 You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Just wondering if anyone uses one. Are there any half decent ones out there?
The only ones I've had seem to last about 3 uses before they're worn out and no longer function.
Any recommendations?
Old plastic bottle and a degreaser of your choice. Chain in bottle, shake it rinse it and lube it.
I had one when I was young and thought I needed it. But it's not as good as having a quick link and then:
Old plastic bottle and a degreaser of your choice. Chain in bottle, shake it rinse it and lube it.
Oasis bottle and swarfega jizer for me.
Park Tools one or a generic clone plus water, maybe dash of washing liquid.
But using Squirt on the chain means I almost never have to clean the chain. Summer the bike is untouched. Winter, occasional rinse down, dry off chain, add more squirt, still shiny chain.
I should add. I'm thinking of buying one as birthday present, for a cleaning obsessive. So not really looking for two old tooth brushes and an elastic band solution.
Happy to accept they aren't much cop though, and think of something else. Perhaps I could just give them a old jam jar, some meths and a quick lick. Would be cheaper 😉
some meths and a quick lick
Certainly more, er, [i]personal[/i] 😆
When I have used them, I used the hard plastic weldtite type. The plastic is more brittle so cracks more easily if dropped, but it is more tolerant of really hot water which is nice for doing the final Fairy Liquid stage.
I tend to spray muc off on the whole drivetrain then wipe the outer links of the chain first. Then I clean all the gears that the chain isn't sat on. Then I use a chain cleaner to get the chain as clean as I can then shift it off the cogs it's on and clean those.
Only got a chain cleaner a couple of months ago - it's a muck off one that attaches onto a spray can of muc off. The spray stuff smells quite pleasant and it gets the chain fairly clean. I'd imagine there are better ones - but it's pretty ok so far. Saves splitting the chain to take it off too.
Park one is good. I use it every few rides in winter when using wet lube. Fill with mucoff chain cleaner, 20 or so back revolutions of the pedals, top up with water, another 20, give the cassette a wee scrub with a brush with some of the same stuff on it, rinse all off thoroughly, let it dry, relube, job done.
Rock n roll extreme lube, nae need for any of that nonsense, just a quick wipe now n again, and a stiff bristle brush to give the cassette a once over.
I make my chain spotless but a 20k ride is enough to make it black again, makes me think it's not worth the bother
I should add. I'm thinking of buying one as birthday present, for a cleaning obsessive.
Buy them a bottle of a lube that doesn't go all gunky instead.
Haven't needed to clean a chain for years.
Nobeerinthefridge - Member
Rock n roll extreme lube, nae need for any of that nonsense, just a quick wipe now n again, and a stiff bristle brush to give the cassette a once over.
Yes, works for me too apart from the depths of winter and Mugdock gloop, where ever RnR seems to disappear in first hour....
Rock n roll extreme or gold.. it cleans and lubricates so no need for chain cleaning gadgets...
Paraffin and Putoline.
Park tools chain cleaner and a 5litre bottle of degreaser from screwfix, revelation and the degrease is lasting months and months!
+1 for Squirt.......
Bookmarked
Got a generic one from Edinburgh cycles and it's ok for a light scrub now and then. The problem is that of you've got a really grotty transmission then trying to clean the chain alone is pointless, you still have to scrub everything else with a brush.
Never tried that RocknRoll stuff, is it that good?
Big old jar with a home made mesh platform inside, diesel shake let the dirt settle job jobed.
Rock n roll extreme lube; is that made by durex?
Take the chain off if you actually want to clean it.
I generally stick it in a jar with meths or something and shake it about a couple of times, then rinse...
Although I was out of meths and discovered what seems to be a rather effective chain degreaser the other week, old prosecco... I shit you not, two shake and rinse cycles and the chain was clean.
Of course the ideal tool for the job is an ultrasonic bath...
I use one, it works well. But, I don't use wax based lubes, just Finish Line Dry so not sure how tenacious it would be against other lubes. Works fr me though.
The park one is the best of those I've tried. Painting degreaser on the chain works well as well but the park one seems to do a better job.