Chain / Sprocket Cleaning

1013 said:

I would like to remove my chain to clean it properly since there is a lot of
build up of dirt and grime. I am pretty sure the chain is a Shimano chain
and I have read that you need special tools to remove it.

Is there a single rivet that needs to be removed or does every link along
the chain use a rivet which can be removed? The problem is my chain is so
dirty I cannot see a thing.

How much does the tool cost to remove the rivet? Are master links which
allow easy chain removal just as strong as rivets?

Thanks in advance.

Photos of the chain, etc:
users.bigpond.net.aumtb1.jpgOpen ↗
users.bigpond.net.auchain1.jpgOpen ↗
users.bigpond.net.auchain2.jpgOpen ↗
users.bigpond.net.auchain3.jpgOpen ↗

wow... is there a society for the protection of cruelty to bikes? 😉

this is brilliant! I'm going to keep these pictures to show when he of *my bike is always so clean* comments on a bit of dust on one of my sweeties. 😄

brilliant... absolutely brilliant...
ali

Thanks for those instructions.

This is what I will do.

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

Quoted message said:

I'd remove the chain using a chain breaker, then give it a thorough clean.
My preferred method is to soak in kero, but other solvents may be better -
petrol has more nasties and catches fire more easily, so avoid that. I

know

Quoted message said:

people who seal the chain and kero in a container, Put a load in the

washing

Quoted message said:

machine and tape the container to the lid, and put a load through the
machine. All that vibration really gets the gunk out. I can't get away

with

Quoted message said:

that method, so just swoosh it around with my hands - should wear gloves.
Empty the dirty kero, and repeat, until the kero stays clean (or very
close). This means there's no more dirt on or in the chain. You can

recycle

Quoted message said:

the solvent buy filtering it into a container, and then allowing the grit

to

Quoted message said:

settle before transferring to a new container. It never gets completely
clean, so I use the recycled stuff for the first couple of cleans - not
rinses.

To rejoin the chain, Shimano sell special joining pins (last time I bought
one I think it was less than $2). They strongly recommend against reusing
the pin you pushed out. Alternatively, buy a joiner link - SRAM, Craig

Super

Quoted message said:

Links, and others all work well. Now you can take the chain off and clean

it

Quoted message said:

regularly. I really like that feature of joining links.

Allow the chain to dry, then relube with lube of your choice. I like wax
lubes for their cleanliness, but find they can lead to squeaking chains
quickly, so nowadays I use a combo wet/wax lube (White Lightning Extreme).
Not as clean, but doesn't squeak as quickly. Wipe off excess lube. Ride.

I will post "after" photos so you can see the huge difference. Like weight
watchers, lol.

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

Quoted message said:

1013 said:

I would like to remove my chain to clean it properly since there is a
lot of
build up of dirt and grime. I am pretty sure the chain is a Shimano
chain
and I have read that you need special tools to remove it.

Is there a single rivet that needs to be removed or does every link
along
the chain use a rivet which can be removed? The problem is my chain is
so
dirty I cannot see a thing.

How much does the tool cost to remove the rivet? Are master links which
allow easy chain removal just as strong as rivets?

Thanks in advance.

Photos of the chain, etc:
http://users.bigpond.net.au/sk/mtb1.jpg
http://users.bigpond.net.au/sk/chain1.jpg
http://users.bigpond.net.au/sk/chain2.jpg
http://users.bigpond.net.au/sk/chain3.jpg

wow... is there a society for the protection of cruelty to bikes? 😉

this is brilliant! I'm going to keep these pictures to show when he of
*my bike is always so clean* comments on a bit of dust on one of my
sweeties. 😄

brilliant... absolutely brilliant...
ali

--
alison_b

alison_b wrote:

<snippo>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Photos of the chain, etc:
http://users.bigpond.net.au/sk/mtb1.jpg
http://users.bigpond.net.au/sk/chain1.jpg
http://users.bigpond.net.au/sk/chain2.jpg
http://users.bigpond.net.au/sk/chain3.jpg

wow... is there a society for the protection of cruelty to bikes? 😉

this is brilliant! I'm going to keep these pictures to show when he
of *my bike is always so clean* comments on a bit of dust on one of my
sweeties. 😄

brilliant... absolutely brilliant...

Oh dear - my standards must be tiny bit different. I thought it wasn't
too bad. Pretty grotty but overall not too bad...:-)

--
Humbug

1013 said:

I would like to remove my chain to clean it properly since there is a lot of
build up of dirt and grime. I am pretty sure the chain is a Shimano chain
and I have read that you need special tools to remove it.

Is there a single rivet that needs to be removed or does every link along
the chain use a rivet which can be removed? The problem is my chain is so
dirty I cannot see a thing.

How much does the tool cost to remove the rivet? Are master links which
allow easy chain removal just as strong as rivets?

Thanks in advance.

Photos of the chain, etc:
http://users.bigpond.net.au/sk/mtb1.jpg
http://users.bigpond.net.au/sk/chain1.jpg
http://users.bigpond.net.au/sk/chain2.jpg
http://users.bigpond.net.au/sk/chain3.jpg

Greetings,
Chain breakers are available from any good LBS and are cheap. My LBS
seems to be wary of taking chains off for some reason. Take any rivet
you like, they're all the same, but make sure you put it back correctly.
Master links went out with Sturmey Archer hub gears, I remember those
when I was a kid. I normally clean mine about every six months in
kerosene, which is also cheap and the best stuff for the job.
Regards,
Ray.

Just to follow up. I went to my LBS and asked them to have a look at my
bike.

Apparently its not worth placing a joining link on my chain as the chain is
nearing the end of its life (quite loose). The guy also felt that a joining
link is not a great idea since it becomes a point of weakness in the chain.
He said I will have to replace my chain and the cassette (since the cassette
must mend togethor with the new chain) very soon? And not to leave it too
late otherwise I will have to spend even more and replace the chain rings.

As a temporary solution I bought some citrus degreaser and gave the chain
and sprockets a good scrub. They are looking much better now. The guy at my
LBS thought the on-bike chain cleaners are the best way to go. And to just
replace your chain every 3 months or so (obviously depends on how much you
ride).

Thanks for all the advice. I now realise the importance of chain
maintenance. I will post a couple of photos later if anyone is interested in
the before/after.