NoWhammies

After reading all of the posts on here recommending how to clean a chain, cassette, etc., and realizing my drive train desperately needed some cleaning, I did a bit of cleaning last night.

I also thought I'd start a thread so others can show the efforts of their work too. Cheers.

cthenn

Just the chain, but I was blown away at how well the Park chain cleaner works. I always thought these were for lazy people who didn't want to take their chains off to clean them properly, but the first time I used it, I was shocked. The chain was a complete and total mess of grease and gunk, and in just a few minutes running it through the cleaner, this is what came out.

NoWhammies

@cthenn you might have convinced me to purchase the Park chain cleaner...

jideta

Park Chain Cleaner FTW

MoAlpha

Aren't those things supposed to drive ALL the dirt into the innards and RUIN your chain in a single cleaning?





Actually, that's a pret-ty nice result...

OUGrad05

That park chain cleaner works really really well IMO. I bought one last year after reading some reviews and was also pleased with the results. I don't know how some of you guys keep your drivetrains so clean unless you wash extensively after every ride. I wash and lube every 200-300 miles which works out to being about every 2 or 3 weeks.

Zaskar

Damn @cthenn... that looks like you cleaned, flossed and polished that chain. Ordering a Park chain cleaner in 3... 2...

Cleaned the old fashion way:



I like Simple Green's bike degreaser - it's foamy so it doesn't run as quickly... probably better for bearings, etc... probably

jadocs

No Park Chain Cleaner or special solvents. Entire bike is wiped down after every ride. I use a Connex chain so I can remove by hand, clean, relube and reinstall. Chain is pulled though my hand using a rag/t-shirt to get big gunk off, then run through my hand in a clean t-shirt and some rubbing alcohol. No need to deliberately degrease chain unless I do something like 100 miles in wet/crappy conditions. The rest of the drive train is wiped down using a clean t-shirt and rubbing alcohol (floss cassette, rings, pully wheels). Discs are wiped down with alcohol. Process takes 30 minutes. Bike stays looking like this I put on average 500 miles a month on it.

fasthair

Drivetrain Upgrade


1000+ Miles later

fasthair

Johnny Rad

I've found my people!

I love this thread - makes my drivetrain cleaning OCD seem normal.

redlude97

No need for a chain cleaner here either, just mineral spirits and molten speed wax

DaveSSS 

It's the inside of the chain that needs cleaning the most. Wiping off the outside does little. A park chain cleaner leaves the chain swimming in dirty solvent, unless the whole process is done at least twice.

If you want a really clean chain, drop it in a bottle of mineral spirits and shake vigorously. Repeat with clean solvent.

cthenn

I dunno, never heard that before, but it seems to not do that... I use a two step process, first wiping the chain down with a degreaser soaked rag, to get off most of the external gunk, then run the chain cleaner with undiluted Simple Green (a gallon just is less than $10 at HD). Chain comes out sparkling clean every time, and it doesn't feel like there's gunk or grit lodged inside. Also, it seems important to use the Park brand version of this. I haven't personally used the generic versions, but from things I've read, this is one time where the brand name item is superior. I will note, that I've used it probably 10 times or less, and some of the brushes are already fraying slightly. I think they sell replacement parts, but it seems to be starting to show wear already...

Jack Tone 

That's my opinion. I could be totally off, but it seems that normal use would drive dirt out of the inner parts, and cleaning would do the opposite. I know it's anecdotal, but I had a mountain bike with many races, and well over 5000 miles of commuting after I retired it, and the stock chain, never cleaned, only lubed. I have never cleaned a chain in over 50 years. …..But..... I am going to get that Park cleaner

redlude97

If you aren't rinsing the simple green out after, then you're leaving the surfactants inside the chain that will interfere with whatever lubricant you apply afterwards. If you're going to use the chain cleaner and simple green then rinse liberally with water and dry afterwards

sooni

Wipe down chain - Park chain cleaner with solvent - Park Chain cleaner with water - Dry - Lube and let sit overnight before wiping off.

In between degreasing I like a lube that you can add and wipe that cleans at the same time like rock and roll gold, but right now I am using Morgan Blue race oil and liking it.

Seattle Forrest

Great pic!

canklecat

Too late. My bike had its annual cleaning last month, and I've ridden since then.

GreenAnvil

Wow. I’m going to sub to this thread and then go hide in a corner. I’m not worthy...

jadocs

I do that once every few months unless I go long distance in really bad conditions as mentioned above. The wipe down after every ride keeps it from building up and acting like sandpaper on the rings and cassette. This was just taken tonight after a quick wipe down after doing 20 miles after work. The chain hasn’t been soaked (degreased) in about three months and has over 1500 miles on it since I last did it. So wiping down (properly) does help. It will be due for it soon though because you can see a small amount of buildup, but it’s nothing like it would have been if a wipe down was not done.

jideta

Thanks!
Shot with a 50mm 1.4 wide open.

wedgeSG

Sometimes I obsess a little bit....

wedgeSG

rumrunn6

DaveSSS 

Cleaning a chain once every 1500 miles is pretty much worthless too.