Chain baths cleaners - any good?

[PoweredByVeg]

TBH, an industrial ultrasonic/caustic cleaning tank is the best, every 300 miles

Just a perk of being a grease monkey

 

[Globalti]

Those chain bath cleaners can destroy your BB; if you use them with the bike tipped to the left (as you would) the cleaner can dribble onto the BB axle and run into the bearings. They're a disaster. I've had one in bits in my bits box for about 10 years and have never used it.

Take the chain off and wash it in paraffin or white spirit in a flat tray changing the liquid several times, then hang it up somewhere warm to dry overnight before re-lubing.

 

[the_mikey]

Those chain bath cleaners can destroy your BB; if you use them with the bike tipped to the left (as you would) the cleaner can dribble onto the BB axle and run into the bearings. They're a disaster. I've had one in bits in my bits box for about 10 years and have never used it.

Take the chain off and wash it in paraffin or white spirit in a flat tray changing the liquid several times, then hang it up somewhere warm to dry overnight before re-lubing.

Also, if you're using shimano chains, it's a good opportunity to get rid of the dodgy shimano link pins and use a KMC quick link, which will make it much easier to remove the chain next time!

 

[eldudino]

I use a Park chainbath with env. friendly citrus degreaser, it works wonders on any slabs below your chosen cleaning location! I then wash off any excess with water, then spray with Scottoiler FS365, then put it in the shed to dry overnight, preferably with the tumbledryer on. In the morning, I relube with the micklemethod. I'm currently on 2,500miles with a Sram PC1071 and 2,600miles with a Sram PC850, both have been checked for wear and aren't coming close to needing replaced. It's a bit of a faff, especially re-lubing but it keeps the drive-chain clean and I'm pretty pleased with the life-span I'm getting.

 

[Goobs]

I remember as a kid we used to use margarine to lube a chain.

Don't recall the chain ever failing but then I usually out grew a bike in a year or two so who knows what damages was done !

By eck times were ard in them days.

 

[scouserinlondon]

I use a Park chainbath with env. friendly citrus degreaser, it works wonders on any slabs below your chosen cleaning location! I then wash off any excess with water, then spray with Scottoiler FS365, then put it in the shed to dry overnight, preferably with the tumbledryer on. In the morning, I relube with the micklemethod. I'm currently on 2,500miles with a Sram PC1071 and 2,600miles with a Sram PC850, both have been checked for wear and aren't coming close to needing replaced. It's a bit of a faff, especially re-lubing but it keeps the drive-chain clean and I'm pretty pleased with the life-span I'm getting.

Me too, I like the park chain bath. I use it about once every 8 weeks in summer and once a month in winter, and use the Mickle Method in between. I use a bio degradable de-greaser too which cleans the chain nicely, let it dry out properly then apply a very liberal amount of wet lube.

 

[yello]

I use a bio degradable de-greaser too which cleans the chain nicely, let it dry out properly then apply a very liberal amount of wet lube.

That seems to be what many say yet the Mickle Method is quite clear...

Unless you're prepared to remove the solvent somehow before the new lube goes on you'll destroy it.

...drying is not the same as removing. I put it to all those using a chain bath that you are invalidating the terms of the Mickle Method. Repent ye sinners!