Cleaning chain and "gears" what to use
Discussion
Hi,
I have dragged my Whyte hybrid bike out of the garage in the last few weeks, it's been sat for a few years now and while the tyres and brakes seems fine I'd like to give the the chain, gears and the derailleurs (the bits that move the chain up and down) a clean and lube, what do you recommend?
A quick look on Amazon brings up a lot of Muc Off products, it's a name I have seen before but are they any good?
TIA
I have dragged my Whyte hybrid bike out of the garage in the last few weeks, it's been sat for a few years now and while the tyres and brakes seems fine I'd like to give the the chain, gears and the derailleurs (the bits that move the chain up and down) a clean and lube, what do you recommend?
A quick look on Amazon brings up a lot of Muc Off products, it's a name I have seen before but are they any good?
TIA
I use Muc Off chain cleaner and get pretty good results. I usually use the cleaner first, give everything a good scrub with a brush, rinse off and then give it another go with normal bike cleaner, along with the rest of the bike.
Rinse that off and then dry the chain and gears with a cloth and leave it all to fully dry before then putting fresh lube on.
I can get mine looking like this without much effort
Rinse that off and then dry the chain and gears with a cloth and leave it all to fully dry before then putting fresh lube on.
I can get mine looking like this without much effort
I never let my chain get super filthy so what I do is spray on a bit of normal bike cleaner on the chain, chainring, sprockets and mech and leave for 5 minutes. Then I use a hose with a brush attachment and brush all the parts whilst turning the pedals backwards.
Wipe this all down with a rag and leave to dry for an hour then lube with your favourite lube. Dry lube for dry weather, wet lube for wet weather.
If the chain is really hanging you will need to go to work at it with some proper chain degreaser and a chain bath, then do what I have described above.
I try and keep the drivetrain clean so I don't have to use a degreaser. I don't think it does the links any good keep soaking them in the stuff (my opinion). Also when it is just caked with lube it just seems to end up everywhere.
Wipe this all down with a rag and leave to dry for an hour then lube with your favourite lube. Dry lube for dry weather, wet lube for wet weather.
If the chain is really hanging you will need to go to work at it with some proper chain degreaser and a chain bath, then do what I have described above.
I try and keep the drivetrain clean so I don't have to use a degreaser. I don't think it does the links any good keep soaking them in the stuff (my opinion). Also when it is just caked with lube it just seems to end up everywhere.
With the quick links that are about now, it's easier than it ever has been to remove the chain and put it back on easily.
I find that a posh ice-cream tub with some of the petrol I have for the strimmer works well to get the gunk off. I swirl it around in that a few times, give it a little scrub with an old toothbrush, and rub it through an old rag to dry it off. Once it's air-dried properly, I put it back on the bike and lube it fully before using again.
The cassettes come up nicely doing this too, and the chain rings.
If there is a reason why this is a bad idea, apart from the fumes aspect, let me know, but it really cleans the crap off well!
I find that a posh ice-cream tub with some of the petrol I have for the strimmer works well to get the gunk off. I swirl it around in that a few times, give it a little scrub with an old toothbrush, and rub it through an old rag to dry it off. Once it's air-dried properly, I put it back on the bike and lube it fully before using again.
The cassettes come up nicely doing this too, and the chain rings.
If there is a reason why this is a bad idea, apart from the fumes aspect, let me know, but it really cleans the crap off well!
I use the same Bilt Hamber Surfed HD and autofoam that I use on the far, but use more Surfex HD and apply with a hand pump sprayer. Cheap, effective, none of this natty bike specific rubbish.
Once washer down with hose, then spray drivetrain with GT85 and leave in garage to dry. 2 mins to lubricate before cycling and away we go.
Once washer down with hose, then spray drivetrain with GT85 and leave in garage to dry. 2 mins to lubricate before cycling and away we go.
Apart from the various different solvents/degreasers, one neat little tool for getting caked on gunk from between the cogs of a cassette is a lollypop stick (or chipfork) split lengthways into two. Pop it in between the cogs and turn the pedals backwards and the vast majority of the gunk comes right off. It reduces the "workload" on whatever solvent/degreaser you decide to use. Also useful to "peel" gunk off derailleur wheels and the inside edge of front chainrings too.
I tend to use a cheap-ish aerosol degreaser from Wilko... https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-citrus-fragrance... ...to get through oil and grease, but I've not found any in store on my last two trips. They also do a good Disc Brake Cleaner that I use on the discs of my MTB and the rims of my road bike. No frills, no fuss, and it just works.
ETA:
I've not compared prices with elsewhere, but for what seems like sensible prices Wilko do quite a few bike cleaning products, including brushes and lubrication for after you've cleaned it... https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/travel-motoring/cyclin...
Wilko seems to be the spiritual successor to Woolworths on the High Street, they've got a bit of everything but it's not always the first place you think of looking for bike stuff.
I tend to use a cheap-ish aerosol degreaser from Wilko... https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-citrus-fragrance... ...to get through oil and grease, but I've not found any in store on my last two trips. They also do a good Disc Brake Cleaner that I use on the discs of my MTB and the rims of my road bike. No frills, no fuss, and it just works.
ETA:
I've not compared prices with elsewhere, but for what seems like sensible prices Wilko do quite a few bike cleaning products, including brushes and lubrication for after you've cleaned it... https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/travel-motoring/cyclin...
Wilko seems to be the spiritual successor to Woolworths on the High Street, they've got a bit of everything but it's not always the first place you think of looking for bike stuff.
Edited by yellowjack on Thursday 29th April 10:32
Chain, one of these:
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-maintenance/...
Filled with Halfords degreaser, Muck Off or bio Gunk.
Cassette, chainrings and jockey wheels, one of the above chemicals with one of these and a toothbrush:
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-maintenance/...
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-maintenance/...
Filled with Halfords degreaser, Muck Off or bio Gunk.
Cassette, chainrings and jockey wheels, one of the above chemicals with one of these and a toothbrush:
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-maintenance/...
They quite often do a great deal on a Muc-Off pack/toolbox. You save loads buying this and the specific cleaning tools last forever. The cassette brush scraper tool is perfect for the job.
I just spray my bike with a sprinkler setting on the garden hose (no jet hosing as it gets through the various seals). Spray the pink muc-off cleaner all over, and the chain degreaser on the drivetrain. Go and make a tea, then give it a good scrub and hose off.
Give it a good shake, spin the wheels up and brake, leave to dry then spray the Bike protect everywhere but the discs/bar tape. Then the ceramic dry lube or currently trying purple stuff on the chain and derailleur pivot points.
If you use a waterproof wet lube then you get horrific gunk build up and the degreaser even has trouble digesting it. It tends to go into solution and then leave a disgusting residue over the components and chain stay, if you use a chain scrubbing tool. Also covers the tool in the waterproof slime too.
Pop the chain off and leave in a baking tray of white spirit (petrol would be even better but stinks the garage out).
I wouldn’t put GT-85 on the chain, it’s Teflon so will just stop the chain lube sticking to the rollers, and probably dissolve it too. You only need lube on the chain rollers and the cleaner you keep everything the better.
I just spray my bike with a sprinkler setting on the garden hose (no jet hosing as it gets through the various seals). Spray the pink muc-off cleaner all over, and the chain degreaser on the drivetrain. Go and make a tea, then give it a good scrub and hose off.
Give it a good shake, spin the wheels up and brake, leave to dry then spray the Bike protect everywhere but the discs/bar tape. Then the ceramic dry lube or currently trying purple stuff on the chain and derailleur pivot points.
If you use a waterproof wet lube then you get horrific gunk build up and the degreaser even has trouble digesting it. It tends to go into solution and then leave a disgusting residue over the components and chain stay, if you use a chain scrubbing tool. Also covers the tool in the waterproof slime too.
Pop the chain off and leave in a baking tray of white spirit (petrol would be even better but stinks the garage out).
I wouldn’t put GT-85 on the chain, it’s Teflon so will just stop the chain lube sticking to the rollers, and probably dissolve it too. You only need lube on the chain rollers and the cleaner you keep everything the better.
Evanivitch said:
I use the same Bilt Hamber Surfed HD and autofoam that I use on the far, but use more Surfex HD and apply with a hand pump sprayer. Cheap, effective, none of this natty bike specific rubbish.
Once washer down with hose, then spray drivetrain with GT85 and leave in garage to dry. 2 mins to lubricate before cycling and away we go.
+1 for Surfex HD, dirt cheap too!Once washer down with hose, then spray drivetrain with GT85 and leave in garage to dry. 2 mins to lubricate before cycling and away we go.
I use morgan blue sprayed over the drive chain with a quick spin through the chain bath (filled with fairly liquid). Seems to get everything as new.
To clean the rest of the bike I use a knock off Muc Off by a company called Gee Chemicals via ebay. I buy in big 5L drums and apply with a garden pump sprayer. I go through a bit as I was down after most rides.
To clean the rest of the bike I use a knock off Muc Off by a company called Gee Chemicals via ebay. I buy in big 5L drums and apply with a garden pump sprayer. I go through a bit as I was down after most rides.
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