baldilocks

I noticed my chain wasn't working so well so I tried to clean it with the White lightening chain cleaner. It was too little, too late. I ended up hosing it with PB Blaster, and my chain is working again. I will say the PB blaster worked better than whatever I tried last year. Last year I ended up just replacing the chain. I think It wasn't as bad this year and / or I caught it sooner. After I finally take the winter tires off, I will clean the chain and use a proper chain lube. How is your chain doing and what will or have you done to keep it functioning? Also, has anyone else used PB blaster to free up a rusting chain?

Cyclist0108

Some folks maintain their chain slightly more frequently.

GrainBrain

TriFlow applied every other ride has kept the devil salt from rusting my chain. I used a $14 can of chain spray from the LBS to blast clean it after one and a half seasons of grime buildup in the middle of this winter. Shifts well, and is quite.

wipekitty

My chain is actually better than usual this year. I've been dumping TriFlow on it when it starts to look bad, and that's done the trick. I think it helped that the city didn't do *** to the side streets, which I used a lot, as the main roads got too narrow for one car in each direction.

Usually I just trash the chain each winter and put a new one on, but this one might be salvageable.

parkbrav

Funny you ask that. Yesterday, it was so nice out after work, and with the extra hour of daylight, I scheduled the bike for a spring cleaning to target the salt and sand left over from winter. First, I got out the "Park" tool with a brush and handles and dusted the bike, including many of the hard to reach places. Second, I took a rag and wiped down the remaining areas. Third, I sprayed down the chain and wiped the chain. The result was a cleaner, shinier, more efficient machine that is ready for spring

parkbrav

I've been trying to lube the chain every week this winter

texaspandj

Be very careful with the PB blaster. If that stuff gets on your chainring bolts it Will loosen them.
Thanks for the reminder fortunately I just lubed my chains last week.

fietsbob

Oily

alias5000

Replaced. KMC EPT chain plating hat worn off just in time when the chain checker indicated that replacing the chain is necessary. It was getting very rusty and a bit stiff, despite somewhat regular maintenance.
New plan is to use a KMC ept in winter and normal chains in summer to get the higher expense for a fully plated chain down a bit.

ThermionicScott 

Haven't lubed mine yet this year, with nearly 150 miles in. I should do that now that we're getting out of salt season.

rumrunn6

how to clean & lube a bike chain. a bikeforums classic! the 1st of the "season"?

my MTB chain has been OK. been keeping it clean after rides then lubing. reminds me what a dental hygienist once told me about flossing. it's more about doing it, than how you do it

cue the chain pics

zackzhrd

The chain cleaning tool is great and thorough but it's a hassle to fill, attach, and rinse out after so I usually just use a rag. I recommend WPL's wet chain lube if you're not too dedicated cleaning your chain so often. You basically apply it and when dirt and mud get in the drive chain, just spray it off with water and it sheds it off easily. Then just reapply. No need to really "clean" it if you're in a rush. wplbike.com/products/wet-bike-lube

rumrunn6

was at the auto parts store to get brake cleaner to make sure my bike rotors were as clean as they should be. nearby I saw PB Blaster chain lube, with a photo of a bike chain on it! is this legit chain lube? & wonder if they dropped the "PB"? or I guess the "PB" product is completely different ...

Viich

Rusty - humid in the garage as we hit daily freeze that cycles now. I spray with rust check undercoat oil, seems to loosen it up after a couple k.

pdlamb

My chain's wearing like it's made of iron.

ThermionicScott 

Just checked mine a couple days ago, and it's knocking on the door of 1/8" stretch. No wonder it was starting to sound and feel a little "growly" on my fixed-gear, despite being cleaned and lubed. It's had a good long life and served me well.

SylvainG

Oily and not to dirty since it was the first day since I cleaned it Saturday. But a few more days and it will look like a mess, beside my daily wiping extra dirt from it. Can't wait until I ditch the wet lube for the Squirt Dry lube. Then it's a reapply once a week or after riding in rain (once it's dry). No wiping, no dirt, always clean drivetrain.

rumrunn6

back at it, added a little marsh mud & beach sand

fietsbob

Oily

rumrunn6

I don't prefer stream cleaning, but desperate times require desperate measures


sorry about the water blob on my lens

noglider 

@rumrunn6, why did you need to do that?

rumrunn6

@ noglider Mud on the chain causing chain suck (aka chain sticking to front chain ring & getting carried upward to jam against chainstay)

CliffordK

Spring is usually a good time to replace a chain.

I just replaced the chain on my Bike Friday today. I badly need to do some spring tuning on some of my other bikes, including new chains, and perhaps cassettes on the bikes ridden in the winter.

wipekitty

My chain is now officially gross. I'll replace it, whenever I get around to taking the studs off.

Jim from Boston

How's your chain?On 3/29/19, @rumrunn6 wrote, and I responded:Right now, it’s 5/28/19, 06:23 PM. @wipekitty replied most recently to the Winter Cycling Forum on 5/21/19, 05:07 PM.

So…"Happy Days a Are Here Again…"Should Auld Acquaintance be Forgot, and Never Brought to Mind…"