How fast can you clean a bike chain?
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Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller | Reply |
2015-10-05 9:15 AM |
Elite 4344 | Subject: How fast can you clean a bike chain? How fast can you clean a bike chain? Followup question: How clean is it when you are done? So I noticed the chain was pretty black this morning. I only have about an hour and a half of free time today. I was going to spend the whole time riding but I figured I should try to see if I could get the chain clean, dry, and lubed in 30 minutes and then ride for an hour. I have never timed it before and usually the chain cleaning comes as part of a general wash, lube, and tune up process that can take 3 or 4 hours. Here are the results timed with the Lap button on the watch:
Best laid plans. |
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2015-10-06 7:18 AM in reply to: tech_geezer |
Champion 10668 Tacoma, Washington | Subject: RE: How fast can you clean a bike chain? Grab master link pliers -- 15 seconds. Open master link -- 20 seconds. Put chain next to new, shiny chain and hold at last link -- 30 seconds (because it's a pain when they swing around and get wrapped up in each other). Drop dirty chain on the (concrete) floor -- 0 seconds. Okay, maybe 2. Break new, shiny chain at located link -- 1 minute. Thread through the derailleurs -- 1 minute. Put in new master link and "click" it into place -- 30 seconds. So about 5 minutes, and it's so clean it looks new. Oh, I forgot one step -- pitch dirty chain into the trash -- 5 very gratifying seconds. Please note, this is not to say I do this all the time. I usually clean the chain with a rag and citrus degreaser fairly regularly, but using the NFS lube keeps the chain pretty clean to begin with. |
2015-10-06 10:25 AM in reply to: briderdt |
Elite 4344 | Subject: RE: How fast can you clean a bike chain? Hey Dave, A different technique for sure. I rarely do it that way. I would technically define that as a different task but point taken. It does suggest that I could have a spare clean chain on hand to install when I want to speed things up. This just constitutes better planning rather than better cleaning technique since I would still have a dirty chain to clean. But I am thinking about the removable links. I am old school about linkages. I typically don't use removable links, because, in the old days, they did not work so well. However, through no fault of my own, I now have two bikes with removable links. One bike came that way new, and the other just had a link installed while it was at the shop the last time. I actually don't know why. So, I am open to the idea of removing a chain and dropping it in a jar of solvent. Would that be a faster way to do it? I shall try it next time and report back. TW
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2015-10-06 6:29 PM in reply to: tech_geezer |
Veteran 1900 Southampton, Ontario | Subject: RE: How fast can you clean a bike chain? I suppose that way is fairly quick but realistically I would still recommend a "FULL" chain cleaning as described here http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html |
2015-10-06 7:28 PM in reply to: DaveL |
Pro 6838 Tejas | Subject: RE: How fast can you clean a bike chain? Originally posted by DaveL That's kind of half a**ed. I always drive out and replace the pins too I suppose that way is fairly quick but realistically I would still recommend a "FULL" chain cleaning as described here http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html |
2015-10-15 9:55 PM in reply to: DaveL |
Veteran 572 Hudson Valley | Subject: RE: How fast can you clean a bike chain? I whole heartedly agree with a full drivetrain cleaning. I also like the idea of using a quicklink and alternate between two chains because chains take a lot of time to clean and dry. The recently cleaned chain can dry while the ready to use chain goes for a ride. I typically wipe down a chain and lightly lube every 200 miles. The Teflon based fast drying lube attracts the least amount of dirt. every 1000 miles I'll do a full drivetrain cleaning. Every 3000 miles I replace the chain. |
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2015-10-22 10:01 AM in reply to: tech_geezer |
Pro 5892 , New Hampshire | Subject: RE: How fast can you clean a bike chain? Takes me less than 15min, but that includes cleaning the chain and cassette. Here's what I do: Remove chain (KMC on all our bikes) and remove cassette Place them in my ultrasonic cleaner with a mix of hot water and Simple Green (4:1 ratio) Clean for 5 minutes Rinse and pat dry Reinstall and lube the chain It looks brand new afterwards. I do that at least once a month. After each ride, Rock n Roll Gold, a drop on each link, let stand for 5 min, then wipe it completely clean. The drive train stays clean enough to shift perfect and very little noise. |
2015-10-22 11:24 AM in reply to: audiojan |
Elite 4344 | Subject: RE: How fast can you clean a bike chain? Originally posted by audiojan Takes me less than 15min, but that includes cleaning the chain and cassette. Here's what I do: Remove chain (KMC on all our bikes) and remove cassette Place them in my ultrasonic cleaner with a mix of hot water and Simple Green (4:1 ratio) Clean for 5 minutes Rinse and pat dry Reinstall and lube the chain It looks brand new afterwards. I do that at least once a month. After each ride, Rock n Roll Gold, a drop on each link, let stand for 5 min, then wipe it completely clean. The drive train stays clean enough to shift perfect and very little noise.
OOOoo. Ultrasonic. That sounds high tech and pretty fast. So you clean the cassette off the wheel? I clean the whole drive train while I am cleaning the chain but generally I leave all the parts on the bike. I just use a paint brush to apply solvent to the whole drive train and then hose it off.
I still use wet lube. I even bought a copy of Jason Smith (http://www.friction-facts.com) testing of chain lubes but I did not change to paraffin or anything else more high tech. I guess I like the look of a black chain imprint on my calf. My chain is dirty again I shall try to improve my time today. TW
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2015-10-22 4:05 PM in reply to: tech_geezer |
Pro 5892 , New Hampshire | Subject: RE: How fast can you clean a bike chain? Originally posted by tech_geezer Originally posted by audiojan Takes me less than 15min, but that includes cleaning the chain and cassette. Here's what I do: Remove chain (KMC on all our bikes) and remove cassette Place them in my ultrasonic cleaner with a mix of hot water and Simple Green (4:1 ratio) Clean for 5 minutes Rinse and pat dry Reinstall and lube the chain It looks brand new afterwards. I do that at least once a month. After each ride, Rock n Roll Gold, a drop on each link, let stand for 5 min, then wipe it completely clean. The drive train stays clean enough to shift perfect and very little noise.
OOOoo. Ultrasonic. That sounds high tech and pretty fast. So you clean the cassette off the wheel? I clean the whole drive train while I am cleaning the chain but generally I leave all the parts on the bike. I just use a paint brush to apply solvent to the whole drive train and then hose it off.
I still use wet lube. I even bought a copy of Jason Smith (http://www.friction-facts.com) testing of chain lubes but I did not change to paraffin or anything else more high tech. I guess I like the look of a black chain imprint on my calf. My chain is dirty again I shall try to improve my time today. TW
Always off the wheel. :-) One reason I don't like to clean it on the wheel is that I don't want to get any solvent removing grease where I want it to be (i.e. bearings). As long as you're careful, it works ok, but there's a bit of a risk. I know this is how the pro mechanics do it, but they also don't any to worry about the bearings lasting for years. One season and it's gone anyways... |
2015-10-29 3:23 PM in reply to: tech_geezer |
41 | Subject: RE: How fast can you clean a bike chain? About 60 seconds of running it through a chain cleaning tool (while still on the drivetrain) before I wash the bike. Clean cassette and front rings with toothbrush dipped in citrus cleaner. Wash bike, rinse all including chain/drivetrain. Run chain through a rag in my hand to get rid of leftover dirt/water. Apply a drop of teflon lube to each link, spin chain a few times. Takes about 3 minutes (in addition to the actual bike washing). Could I be more anal-retentive about getting every last bit of dirt out? Sure... but I wouldn't do it as often, 'cause it's a pain. Even though my method might not yield perfection, my drivetrain is still in nice shape because I'm actually willing to do this procedure frequently. |
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