up during

the

Quoted message said:

last few bike rides.

Between fishing and boating, I've already got too damn many little maintenance toys stashed
under/behind the seats. Do I really need one of

the

Quoted message said:

fancy chain cleaning gadgets I see at bike shops, or is an old toothbrush and a can of spray
silicone enough to rinse off dirt? I'm assuming that sometimes, I'll need to clean the chain in a
place where I have no access

to

Quoted message said:

a garden hose. Matter of fact, I live in an apartment. I *never* have

access

Quoted message said:

to a garden hose. -Doug

Spin the chain while holding it lightly in a rag well moistened with degreaser, rinse with water
from a spray bottle, let dry, relube.

Bob Garrison said:

Spin the chain while holding it lightly in a rag well moistened with degreaser, rinse with water
from a spray bottle, let dry, relube.

I assume you mean with the chain on the bicycle. Yes that will do a cosmetic cleanup but it will not
clean the chain, there where the action is... inside the chain. Chains wear and become longer
because the internal hinge pins and sleeves wear. This is inside the chain, not on the surface that
can be wiped. Adding lubricant to a dirty chain only washes grit to where it can do damage and there
is plenty of grit that can't be wiped away but is not yet in the hinge pins.

draco.acs.uci.edu8d.2.htmlOpen ↗

Jobst Brandt [email hidden] Palo Alto CA

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

Quoted message said:

Bob Garrison said:

Spin the chain while holding it lightly in a rag well moistened with degreaser, rinse with water
from a spray bottle, let dry, relube.

I assume you mean with the chain on the bicycle. Yes that will do a cosmetic cleanup but it will
not clean the chain, there where the action is... inside the chain. Chains wear and become longer
because the internal hinge pins and sleeves wear. This is inside the chain, not on the surface
that can be wiped. Adding lubricant to a dirty chain only washes grit to where it can do damage
and there is plenty of grit that can't be wiped away but is not yet in the hinge pins.

draco.acs.uci.edu8d.2.htmlOpen ↗

Jobst Brandt [email hidden] Palo Alto CA

It works for me. My chains last appox. 2000 miles.

Bob Garrison said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Spin the chain while holding it lightly in a rag well moistened with degreaser, rinse with water
from a spray bottle, let dry, relube.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I assume you mean with the chain on the bicycle. Yes that will do a cosmetic cleanup but it will
not clean the chain, there where the action is... inside the chain. Chains wear and become longer
because the internal hinge pins and sleeves wear. This is inside the chain, not on the surface
that can be wiped. Adding lubricant to a dirty chain only washes grit to where it can do damage
and there is plenty of grit that can't be wiped away but is not yet in the hinge pins.

draco.acs.uci.edu8d.2.htmlOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

It works for me. My chains last appox. 2000 miles.

Nice but my chains last 10,000mi+ and I clean them inside (as well as out). In the old days, of real
chains, they lasted 20,000 miles.

Jobst Brandt [email hidden] Palo Alto CA

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

Quoted message said:

Bob Garrison said:

Quoted message said:

> Spin the chain while holding it lightly in a rag well moistened with degreaser, rinse with
> water from a spray bottle, let dry, relube.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I assume you mean with the chain on the bicycle. Yes that will do a cosmetic cleanup but it
will not clean the chain, there where the action is... inside the chain. Chains wear and become
longer because the internal hinge pins and sleeves wear. This is inside the chain, not on the
surface that can be wiped. Adding lubricant to a dirty chain only washes grit to where it can
do damage and there is plenty of grit that can't be wiped away but is not yet in the hinge
pins.

draco.acs.uci.edu8d.2.htmlOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

It works for me. My chains last appox. 2000 miles.

Nice but my chains last 10,000mi+ and I clean them inside (as well as out). In the old days, of
real chains, they lasted 20,000 miles.

That's fine, but chains are cheap and I'd rather not spend my time cleaning them any more than
necessary.

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

Quoted message said:

Do I really need one of the fancy chain cleaning gadgets I see at bike shops,

No, and in fact, these break (at least the one I tried out) after a few uses.

Quoted message said:

or is an old toothbrush and a can of spray silicone enough to rinse off dirt?

Ken suggested the soaking method, but I am of the old toothbrush school. I use an old toothbrush,
some rags, Q-tips, and degreaser.

I am not sure what your silicone spray is for.

Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky ([email hidden]) Home of the meditative cyclist:
home.earthlink.netWelcome.htmOpen ↗

Doug Kanter said:

Between fishing and boating, I've already got too damn many little maintenance toys stashed
under/behind the seats. Do I really need one of the fancy chain cleaning gadgets I see at
bike shops,

No.

Quoted message said:

or is an old toothbrush and a can of spray silicone enough to rinse off dirt?

Not even that. Get a soda. Drink it. Use the bottle. Put kerosene in the bottle. Don't drink that.
take chain off bike -- helpful to have those super-links for this, but however you have to go. slide
chain in bottle. Put cap on, and shake. Take chain out -- which may require destroying soda bottle,
but you wanted another one anyway. Swing the chain in a circle over your head -- outside -- then let
it dry. Oil. Put back on bike.

Those scrubber dohickeys do not nearly as well as this process, for only several times the cost of
the kerosene and the soda. The big savings is not having to take the chain off the bike. If that is
a problem, then go with it, but other than that I see no reason for it.

I'm assuming that

Quoted message said:

sometimes, I'll need to clean the chain in a place where I have no access to a garden hose. Matter
of fact, I live in an apartment. I *never* have access to a garden hose.

Garden hoses -- that is, water -- is not too good to use on a chain. It won't get the greasy
dirt out, and will leave a lot of water behind that will take a while to evaporate, and will
rust the chain.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | It doesn't get any easier, you just go faster. --Greg LeMond _`\(,_ | (_)/ (_) |

In article <[email hidden]>,

Doug Kanter said:

Matter of fact, I live in an apartment. I *never* have access to a garden hose.

In that case, I'd do the degreaser-in-a-pop-bottle thing.

I think kerosene is too stinky to use in an apartment.

cheers, Tom

--
-- Powered by FreeBSD Above address is just a spam midden. I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn
[point] bc [point] ca

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

Bob Garrison said:

>> Spin the chain while holding it lightly in a rag well moistened with degreaser, rinse with
>> water from a spray bottle, let dry, relube.

Quoted message said:

> I assume you mean with the chain on the bicycle. Yes that will do a cosmetic cleanup but it
> will not clean the chain, there where the action is... inside the chain. Chains wear and
> become longer because the internal hinge pins and sleeves wear. This is inside the chain, not
> on the surface that can be wiped. Adding lubricant to a dirty chain only washes grit to where
> it can do damage and there is plenty of grit that can't be wiped away but is not yet in the
> hinge pins.

draco.acs.uci.edu8d.2.htmlOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

It works for me. My chains last appox. 2000 miles.

Nice but my chains last 10,000mi+ and I clean them inside (as well as out). In the old days, of
real chains, they lasted 20,000 miles.

That's fine, but chains are cheap and I'd rather not spend my time

cleaning

Quoted message said:

them any more than necessary.

I'm with you Bob. When I was younger, I had more time than money...now, it seems like the opposite
is more often true.

If my time is worth, say, $1/minute, spending 30 minutes every 500 miles to clean my chain in order
to extend it's life from 2,000 to 10,000 miles would actually cost me $490 more than the cost of
simply replacing the chain every 2,000 miles (assuming chains cost $20).

Plus, there's plenty of things I'd rather be doing than cleaning my chain.

GG

"David L. Johnson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Doug Kanter said:

Between fishing and boating, I've already got too damn many little maintenance toys stashed
under/behind the seats. Do I really need one of the fancy chain cleaning gadgets I see at bike
shops,

No.

Quoted message said:

or is an old toothbrush and a can of spray silicone enough to rinse off dirt?

Not even that. Get a soda. Drink it. Use the bottle. Put kerosene in the bottle. Don't drink that.
take chain off bike -- helpful to have those super-links for this, but however you have to go.
slide chain in bottle. Put cap on, and shake. Take chain out -- which may require destroying soda
bottle, but you wanted another one anyway. Swing the chain in a circle over your head -- outside
-- then let it dry. Oil. Put back on bike.

What about this idea?

community.webshots.com61364592XEKnkcOpen ↗

It's a sonic cleaner made from and old pot and an Oster massager.

"Gary German" <gary_g@charter_NOSPAMX_.net> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

Bob Garrison writes:

>>> Spin the chain while holding it lightly in a rag well moistened with degreaser, rinse with
>>> water from a spray bottle, let dry, relube.

>> I assume you mean with the chain on the bicycle. Yes that will do a cosmetic cleanup but it
>> will not clean the chain, there where the action is... inside the chain. Chains wear and
>> become longer because the internal hinge pins and sleeves wear. This is inside the chain,
>> not on the surface that can be wiped. Adding lubricant to a dirty chain only washes grit to
>> where it can do damage and there is plenty of grit that can't be wiped away but is not yet
>> in the hinge pins.

draco.acs.uci.edu8d.2.htmlOpen ↗

> It works for me. My chains last appox. 2000 miles.

Nice but my chains last 10,000mi+ and I clean them inside (as well as out). In the old days,
of real chains, they lasted 20,000 miles.

That's fine, but chains are cheap and I'd rather not spend my time

cleaning

Quoted message said:

them any more than necessary.

I'm with you Bob. When I was younger, I had more time than money...now,

it

Quoted message said:

seems like the opposite is more often true.

If my time is worth, say, $1/minute, spending 30 minutes every 500 miles

to

Quoted message said:

clean my chain in order to extend it's life from 2,000 to 10,000 miles

would

Quoted message said:

actually cost me $490 more than the cost of simply replacing the chain

every

Quoted message said:

2,000 miles (assuming chains cost $20).

Plus, there's plenty of things I'd rather be doing than cleaning my chain.

GG

Yep, for example I'd rather yank my chain ;-)

In article said:

That's fine, but chains are cheap and I'd rather not spend my time cleaning them any more than
necessary.

I don't know if it I am frugal or if I ecological minded. Just because things are cheap, I don't
like throwing them away. I find that we (society) throws out too much these days.

And yes, I straighten and re-use nails.

--
--
LITTLE KNOWN FACT: Did you know that 90% of North Americans cannot taste the difference between
fried dog and fried cat?

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

Quoted message said:

In article said:

That's fine, but chains are cheap and I'd rather not spend my time

cleaning

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

them any more than necessary.

I don't know if it I am frugal or if I ecological minded. Just because things are cheap, I don't
like throwing them away. I find that we (society) throws out too much these days.

And yes, I straighten and re-use nails.

--
--

But do you re-use toilet paper?

When you replace your chain isn't a function of cleanliness is it? I thought it was because the
chain stretches over time, which is why you measure it to see when you need to change it.

So it wouldn't matter how clean you keep it, you change it when it stretches.

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

Bob Garrison said:

Spin the chain while holding it lightly in a rag well moistened with degreaser, rinse with
water from a spray bottle, let dry, relube.

I assume you mean with the chain on the bicycle. Yes that will do a cosmetic cleanup but it will
not clean the chain, there where the action is... inside the chain. Chains wear and become
longer because the internal hinge pins and sleeves wear. This is inside the chain, not on the
surface that can be wiped. Adding lubricant to a dirty chain only washes grit to where it can do
damage and there is plenty of grit that can't be wiped away but is not yet in the hinge pins.

draco.acs.uci.edu8d.2.htmlOpen ↗

Jobst Brandt [email hidden] Palo Alto CA

It works for me. My chains last appox. 2000 miles.

(R.White) said:

What about this idea?

community.webshots.com61364592XEKnkcOpen ↗

It's a sonic cleaner made from and old pot and an Oster massager.

While hardly ULTRAsonic (see picture 4), I love the idea. :-)

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

Bob Garrison said:

My chains last appox. 2000 miles.

I'm so sorry! ;-)

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

"Rivermist" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:WjQsa.747977$S_4.764855@rwcrnsc53...

Quoted message said:

When you replace your chain isn't a function of cleanliness is it? I thought it was because the
chain stretches over time, which is why you measure it to see when you need to change it.

So it wouldn't matter how clean you keep it, you change it when it stretches.

The chain doesn't really "stretch". Due to wear on the various points in the chain, the links get a
little farther apart; this is popularly called "stretch", but isn't. Since it's due to wear, and
keeping the chain clean can reduce wear, proper care of the chain can increase its life.

There's more on this in the FAQ's: faqs.orgsection 37.htmlOpen ↗

Tom Keats said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Doug Kanter said:

Matter of fact, I live in an apartment. I *never* have access to a garden hose.

In that case, I'd do the degreaser-in-a-pop-bottle thing.

I think kerosene is too stinky to use in an apartment.

I agree -- kerosene reeks. I can't use it in a house either, even if I clean the chain outside; when
I bring the chain inside, it would stink up the entire house in a matter of minutes. Mineral spirit
(aka "paint thinner"😉 cleans just as well but stinks far less.