Chain baths cleaners - any good?

[benb]

Obviously I'm a big fan of the Mickle Method for chain cleaning. However, I have noticed that some grit and crud will inevitabbly get into the spaces between the links, and will not be removed by the Mickle Method.

I don't really fancy getting a small brush and trying to clean between the links, so I was wondering if anyone had experience of the chain baths, like this:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/park-tools-cm5-cyclone-chain-cleaner/

Any good?

 

[teletext45]

i'm contemplating getting one, would surely help the cleaning process.

just gotta make sure your rear cassette is clean otherwise you will end up cleaning this too.

andy

 

[martint235]

I've got one. I can't really say it does much other than get soapy water all over your floor.

I tend to follow (badly) the ianrauk method of cleaning now using babywipes. I'm contemplating actually taking the chain off tomorrow and dumping it in a dish of degreaser

 

[ohnovino]

I had a cheap one from eBay. It did a good job for the first couple of attempts at using it, but it soon seized up and started pulling the chain off. Now I use baby wipes, and a Tesco Value toothbrush if I need to get between the plates.

 

[gaz]

Pointless, it just makes a mess and after you have used it several times it doesn't work so well.
Just stick to the mickle method

 

[tyred]

If you really want to, take the chain off, drop it into a 500ml Lucozade bottle, add some white spirits, put the lid on and give it a good shaking. Then fish it out (easier said than done sometimes) and hang up to dry before applying oil.

But it's really not worth the hassle. Just do the Mickle method and we can give Mickle his 10p royalty.

 

[ianrauk]

Pointless, it just makes a mess and after you have used it several times it doesn't work so well.
Just stick to the mickle method

You managed to use one more then once? Blimey...

They are a waste of money....

 

[benb]

Pointless, it just makes a mess and after you have used it several times it doesn't work so well.
Just stick to the mickle method

But what about between the links? Should I just not worry about that?

 

[Norm]

[QUOTE 1521153"]
They do a good job IME, but also make a mess on the floor at the same time.
[/quote]
And your t-shirt.

I've had plenty of use from mine. It sees action on the off road bikes and on the winter hack. Just remember that re-oiling will take at least as long as cleaning, and you really don't want to skimp on that part.

 

[MissTillyFlop]

And your t-shirt.

I found a work around - I clean it in the buff.

I use the Mickle method and if there's crud in-between the links, I use pipe cleaners if it's really bad.

Or if I'm feeling really lazy, a can of degreeser...

 

[Norm]

I was, by coincidence, wearing my CycleChat Buff last time I used the cleaner, as I'd just got in from a ride.

 

[gaz]

But what about between the links? Should I just not worry about that?

For that you use wet/baby wipes. just poke one through and then pull it. job done

 

[Red Light]

But what about between the links? Should I just not worry about that?

Don't worry about it. Muck on the outside doesn't do anything. Its the muck that gets inside you need to worry about. If you drop the lube onto the edge in the area where the side plates overlap it will not wash any of the muck between the links into places you don't want it.

 

[guitarpete247]

You could always try The ShelBroCo Bicycle Chain Cleaning System.

 

[mickle]

Chain cleaning baths are the very antithesis of The Method. The whole point of The Method is that it eliminates the need for expensive plastic products filled with toxic solvents, harmful volatile compounds which are hard to dispose of. Solvents drive out the lube from within the chain. Unless you're prepared to remove the solvent somehow before the new lube goes on you'll destroy it.

If The Method isn't keeping your chain clean enough I suspect you aren't doing it often enough. Do it more often and wipe it more.

Frankly you'd be better off buying a new chain than one of those baths.