choddo

Cheers, managed to get a good result I think - I like that mesh tray idea.
Now I just need to get rid of this bit of play I noticed in the rear wheel before I put said chain back on - these bikes are like painting the Forth road bridge.

McFlyRides

This is why they recommend starting with new chains, unless the chain is pricey enough to make the effort worthwhile.

I just started waxing, and my used xc chain was an xx1 that I didn’t want to throw away. Luckily I kept that chain pretty clean anyways. It took several mineral spirit baths but eventually the stuff runs clear in the container. When the mineral spirits run clear, I follow with a few passes of denatured alcohol.

My old greasy road chain that I can replace for 30 bucks? I’m not spending the time on that one.

I wonder about taking it to a car wash and using a high pressure water spray?

tempocyclist

Yeah sometimes it's simply not worth the additional effort and expense (in turps / meth) to clean a very greasy old chain! I've done it once or twice on chains that weren't too bad and it still took a good while longer.

choddo

Ya this one wasn’t expensive but is only about 150km old (our roads are filth at the moment) and I’ve got a new one I plan to introduce to the process too.

crazyravr

Something I heard lately on GCN got me thinking, do you re-use the quick links or new ones every wax? I re-use mine as long as they snap in properly. Once they feel a bit loose, they are gone. What say you?

easyupbug 

I have never lost one even though they are not rated for it but I like the tight snap I get closing Shimano, Sram, KNC links so only use them and toss if I feel loosening in that very tight snap. This means only reuse a few times before replacing.

base2 

The Wippermann Connex links are the go-to link if I have a choice in the matter. Tool free and reusable for the life of the chain.

I usually use Wippermann chains and those come with the good link already. But in the odd occasion I'm using some other brand, I'll use that brands link until a Wippermann Connex link shows up in the mail and it's convenient to put it in service.

IIRC Last time I ordered one Performance Bike had a 9 speed link for a single digit number of dollars. I think shipping cost more than the item.

McFlyRides

SRAM and Shimano say use them once, so that’s what I do. The YBN chain that will be for race days has a link that can be reused a few times.

phrantic09

I use a SRAM link for about 5-10 waxes then ditch it. 10 waxes is roughly 20 weeks between my two chains.

eduskator

They are OK for several connections. I change them when they don't ''snap'' anymore. It's most likely labeled as non reusable for legal reasons.

I'm still waiting (and hoping) they will produce a reusable 12sp link. In the meanwhile, I buy knockoffs from Aliexpress. They're way cheaper.

The only one I know is the Wippermann Connex and it is very rare to find.

BruceA78

I have been waxing 2 chains in rotation for a year and did about 4200 miles, so typically swap chains every 2-3 weeks and wax both at the same time and finally just replaced the SRAM quick link last week. That means I got somewhere between 20 and 25 uses out of a single quick link that is not "re-usable". SRAM 12 Speed chains.

tempocyclist

^ That. Not the cheapest option, but very handy!

I use the Wippermann Connex quick links on all my bikes. Reusable, plus no need for a quick link removal tool as it's easy to do by hand.

McFlyRides

I could use that on shimano and sram chains?

choddo

Yes

eduskator

I see that you're in Australia. It's hard to find them in North America.

Where did you buy it?

SpedFast

There are a gazzilion sellers of them on the bay. Pricing is all over the place.

Ryan_M

I've heard it's for legal reasons more than once. I think that if the link got loose enough that I could put it together or take it apart with hand force, then I'd replace it. However that hasn't happened yet, I use them for the lifetime of the chain which likely adds up to dozens of operations. I did have one that didn't engage straight when putting it together (I'm sure my error and the link was probably fine before) but that one I wasn't going to trust anymore so I tossed it.

eduskator

Indeed. Shimano is simply backing its arse.

tempocyclist

Luckily there's an Australian supplier, but yes they can be a little tricky to find! Potentially you might need to go international if there's nothing in your locality, shipping shouldn't be too bad as they're small and light (plus a one-time purchase as they're reusable).

McFlyRides

I had to google "mineral turps" since I'm in NA-- we call that stuff mineral spirits. I used a plastic jar and lid--pop chain in cover with spirits and shake, spin, stir, soak, etc. until the solution is dirty. Pour dirty solution into a container marked "used". Wipe chain and container with towels and repeat until the spirits come clear. For a used chain that could be quite a few. So they recommend starting with a new chain so you just are removing what they ship them with.

After the mineral spirits run clean, switch to denatured alcohol (methylated spirits) and do two baths. Not sure why. Maybe because the latter leaves the chain squeaky clean.

The recycling is done at our regular household hazardous waste site-- where we take our old paint and stuff they don't want in the landfill or down the drain.

spelger

alcohol bath is a waste of time and chemicals. and mineral spirits can be used over and over. my pints have lasted me 6 years since i've started. still cleans well. two baths, first is dirty, second is...not as dirty. in one, then the other, then in the wax. it really should be that simple.

Racing Dan

You are wasting your time because you are all locked into the idea a chain must be 100.00% down to bare metal before it can be waxed. Its not true. Hot wax will dissolve and mix with the factory grease (that i likely itself a wax*) A new chain can be hot waxed straight from the package and a dirty one can be rinsed i one bath of turps. Its plenty good enough and repeated waxing will make any difference fade to noting.

The origin of these beliefs are obscure, and even the dude over at zero friction cycling mentions in passing, in a resent video, he couldn't prove a difference in wear between no cleaning a all vs expensive "top chain cleaners". Of course he stopped the test because he wanted to test if cleaners removed factory grease well, not if removing it made a difference in the first place ..

* Thats why some of it is so stubborn, just like wax and try watchin any number of videos showing fabrication of roller chains. Some show the lubrication process and suspiciously it looks just like hot immersion waxing.

eduskator

Well, in that same line of logic, you can wash your car or body without rinsing it first too, but it's always best to rinse it first.

McFlyRides

well, if nothing else, spit shining a chain gives my OCD an outlet. 😀

SoSmellyAir

Hocking a loogie per roller?