Cleaning bike chain and gears

[Mohammad L]

I currently use one of those chain cleaner machines for cleaning the chain, then dry the chain, then apply thin layer of lube + remove excess

For the gears, I remove the wheel from the bike and spray WD40 onto the cassette.

The problem: both the gears and chain collect dirt quite quickly despite not doing much mileage

What cleaning methods do other people use and how effective are they?

Thanks

[Phil H]

Chain: undo the quick link, drop it into a jar of white spirit. Shake.

Cassette: Take it off and wash it in the sink with degreaser.

Other stuff: degreaser (diluted) and a stiff brush.

If you've seen my bike recently you may not believe that I have ever done this but I have.

[DavidKennett]

WD40 is the juice of Satan

[Phil H]

[quote="DavidKennett"]WD40 is the juice of Satan

[Andrew G]

White spirit on a rag for cleaning / degreasing, then dry it off and apply a small bit of lube.

I don't bother removing the chain, can run it easily through your hand with the rag on it and it cleans quickly and efficiently. If a quick once over then run the rag over the sprockets and poke in the gaps between with a thin pointy thing of your choice. For a proper clean then remove the cassette and clean each sprocket thoroughly and dry before throwing back on the wheel. The quick method for post grotty ride home from work or the weekend after. The proper method otherwise, only takes a few minutes.

[spike]

I use dry lubes (Squirt usually) Chain stays much cleaner and bike too. Usual regime is put-it-in-the-shed. Every 5-6 rides it gets a quick wipe with dry rag and then relube (the wax beads off taking dirt with it). Only after very wet rides does the bike usually need a clean and then usually its just water and a brush.

I started using dry lubes on my summer mtb, now use them on all except the winter commuter. They need to be reapplied more often than wet lube but the bike stays much cleaner and my impression is that the drive trains last longer too.

[Keith]

[quote="Mohammad L"]
The problem: both the gears and chain collect dirt quite quickly despite not doing much mileage

[Mohammad L]

Thanks guys -I'm not too familiar with this maintenance stuff - any recommendations for a good white spirit and where to buy?

Also, I am thinking of getting a workstand for general bike maintenance. Any recommendations for a reliable, sturdy one? ( Bear in mind its for a heavy 13kg training bike - the clamp of the Lifeline one I got from Wiggle snapped, presumably due to the bike weight)

[olderigetbetteriwas]

mo, get your chain a little present and buy it a quick link and a quick link removal tool...then get a couple of chinese takeaway containers (obviously eat the chinese)...(the takeaway, not the actual people)...then go to halfords and buy their degreaser called Gunk in a tin...not from the bike section but from the car section...and a spray-on degreaser (muck off or something)...then soak the chain and scrub it with an old toothbrush...remove the cassette and soak it too and scrub it with the toothbrush....spray on degreaser to anything else on the bike that is mucked up....rinse it all off under a tap (chain and cassette) or with water from a bucket (stuff still on your bike)....dry it all with a cloth...then take your pick of wet lube (i like finish line cross country for my training bike) or dry lube (at the moment i like finish line dry teflon bike lube for my good bike)....and i'm with david here...never use wd40 anywhere near anything starting with a 'b' and rhyming with icicle.

ps wear gloves...marigolds are always a good look...coz otherwise your skin with probably dry out and peel off your fingers around 36 hours after you first lay your eyes on your fantastic, shiny, glossy, clean, smooth-running drivetrain.

[Mohammad L]

Thanks Rich, I'll get a KMC 9 speed chain link for my chain

[George]

Mo if you keep splitting your chain one day you will not install the link correctly and the chain will snap at the start of a tt just ask Matt Chapman
just do what Andrew says clean through your fingers in a rag

[DavidKennett]

"A clean bike is a fast bike" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf80DnCg ... ata_player *

*ignore the jetwashing unless you can replace parts on a regular basis

[Antloony]

[quote="DavidKennett"]"A clean bike is a fast bike"

[sonic909]

GT85 is better for spraying as it contains teflon.

[Mohammad L]

On the hunt for a well-priced citrus degreaser. Came across this : [url]http://www.motocleaningproducts.co.uk/mukjunkie-citrus-degreaser-5-litre-mj259015m[/url]

Intended use is on vehicle parts. Would it be ok to soak chain and cassette in?