cleaning your chain and sprockets

[mrpoonerson]

how often do you guys tend to clean your chain and sprockets? is it normal to clean after every ride or do you guys go a few weeks?

[dstepper]

After every ride, I hate chain noise.

[CalEpic]

I lube every ride and clean the chain after every 5 or so.

C

[TURNERob]

I clean and lube after every ride during the summer, then maybe just lube every ride but not clean in the winter when it isn't so dusty.

I typically lube the chain before every ride. I use White Lightening, since its a dry/wax lube, I feel like it only is good for one ride of about 15-19 miles. If I don't lube it after that and take it out on the next ride, it creaks really bad.

I lightly dust the cassette and pully's with one of those funky looking brushes before each ride, nothing too major.

[Big Guy]

I brush everything before every rides, I wipe my chain good and then lube it. I wash the chain with a degreaser about once a month (about 10 rides).

[scott]

When you say clean the chain do you pull it off and soak it in a cleaning solution or just clean it while its still installed.

I usually clean it every one to two rides depending on the dust factor. I brush off the sprockets and chain, then spray on the tri-flo one section at a time. I use a toothbrush to kind of work in all the oil. Then I wipe off all the excess oil. Seems to work ok.

Bret, that chain wax stuff how well does it work? Don't you have to "warm up" the chain before you put it on?

Scott

[dstepper]

I don't think it is a good idea to take the chain off unless you have a powerlink.

I never liked wax lubes, they seems to get a wax build up that is a pain to remove. The brush and re-lube method works fine for me. I used to use Tri-Flow but switched to ProLink.

[TURNERob]

Tri flow attracts the dirt too much, I use Pro Link and on occasion White Lightning.

Scott, I usually give the cranks a couple turns then apply the White Lightning while still rotating the cranks.

I used to use Tri-Flow, but like Rob said, it does attract too much dirt and gunk. The pulley's are usually caked with schmootz after I use the TF.

[Schecky]

Originally Posted by scott

Bret, that chain wax stuff how well does it work? Don't you have to "warm up" the chain before you put it on?

Scott

It's thin wax in a solvent - After you apply it, the solvent evaporates, leaving a coat of wax.
You don't have to warm anything for it to work.
Wax lubes are for dry, dusty conditions. As dirt gets on the chain, it combines with the wax and clumps off. I use it before each ride.
Oil type lubes are for watery conditions (and road bkes).
If you switch, make sure you clean the tri-flow off first.
I use tri-flow on the derailleur wheel and pivots, but only very sparingly.

[EndoMaster]

Originally Posted by FXRob

Tri flow attracts the dirt too much, I use Pro Link and on occasion White Lightning.

Yup, you end up bringing half the trail back with you.

I usually clean mine every other ride unless the chain got particularly dirty. I use a Park chain cleaner that seems to work well.

[Von-Skipp]

Originally Posted by FXRob

Tri flow attracts the dirt too much, I use Pro Link and on occasion White Lightning.

Hmm maybe I should switch.. I always use Tr-Flow its a pain to have clean the drive-train after every ride. So the waxy lubes are good??

[TURNERob]

Originally Posted by IntenseKipp

Hmm maybe I should switch.. *I always use Tr-Flow its a pain to have clean the drive-train after every ride. *So the waxy lubes are good??

Yes after our rides I would compare my chain to Bret's (when he was using Tri-Flow) and his always had WAY more dirt on it than mine using ProLink.

[mrpoonerson]

how about pedros extra dry? i picked up a bottle cuz some guys over at that shop called adrenaline recommended it... seems that either i didnt clean the chain well enough the first time or my chain is clumpy... whatever it is i just picked up a park tools chain cleaner so well see how it goes, fairly interested in that wax lube stuff.... sounds like it works well? do you switch back to oily lube during winter seasons or just stick with the wax stuff?

[Big Guy]

I use a brush and a rag to clean the chain after every rides and then I use Pro-Link to lube it. I use a Supergo chain cleaner with Degreaser every 8-10 rides. I never have any shifting problems.

use Tri-Flow on derailleur wheels and for the cables, I drop a few drops in the cable sleeves with the bike vertical in the stand, then I shift back and forth.
I wipe any excess because it is a real dust magnet.

[Schecky]

Another good thing to do every once in a while is use the edge of a shop rag or a thick piece of string and 'floss' between your cogs. Keeps your shifting golden.
The edge of an old terry cloth towel works really well.

[FyrFytrRyn]

maybe its because the novelty of having a new bike is still on me, but i de-grease/wash the drivetrain and entire bike after every ride. re-lube everything i can and adjust anything as necessary. but i do this with my other bike and truck aswell, but to a lesser extent.

[EndoMaster]

Lube the chain before every ride and clean it every 5 or so rides. I use the Park chain cleaner which work well enough.