spelger

agreed. i used it maybe three times and it always made such a mess, on the bike and on the floor. never again.

scottfsmith

Gee only minor splattering for me. If the solvent is filled even a small amount above the level mark it can make a mess but at level and with the sponge thing in it pretty much stays in the box. There is a tiny bit of spray coming out onto the back rim is about all I get, and I barely notice it. With lube in it I have minimal splattering/dripping if filled to the fill line. I was a bit over the fill line on my last lube and I had maybe 10 drops fall off the chain while it went around.

SoSmellyAir

Thank you, people. I figured out how to do that last night and it is exactly what I need to track when to wax multiple bikes.

If one goes through the rigorous cleaning process in order to use drip wax, one might as well go for hot melt wax immersion.

Lombard

Too much hassle and wasted time for something like a chain. My chain doesn't come off the bike until I am ready to replace it. Re-lube every 500 miles, wipe down, then wipe down again after first post-lube ride and it's clean enough. No need to overthink it.

terrymorse 

Agreed, that Park Tool chain cleaner is a mess to use.

I've been using the Pedro's Chain Pig (only when the chain is dirty). It's a one-handed tool, and it's quite a bit less messy. A substantial improvement.

GhostRider62

You don't like wax, we get it. So, why the 9 posts in a 30 post thread. I could have removed my chain, dropped it in the hot wax, and reinstalled it within the time you spent on this thread.

BTW....your chain maintenance is atrocious.

eduskator

I switched from Muc-Off (regular dry one) to Squirt last year and I do get roughly twice as much distance between lubrifications with the latter. I am anal when it comes to chain lubrication so I lube it as soon as it becomes noisy.

50-75kms with Muc-Off
100-150kms with Squirt

Lombard

Yeah, but posting on this forum is more fun.

Well let's just say my "atrocious" chain maintenance procedures get me 8 to 10K miles per chain.

Lombard

Park Tool is a big name in bike tools, but so many of their products seem to fall short of what others can do better. Their torque wrenches and spoke tensiometers are just two examples of where there are better choices.

jaxgtr

Park Tools torque wrench is a re-branded Chinese tool. My small torque wrench finally died and I noticed when looking for a new one, they all seemed to be the same design and look, just different handles and some had different color schemes. Park Tools wanted 130 at the time and I found others for 35 - 50. The one I got was $45 and works like a champ and the torque values are spot on. A friend of mine is a master mechanic and has a calibrator for his shop, so he tested it for me.

mschwett 

so, i just checked my chain, which has 2,500 miles on it. the .5% percent of the checker is just barely sliding in, the .7% side won't go in. shimano advice is to replace a 12 speed chain at .5%.

not too impressed, my clean/lube routine must need some work.

Lombard

Those chain checkers can give you readings that are wildly off.

Check chain wear with a ruler:

Bicycle: Measuring Chain Wear using a 12-Inch Ruler

sean.hwy

Most rulers stop at 12 inches. I bought this metal 14 inch ruler so I could check for 12 and 1/16th to 1/8th inch.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Lombard

You can do that, but you really don't need to. You are looking at where the 12 is.

mschwett 

i have lots of precise rulers in varying lengths, but the difference between 12.06 and 12.08 is a pretty tough eyeball for me. also seems to require a bit of tension, and agrees with checker, at least this time.

could a simple tool like that really be so poorly produced as to be wildly off? it’s just a piece of metal!

Lombard

Yes. Part of the problem is exactly where the pins sit when checking.

eduskator

That, or you're pushing too many watts in average . I got 9000kms out of my 11sp (5500mi) and it's between .5 and .75 according to my checker. Not sure when exactly it did reach .5.

Trakhak

I've been using a generic case-style chain cleaner to lube my chains for several years now. Instead of adding lube to the inside of the case, though, once I've snapped the case around the chain, I just add a few droplets (currently Tri-Flo) through two small holes provided at the top of the case. The droplets drip onto brushes that apply the oil directly to the chain.

The chain comes out clean and lightly but sufficiently lubricated, with no oil dripping from the chain. In fact, I've never had to clean any chain I've lubed that way, other than wiping it down after I remove the case and after the first ride.

Tusk

My environment in SE Georgia may be similar to yours with a lot of sand that makes its way onto chains. I remove my chains, use mineral spirits to wash them while off the bike, and relube (I use a wet lube - maybe I need a revision). Every time, I am surprised at the amount of sand I capture off an 11 spd chain. I replace at about 2500 miles at about 5% wear. I use a 6" vernier caliper to measure.

SoSmellyAir

We need to differentiate between the chain checkers with two points of contact, e.g.: Amazon.com : Park Tool CC-3.2 Chain Checker : Chain Wear Indicator : Sports & Outdoors

Versus those with three points of contact, e.g., Amazon.com : CC-4 - Chain Wear Indicator : Sports & Outdoors

The latter version is more precise.

mschwett 

how often do you take them off for the cleaning? i basically never take it off between replacements, maybe i’m just not getting it clean enough.

the conditions of most of my rides *seem* benign but there’s definitely coastal fog (which may be salty?) and a little wind blown sand.

looks benign!


but covered with sand 1/2 the time



heavy fog maybe 1/3 of the time through here, with correspondingly wet ground in the AM

mschwett 

thanks for that. the one i have is similar to the two point version. will try the CC-4.

i will say that after changing the chain, the drivetrain is much quieter. in fact i can’t hear it anymore, at all. tires are louder, so the chain was definitely a bit worn. hopefully not too much > .5

SoSmellyAir

I actually use the Pedro version myself: Pedro's Chain Checker Plus II | Jenson USA

Because the instructions are engraved right on the tool itself.

Lombard

I would say it's the moist salt air that is the biggest issue. Would be a challenge regardless of how religious you are about chain care.

jaxgtr

Yea I am down the road from you in Jax and and when I ride up and down A1A, I would pick up a lot of sand when I was using a wet lube, so much better now that I am using the wax.