calstar 

I generally keep my chains pretty clean by spinning them through a hand held rag for a few seconds after rides and using paraffin based lubes. When one does need cleaning I'm old school; remove it, put it in a pan with paint thinner, use a parts brush(with rubber gloves) and dry with compressed air(being very careful of the resultant vapors). Any decent ones that can clean on the bike, like the type with a reservoir and brushes built in?

thanks,

Brian

FBinNY 

There are a number of devices exactly like you describe, sold by Park tool, Finish line and others. Search "chain washer" or "chain cleaner" and you'll see lots of options. Plus you'll find links to forum threads where folks rant or rave about them.

On the bike chain washing is one of those areas with very passionate believers on either side like so much about bikes. You didn't ask, so I'll spare you my opinion and offer no advice or recommendation either way, except to point you in their direction

dsbrantjr

I have used the Park Tool variety of chain cleaner. It works OK but it does not hold a lot of cleaning solution so it needs frequent changes. You do need to be careful to not overfill it to aviod spilling and you also need to catch the drips from the chain and gears; the process is kind of messy. I prefer to install the chains with master links and remove them for cleaning. If the chain lacks a master link cleaning it on the bike beats breaking and reconnecting it, though

digibud

+1 on removing the chain. You can eventually get the chain clean with on-the-bike methods but "kind of messy" is an understatement. I don't have an air compressor. After I bathe/agitate/wipe my chain clean I put it in a pan in the kitchen sink and wash it with hot water and Dawn detergent and rinse it clean, then put it in the oven on a baking tray at 200F while I finish cleaning my bike. When I'm done with the bike I grab the chain, install it, oil it (after it's cool...which doesn't take long) and it's done. I used to use a Park chain cleaner but got real tired of the mess.

fietsbob

Quick links , KMC etc, come apart fairly easily.. to soak the chain clean.

Park has an on-the-bike thing and fluid to do it with.. to buy.

jimc101

Tried multiple different chain cleaning tools, and have given up with them now, as long as you use a quick link, open the chain, and put it in a bottle containing degreaser, agitate, and the chain should come out nice and clean.

hamster

$10 in Walmart for the tool and enough fluid for 4 cleanings.

Jed19

This is the method I learnt from the late Sheldon Brown. Simple and effective. I can now clean my chain in five minutes or less.

davidad

I remove mine and clean them in an ultrasonic jewelery cleaner. I relube with 1 part chainsaw bar oil to 4 parts mineral spirits. Every 650 to 700 miles repeat. My 8sp road chain KMC has over 14,300 miles on it and still shows a little more use.

Capecodder

Your doing it the best way by removing, and soaking it. Chain washers are nothing but a huge mess, and do not work that well.

Shimagnolo

https://www.harborfreight.com/25-lite...ner-95563.html
+
https://industrial.simplegreen.com/in...ll_purpose.php

Capecodder

I really would like one of these!! I think this will be my next purchase....

noglider 

If the gunk is really hard to get off, the value of the labor involved exceeds the value of the chain. I don't like our disposable society, but this is a really disgusting job, and I'm not sure it's worth the trouble. After the chain is clean, your home or shop will need cleaning. The best bet is not to let the chain get too gunky in the first place. Keep it clean. Lubricate it frequently.

leob1

I have a Vetta chain cleaner. It is MESSY to use, and hard to clean. But it does a good job of cleaning the chain quickly. If I'm pressed for time, I'll use it. But if I'm doing a thorough bike cleaning/relube, the chain comes off first and it goes into a bath of mineral spirits. Then the bike gets cleaned, then the chain gets scrubbed, then dried, installed and lubed. A quick link makes it som much easier.

himespau 

I used to use the finish line cleaner, but it was always a mess and didn't seem to get the chain really clean (to be fair, I bought the bike second hand and the chain has always been fairly gunky). I've recently switched to the following method popularlized by the late, great Sheldon Brown, with much better results.
https://sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html

One of the preceding sentences is true. You may take your pick.

DiabloScott

I love my Park cleaner.
I don't expect it gets out all the grit in every little bushingless roller, but it gets the chain nice and clean.
I have a spare hub that I use so the gook doesn't get all over my wheel.

bkaapcke

Stick with what you're doing, except put the chain and thinner in a 2 liter soda bottle and shake. This will work way better than a chain cleaning tool and no mess. bk

sknhgy 

Does properly diluted Simple Green in a 2 liter bottle work well? As well as MS or paint thinner?

I'm wondering because I'm thinking of taking some Simple Green along on a tour of the Katy Trail. I could carry along a 2 oz bottle of the stuff then wash my chain in an umbiquitious plastic bottle and relube it. No harmful solvents to cause havoc. Sound like a plan?

davidad

If you lube it frequently on the bike you shorten it's life.