The best chain cleaning process ever

[Deleted member 4210]

Ok. Admit it. You rarely clean your chain. And if you do, you loathe the process. Or you make it worse, thinking you 'cleaned it' but really didn't. Its a messy job. One of Mike Rowe's 'dirty jobs' that never got televised. (lol)

Yep, all that lubing can go for naught. That dirt, moisture, lube, and metal particles from the chain or cogs themselves, can making an awesome grinding paste. Wearing away your ebike chain, and yes, even costing you watts. Energy, yours and the battery's.

So check out this video. You'll probably not believe which process is the best way to clean.

Watch to the end.

P.S. on the one, you want to make sure you use proper gloves, and avoid the benzene on skin. it goes straight through your skin, right to your bone marrow. Bet you didn't know that either.

 

[J.R.]

The chain scrubber in that video is a cheap one. I've seen similar ones in Walmart. Very easy to find and would help. My first scrubber was from White Lighting, cheap, worked for a few months. It did sell me on the idea, so I purchased a Park Tool scrubber. It comes with the magnet preinstalled and brushes are replaceable and available. Amazon.

 

[ebikemom]

My bike tech told me never to put a solvent on my bike chain while it was on my bike, but to remove the chain to clean it if I wanted to use a solvent, as in the "homemade cleaning tub" example shown in the video @Deleted Member 4210 posted. He said that using a solvent on a brush tool or rag while the chain is on the bike leaves solvent behind that continues to work its way into the bike and can work its way into the "sealed" bearings and ruin my bike, and he's seen that happen (he said he has more often seen bikes damaged by over-cleaning than by under-cleaning). Anyway, just sharing advice I received.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

... (he said he has more often seen bikes damaged by over-cleaning than by under-cleaning)...

Well that's one thing I NEVER have to worry about.

 

[ebikemom]

?

 

[JRA]

I never clean my chains with solvent of any sort but apply T-9 to them with a back wipe when I think it needs it as part of my pre-ride routine is to check tire psi and the chain. Has worked for me for over 25 years and I get a couple of thousand miles per chain with no build up on the chain, cassette or chainwheels but do get a little on the jockey wheels that is easy to knock off once in awhile.

 

[linklemming]

I never clean my chains with solvent of any sort but apply T-9 to them with a back wipe when I think it needs it as part of my pre-ride routine is to check tire psi and the chain. Has worked for me for over 25 years and I get a couple of thousand miles per chain with no build up on the chain, cassette or chainwheels but do get a little on the jockey wheels that is easy to knock off once in awhile.

Pretty much the same here these days.

I used to use the park tool but it seemed like there was always some grit left.

I went thru a period of taking the chain off (I would alternate between two chains, one always ready to go). I would soak in diluted simple green in a coffee can, repeating with new solution as needed and finally water. Then would wax them. Way too much work these days.

Now I just wet a rag with wd40, wipe off the chain, apply 1 drop of triflow to each link (from the inside), then wipe again. While I agree this isnt the 'cleanest' way, I get sufficient life out of my chains (1500-2500miles).

As JRA mentioned, jockey wheels eventually gunk up but easy to knock it off.

 

[Johnny]

Pretty much the same here these days.

I used to use the park tool but it seemed like there was always some grit left.

I went thru a period of taking the chain off (I would alternate between two chains, one always ready to go). I would soak in diluted simple green in a coffee can, repeating with new solution as needed and finally water. Then would wax them. Way too much work these days.

Now I just wet a rag with wd40, wipe off the chain, apply 1 drop of triflow to each link (from the inside), then wipe again. While I agree this isnt the 'cleanest' way, I get sufficient life out of my chains (1500-2500miles).

As JRA mentioned, jockey wheels eventually gunk up but easy to knock it off.

I am planning to do the clean/wax on my next chain. I hope you can answer a couple of questions.

What is the chain life you got from waxing?

Is it any good in wet weather/ what about snow, salt ?

How long are the re-waxing intervals ?

Did you use paraffin oil/wax mix or just wax? Some sites advice to go for the mix but some sites like this one https://zerofrictioncycling.com.au/ advises just using paraffin wax. I am skeptical but their test on RnR lube seems to match my experience.

 

[linklemming]

I am planning to do the clean/wax on my next chain. I hope you can answer a couple of questions.

What is the chain life you got from waxing?

Is it any good in wet weather/ what about snow, salt ?

How long are the re-waxing intervals ?

Did you use paraffin oil/wax mix or just wax? Some sites advice to go for the mix but some sites like this one https://zerofrictioncycling.com.au/ advises just using paraffin wax. I am skeptical but their test on RnR lube seems to match my experience.

That was back in 1992 I have no idea

I just used regular paraffin wax, it wasnt the best solution to SF Bay Area MTBing (especially in the wet winter). I eventually went to pedros in the winter and tri-flow in the summer.

Out here in dry Denver area, been using tri-flow for 20 years

 

[Chris Hammond]

So I never remove my chain to clean it. I wipe it with a clean shop rag while back pedaling about once a week. I lubricate at least 1-2 times per week. The first chain on my Juiced CCS went just under 5000 miles. I think many people go way overboard on this.

 

[Johnny]

So I never remove my chain to clean it. I wipe it with a clean shop rag while back pedaling about once a week. I lubricate at least 1-2 times per week. The first chain on my Juiced CCS went just under 5000 miles. I think many people go way overboard on this.

Removing chain is not necessary but for me more convenient. The reason I do it is mainly because , 1. cleaning the sprocket of the bosch motor is a pain without removing it, 2. Since backpedaling is not an option (you can use a zip tie to tie the crank to the sprocket though) taking out the chain is actually easier for cleaning.

What kind of lube do you use? I believe you are from a dry, warmer climate so maybe that is why frequent wipe and lube is working for you. Unfortunately in winter time, with all the sand ,salt and road grime wiping the chain doesn't cut it here. It is easy to wear out a chain in a matter of 1-2 weeks and chains for mid drives are around $50.

Btw for my roadbike I am using the parktool scrubber and it does a good job but I can't say it is faster or more convenient than taking the chain out if you have a reusable quick link.

 

[steve mercier]

I bought that Parktool chainbox thingy and it does a fair job , but it works better with Acoustic bikes since you cannot easily backpedal a Bosch system . I bought a can of liquid WD40 and use it in the Parktool. We ride a lot of wet gravel around here. Really under these conditions , I am not sure that this method is much better than simply hosing the chain , wiping ,lubing and REPLACING chains more often. I am very happy with the new wet lube I bought ( Finish Line ) as it seems to suit the pacific northwest conditions nicely.

 

[elliot friedman]

I've since splurged for an relatively inexpensive bike stand, but before that, I just turned the bike upside down on its seat and handlebar and used the parktool scrubber while pedaling forward. I am currently, however, removing and waxing as on the video above. Well, not exactly. I make a loop out of the chain and run it through the parktool scrubber by hand a few times and then swish it around in a mineral spirit bath jar and then denatured alcohoI. Dry and wax. I still enjoy the process. Sounds tedious but once set up it goes quickly. All previous steps take about the same time as it does for the wax to melt in the crock pot.

Johnny, I believe you might have asked me in the past how long it lasts. I live in NYC and have never ridden in any wet conditions. I probably wax every 250-350 miles, maybe a little sooner. Chain and cassette wear seems perfectly normal. No less than oil, but the drivetrain has been much cleaner for a longer period of time.
Enjoy