Bike Cleaning and Chain Oiling

[mickle]

The way I do this these days is: remove the chain and put it in a plastic tub you can close tightly. I fill this with water and plenty of washing up liquid and shake like crazy for a couple of minutes. It's amazing what comes off! Then I refill the tub with clean, soapless water and shake again to ensure there is absolutely no washing-up liquid left on the chain. Finally I wipe clean each link with a clean, lintless cloth while the chain is still wet and put back on the bike. Leave to completely dry, apply one drop of oil on each link and wipe the chain with a clean cloth. Don't use spray or put on too much - oil and dust make a very effective grinding compound. BTW - it's also a good idea to clean the cassette, jocky wheels and chainring

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Brilliant.

 

[Crankarm]

Nitrile gloves, open Quick link to remove, Car Plan engine degreaser, metal tray and brushes, rinse thoroughly, oven dry on low heat, immerse clean chain in chain saw oil. Hang. Close chain quick link on refitting to bike.

 

[raleighnut]

Nitrile gloves, open Quick link to remove, Car Plan engine degreaser, metal tray and brushes, rinse thoroughly, oven dry on low heat, immerse clean chain in chain saw oil. Hang. Close chain quick link on refitting to bike.

Works best if chain is still warm BUT NOT HOT! i.e. you can handle it without gloves on

 

[Jimmy Doug]

Nitrile gloves, open Quick link to remove, Car Plan engine degreaser, metal tray and brushes, rinse thoroughly, oven dry on low heat, immerse clean chain in chain saw oil. Hang. Close chain quick link on refitting to bike.

I'm trying to imagine the look on my wife's face if I were to do this!

 

[Shut Up Legs]

The way I do this these days is: remove the chain and put it in a plastic tub you can close tightly. I fill this with water and plenty of washing up liquid and shake like crazy for a couple of minutes. It's amazing what comes off! Then I refill the tub with clean, soapless water and shake again to ensure there is absolutely no washing-up liquid left on the chain. Finally I wipe clean each link with a clean, lintless cloth while the chain is still wet and put back on the bike. Leave to completely dry, apply one drop of oil on each link and wipe the chain with a clean cloth. Don't use spray or put on too much - oil and dust make a very effective grinding compound. BTW - it's also a good idea to clean the cassette, jocky wheels and chainring

I can't help wondering if @Andrew_Culture puts his chain in a dishwasher for a similar effect?

 

[mickle]

Nitrile gloves, open Quick link to remove, Car Plan engine degreaser, metal tray and brushes, rinse thoroughly, oven dry on low heat, immerse clean chain in chain saw oil. Hang. Close chain quick link on refitting to bike.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Hilarious. God, to think people used to do this.

 

[raleighnut]

I'm trying to imagine the look on my wife's face if I were to do this!

What you do is buy her a nice shiny new roasting tray (brownie points already) then say "I'll take the old one for cleaning bits of my bike so I don't get any oil on the patio again" (double brownie points) Simples

 

[HB_Dude]

Its a good bio chain degreaser and a session with the brushes for me, followed by either Mucoff bikespray, then when try at this time of year I use Finishline wet lube on the chain run through a cloth to remove the excess oil.
During the summer months I just switch out the oil for a dry lube

For the rest of the bike I just use mucoff and when dry I use finish line frame protectant ( only 'cause I got some free ! ) but any good polish will help protect the frame.

I don't really use wd40 for much other than rusty bolts/ degreasing etc, and never on my bike

 

[Salty seadog]

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Hilarious. God, to think people used to do this.

Not a particularly gracious individual are you?

 

[mickle]

I'm joking you fanny.

 

[shortone]

Firstly remove chain place in tub with neat viro-sol citrus degreaser.
spray bike down with 10/1 water mix of above degreaser and brush over bike using soft muc off brush.
Hose down and then clean with general car shampoo.
Dry off and spray entire bike down with GT85 and wipe off using the same wipe off cloth as always.
Rinse off chain and dry, place back on bike and lube with dry lube.

 

[mickle]

Oh God.

 

[RedRider]

Oh God.

I don't normally say this but: 'lol.'

 

[Jimmy Doug]

It never ceases to amaze me how the method used to clean a drivetrain is such an apple of discord. Why so? There's no one method. If some people want to take their chain apart link for link and others prefer to simply wipe then so what? Myself personally I cannot imagine spending hours cleaning a chain - my method takes less than half an hour; but I'm not going to extract the Michael out of those who choose a different approach. Ligthen up guys: we're talking about cleaning chains here, it ain't politics!

 

[RedRider]

It never ceases to amaze me how the method used to clean a drivetrain is such an apple of discord. Why so? There's no one method. If some people want to take their chain apart link for link and others prefer to simply wipe then so what? Myself personally I cannot imagine spending hours cleaning a chain - my method takes less than half an hour; but I'm not going to extract the Michael out of those who choose a different approach. Ligthen up guys: we're talking about cleaning chains here, it ain't politics!

The reason I've found this thread funny is you've got this site's chain-cleaning guru making increasingly hysterical responses to increasingly complicated chain-cleaning rituals. Mickle said he was joking and i certainly took him as sending himself up somewhat.
People can clean their chains whatever way works for them. Regular wiping, lubing and wiping works well for me btw.