Now that I'm riding bike again, I've been looking at info about cleaning and lubing the bike chain.
The Trek bike website recommends cleaning and lubing the chain once a month if you ride often.
There is a chain cleaning machine for about $40, but you can get a brand new chain for about $12.
I don't see what all the fuss is about cleaning the bike chain once a month when you can replace it for $12.
I used to clean and lube the chains on my motorcycles but some had a drive shaft.
new chains need to be soaked in mineral spirits or some kind solvent to remove the packing grease that covers entire chain, then blown dry of the solvent, and then one drop of chain lube per roller, try not to get lube on link plates and if you do wipe off what you can.
the packing grease will just attract dirt and pre-maturely wear out chainrings and cassette/freewheel gears.
that's the way i have done it for many many years
My dad was always cleaning the chains on his racing bikes and daily rider bike he rode to work in.... (he used to custom hand build his bikes, had a bike shop in the basement).
Good old WD-40 for cleaning the chain...done outside, big old rag underneath to catch....hold the straw right up to the chain in the middle of the run...hold down button, and slowly turn a pedal to have the chain go around several laps. WD-40 is great for dissolving grease and breaking down accumulated grit...basically "washing" off the chain. WD-40 is more of a cleaner, gets rid of moisture, and can provide a very light lubrication. Sometimes on my bikes...which I always rode in dirt, sand, etc...chain was VERY dirty, he would occasionally wrap a rag around and spin the chain through to get off heavy grit..and then spray again to get rid of the rest.
Then...he'd apply a chain oil..lightly. I recall some white and yellow squeeze bottle he'd use. Not a lot...else you get splatter when you rode...and act as a magnet for more road grit.
Building up grit, fine sand, etc...will "wear" the chain. It's an abrasive...and your chain is constantly moving links when you ride, so..it acts like wiping something with sandpaper. Will it wear enough for you to notice any wear? Probably depends on how much you ride, the more you ride, the longer distances you ride...yes. For casual riders...probably never notice in the life of the bike.
Can a bike go without any chain cleaning and oiling? Sure! For light riders, etc. If you don't keep the bike outside, if you don't ride near salt water...you can probably go the life of the bike without chain maint.
To me it's not a matter of cost either, it's just a matter of...why create more garbage for the landfill...if you can take care of something so you don't need to keep replacing it and throwing it in the landfill..it's better.
MORNING WOOD Lumber Company
Guinness for Strength!!!
Most newer chains have what is known as a "quick link" or by another name depending on the brand. These quick links simplify the removal of your chain when you want to do a deep cleaning, repair or replacement as Mark described.
I'm not as OCD about my chains as I used to be. Right now I use a Park Tool chain scrubber after about every 3rd or 4th ride and then do a removal/deep cleaning every other month (I prefer mineral spirits). It really depends on how OCD you want to be. Also, a $12 chain is really not a "good" chain. Look for a name brand like SRAM, KMC or Shimano. Also, be sure to let whatever cleaner/degreaser you used dry thoroughly before applying your lube.
Also, try and puchase a "Dry Lube". These are chain lubes that have a wet "carrier" that distributes the lubricant down into the chain and then dries off. They don't attract much grit and grime and you can usually keep you chain looking pretty good with a quick wipe down after each ride.
IIRR, the last few chain drive motorcycles I had, I'd set the bike on the center stand, spin the back wheel, and applied gear oil with a brush, after wiping it off with a rag in the same fashion.
^ That was one of my last bikes, a 750cc Kawasaki.
On my 3 speed bike, there is a lubed chain that once had rust on it. The sides are rough from when it was rusty.
I don't think I'm going to cough up $40 for a fancy chain washer with this old chain on a 46 year old Huffy 3 speed bike.
I might just wipe the chain off of any obvious crud and apply gear oil carefully onto each roller, then wipe it off of any excess oil once it's sat a while.
I'll bet WD40 works good on chains but I'm a little bit skittish of airborne chemicals so I many not dare to use that.
Maybe something like Simple Green on a wet rag?
The bike stays in the garage when I'm not riding it, and I never ride in the rain.
I like to ride 3 to 4 times a week for 30-60 minutes.
They say you can wash a chain in dish detergent if you rinse it well and let it dry b/4 you lube it.
I think I'll do that.
I tipped the bike upside down today and applied some motor oil to the chain and under sides of the fenders for rust protection.
The chain seemed dry, like it needed some oil.
In a week or so I'll wash it with a soapy cloth, rinse it, and apply new oil.
Like what was said, I think with any attention at all, it could outlive me.
I have low odor mineral spirits, and denatured alcohol, from many years ago. I can't even remember why I bought them. I was thinking of cleaning my chain with it, but I think I'd rather just use a wet soapy rag. I could also buy that citrus smelling stuff to clean it with, but that would be more expense, when I probably already have all I need to clean it with.
IMHO I don't need one of those $40 chain cleaner gadgets either. A soapy rag should do it, and I can brush the chain also if needed.
Not familiar with the cleaning new chains thing to get rid of the packing grease, but makes sense.
First good link I found trying to read up on it:
https://www.velonews.com/gear/tech-w...on-a-new-chain
If you have the time and energy to redo it, seems like a good idea.
Looks like it can be done without additional cleaning tools.
I don't think I'd ever notice the difference but it sounds like you're enjoying this again so why not?
Still on my 94 StumpJumper M2 with a few late upgrades.
Older than some of my employees, awesome bike.
I remember "Regina" brand chains hanging on racks in my dads basement shop...but they stopped making chains years ago. Can still find boxes on them "new" for over a hundred bucks now.Originally Posted by Easto
MORNING WOOD Lumber Company
Guinness for Strength!!!
I bought this stuff called Rock & Roll Gold liquid chain lube.It was $8.99 at a local bike shop.
You squirt it on and then wipe it off. It's a cleanser and lubricant.
The reviews of it are excellent.
https://www.amazon.com/Rock-135816-C.../dp/B002GIHHZU
I use R&R gold exclusively on all 4 of the bikes here at the house. It's a dry lubricant and hardly collects any dirt. GReat Stuff!
I was thinking of taking the chain off my 3 speed bike and soaking it in something to help remove the rust from the side of it. I was wanting to learn how to break a chain, but I could also remove it without breaking a link open. Then people soak chains in a plastic jar with a lid for hours or days. I'm not exactly sure what kind of a solution would clean up a chain without damaging it.
Or, I could just keep applying Rock & Roll Gold to it once in a while which would probably do a great job of keeping the rollers lubricated.
The bike mechanic at the shop I bought 2 bikes from is going to show me how to remove the back tire from my vintage Huffy 3 speed bike.
It's got a thing hooked up to it that controls the 3 speed rear hub.
I need to learn this in case I get a flat tire so I can remove it myself without taking it to the bike shop.
Don't worry about the rust on the outside of the chain, it's the inner links that need to be maintained. I soak my chains in Mineral Spirits. I have broken a chain and reused the pin but it's not the safest of things to do. When you're at the shop have him show you how a chain with a quick link works. But from what you've described with your riding style and the bikes you have I would probably just stick to a regular lubrication while the chain is on the bike.
Sounds like a plan, thanks.
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