Fab Foodie
hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
- Location
- Kirton, Devon.
Mickle Method is all you need, save your time and money. As per KMC, no need for a cleaner or any solvents.
Chain Cleaners?
- Thread starter Young Un
- Start date
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BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
Fab Foodie said:
Tried it, and I wasn't particularly impressed.
Fab Foodie
hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
- Location
- Kirton, Devon.
I'd say the same about chain cleaners... I've got one collecting dust!BentMikey said:
BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
Well I've got to agree with you there, don't like them much either.
Dave5N
Über Member
- Location
- Outside The Little Nibble
It depends on what you're trying to remove. My son's 'cross bike gets the clean machine treatment once or twice a week most often. I have never done his track bike chain with it - just an occassional 'Mickle Method'.
byegad
Legendary Member
- Location
- NE England
After lots of years and lots of methods! I have found a method that works for me.
To clean a dirty chain, usually every six months or after a tour in sandy Suffolk!
I work in short stretches about 10 links at a time.
Spray the chain liberally at close quarters with GT85, wipe with a rag, which is soon soaked in GT85, and clean in the gaps with an old toothbrush, once completely clean move on to the next stretch.
Once the whole chain is clean, wipe with a clean dry cloth by back pedalling the chain through the rag until the chain looks dry. Go back with the wet rag GT85 and toothbrush if you spot anything you've missed first time round then dry again.
Now leave for 30 mins or so then use a good chain specific oil to put a drop on each roller and go for a short ride to spead the oil around the chain.
I use a lot of GT85 each time I clean a chain as my recumbent trikes use nearly three standard chains each. However I really only need to do this a couple of times a year on each trike and GT85 is cheap and a small Park chain oil dispenser lasts ages.
When a chain has been cleaned like this several times I regrease the chain in a hot grease chain bath. The one I use has been with me since 1970 when I bought it for my motorbike chains! this melts the grease into the rollers and the chain is drip dried back into the bath as it cools.
Wipe the chain as clean as you can with old rags a drop of oil on each link and use the chain again.
My Park chain measuring tool tells me after 2000 miles on my QNT the chain is nowhere near 3/4% worn, I expect to get at least 6000 miles, and maybe 10000, from it before I replace it at 3/4% worn to save the sprockets!
To clean a dirty chain, usually every six months or after a tour in sandy Suffolk!
I work in short stretches about 10 links at a time.
Spray the chain liberally at close quarters with GT85, wipe with a rag, which is soon soaked in GT85, and clean in the gaps with an old toothbrush, once completely clean move on to the next stretch.
Once the whole chain is clean, wipe with a clean dry cloth by back pedalling the chain through the rag until the chain looks dry. Go back with the wet rag GT85 and toothbrush if you spot anything you've missed first time round then dry again.
Now leave for 30 mins or so then use a good chain specific oil to put a drop on each roller and go for a short ride to spead the oil around the chain.
I use a lot of GT85 each time I clean a chain as my recumbent trikes use nearly three standard chains each. However I really only need to do this a couple of times a year on each trike and GT85 is cheap and a small Park chain oil dispenser lasts ages.
When a chain has been cleaned like this several times I regrease the chain in a hot grease chain bath. The one I use has been with me since 1970 when I bought it for my motorbike chains! this melts the grease into the rollers and the chain is drip dried back into the bath as it cools.
Wipe the chain as clean as you can with old rags a drop of oil on each link and use the chain again.
My Park chain measuring tool tells me after 2000 miles on my QNT the chain is nowhere near 3/4% worn, I expect to get at least 6000 miles, and maybe 10000, from it before I replace it at 3/4% worn to save the sprockets!
byegad
Legendary Member
- Location
- NE England
It's not convoluted, it takes 20 minutes work twice a year, and two 30 minute waits I suppose. I get lots of miles per chain, cassette and chainring so it works.
BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
Byegad, your method seems like a lot of hard work. Personally, I like the Sheldon Shake, it's much quicker and easier, and it actually gets the chain clean, unlike any of the other methods.
mickle
innit
- Location
- 53.933606, -1.076131
Pah.
mondobongo
Über Member
There is only one way and thats the Mickle way.
BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
mondobongo said:
Not really. It works, and it's easy and quick, but it leaves a dirty chain. It's probably a good choice for stuff like hire bikes with cheap chains, but it's pretty shitty for good kit.
mickle
innit
- Location
- 53.933606, -1.076131
It doesn't leave a dirty chain though.
BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
Well it certainly isn't clean, plenty of grinding paste still in the chain, and that was after an extended test, relubing after every ride. Maybe you use WD40?
