Which Degreaser?

[Goggs]

I need to buy a degreaser. However, more importantly, the rain is coming & I need to clean my chain properly & re-lube it. I have the lube (Squirt) and I'm wondering if WD40 & a toothbrush will do as a makeshift degreaser. Any thoughts? Also, recommendations as to a good degreaser are most welcome.

 

[slowmotion]

Jizer. Make sure you get rid of all traces of it before you re-lube. It can be washed of with repeated rinses of water.

 

[G3CWI]

I use white spirit. Very cheap and works well. Does not smell very nice.

 

[Colin_P]

The quickest and easiest way use an aerosol of automotive brake cleaner. It will degrease and wash away any grit and then any residual cleaner will quickly evaporate away. It can be done with the chain insitu with no worries about drying or residual smell. If your chain is really grubby though, do as you've said with a toothbrush and WD40 and then wash that off with the brake cleaner.

Depending where you buy it a tin will cost between £2.50 and £5.00 and will do three to four chain cleans.

 

[Goggs]

The trouble is none of that stuff is available to me right now. I'll do the WD40 and make sure it's dry afterwards. Shouldn't be too difficult in this heat. Thanks for all your input guys.

 

[Colin_P]

I see your problem if you are in rural'ish France. Not many shops you can nip to.

 

[Goggs]

No, that's exactly the problem. I'll go the WD40 route & see how it goes. Far too much 1664 & Pastis in me to go out on the bike now anyway. As long as it's good to go for tomorrow that'll be good enough.

 

[S-Express]

I'm wondering if WD40 & a toothbrush will do as a makeshift degreaser.

You'll make a right mess with WD40, as it contains both a solvent and a lubricant, so you'll probably never get the chain fully degreased/oil free. I tend to use petrol - at just over £1 per litre it's probably the cheapest degreaser out there.

 

[User6179]

Washing up liquid if it is really caked in gunk , wd40 /gt85 is good but really messy , petrol as above is great for cleaning stuff but also a bit messy .
Just changed my cassette/ chain 5 minutes ago , never cleaned it in about 2500 miles so am no expert on cleaning chains

 

[Goggs]

You'll make a right mess with WD40, as it contains both a solvent and a lubricant, so you'll probably never get the chain fully degreased/oil free. I tend to use petrol - at just over £1 per litre it's probably the cheapest degreaser out there.

Washing up liquid if it is really caked in gunk , wd40 /gt85 is good but really messy , petrol as above is great for cleaning stuff but also a bit messy .
Just changed my cassette/ chain 5 minutes ago , never cleaned it in about 2500 miles so am no expert on cleaning chains

Too late.

Yes, it was messy, but it's all cleaned up now. I'll wait until tomorrow and give it another go-over with a cloth before lubing it. It'll be fine.

 

[PeteXXX]

For the future, would your mécanicien automobile locale have a de-greasing machine you could pop your bike bits in?

 

[e-rider]

park tools citrus degreaser used to be the best - they have chaged it recently though and I've not tried the new 'bio' version

 

[Goggs]

For the future, would your mécanicien automobile locale have a de-greasing machine you could pop your bike bits in?

I have no idea but the car's due a service so I'll check that out. Thanks for the idea.

 

[tincaman]

This is my latest find in Home Bargains at £1 a bottle, works well so I'm going back to stock up.

 

[russellchapman]

Some good advice and info on youtube
View: https://youtu.be/KM6mzE5lQ0w