Bike Cleaners/Lubricants.... (merged threads)

Discussion in 'The Workshop' started by Dino Brown, Sep 24, 2008.

  1. wheeler

    wheeler Member

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    Correct the Sram link will work on Shimano chains
     
  2. bvader

    bvader Long Live The Gorn!

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    I have a KMC and and Wipperman Conex links have not used either yet, funny I was pretty sure the SRAM 10 spd powerlink did NOT work on a shimano 10 sp XT chain... but that is why I asked the question.
     
  3. irv_usc

    irv_usc Active Member

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    Like I said above I havent had any issues with a wippermann on my shimano chain.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2
     
  4. danmtchl

    danmtchl danmtchl

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    I use KMC links on my SRAM chain. I clean my chain with plain old 87 octane fuel in a gatorade bottle. I also have a sonic cleaner but it takes a while to get done.
     
  5. MnMDan

    MnMDan Member

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    After a ride, blue paper shop towel soaked in citrus degreaser (usually the bulk straight stuff...no dilution...cuts through any road oil that gets picked up off the asphalt between sections of dirt)...use small flathead screwdriver to get gunk out of rear derailleur pulleys....wipe it down with fresh blue paper shop towel...wait 20+ minutes while I grab a beer or something to eat...re-lube...finish eating and/or grab second beer...then wipe down with third fresh blue paper shop towel.

    I have bad luck with disconnecting the chain no mater which quick-link I'm using...works for road/mtb.
     
  6. bing!

    bing! Active Member

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    its not the cost of the chain, its how the drive train works after a few rides. its very dusty where i ride. in the summer, my rear derailluer will start acting up or i will get chain suck after the 4th or fifth ride.

    i use sram chains with a power link so i can take them off on the third ride and dump them in my parts washer. when i get around to it, i take the chain, rinse it in the washer and let it dry. ill oil it when i put it back on the bike.

    doesnt take more than 5 minutes of my time. and it saves my frames fro chain suck.
     
  7. fongster

    fongster Active Member

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    Once I started using ProGold's ProLink Chain Lube, my chain only needs to wiped off after I put a drop on each link. That stuff is amazing--it doesn't attract dirt at all. I use it on road and mtb.
     
  8. strobe

    strobe resident noob

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    I do the same thing on my geared bikes as my SS- Wipe down with dry rag after every ride to get dust off. Reapply RnR Gold/Finishline Wax every 1-2 rides (25-40miles). The RnR draws a lot of the dirt out to be wiped off during application and dries to a waxy film that doesn't attract dirt. Run it through a rag just before riding to remove any excess after it set. I've yet to have any chainsuck. I admittedly wash my bike probably more often than most ppl though. So, the chain gets a run through the brush with dish soap every 2-3 rides. I'll use a chain cleaner about every 5-10 rides when i finally get buildup between the links.

    Any one of these steps probably take me over 5 minutes to do. I enjoy working on the bikes, so, any attention to a component is time well spent. Your method is probably faster and cleaner. I've just never needed to take my chain off to get it running smooth, quiet, and clean. This all reminds me i need to wash my bike. lol.
     
  9. Samusick

    Samusick OI!

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  10. Varaxis

    Varaxis Trail Ninja

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    Degreasing or other type of cleaning where you're washing stuff out just makes you waste time on careful relubing, IMO. Even worse if you spend all your effort on cleaning just to half-ass it on the lube. Skip the chain cleaning, save time, and buy a decent lube. What's a better deal, spending time on cleaning and lubing (say 1 hour/wk) or paying $5 extra on good bottle of lube that might last months?

    I think Dumonde Tech (original/blue) is the best I've used for SoCal. It does everything you ask for in a lube, keep your drivetrain clean and running smooth and quiet, lasts a long while, is easy to apply, and doesn't wash out. Rock N Roll (Gold) is good too, and a seemingly decent value at first, but they recommend that you use it liberally, so its value might be comparable to Dumonde, but doesn't seem to be as clean. Had to scrape gunk build-up off my RD pulleys after a few applications. ProLink works awesome at keeping your drivetrain clean, but it seemingly lasts only about 5 hours worth of riding per application, and washes out in drizzles and some water crossing, which made me start carrying the lube with me on rides. Happily used up a 3 pack, but switched to the ones I just mentioned earlier for convenience.
     
  11. assassinator

    assassinator New Member

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    I would use a Grunge Brush with some of the citrus stuff:-k
     
  12. MohammedInABearSuit

    MohammedInABearSuit Sticks and Stones...

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    I use a Stainless Steel Chain with a Wipperman on my SS bikes.
    I very rarely use any lub but when I do I use Boeshield T9
     
  13. rojomas

    rojomas A.K.A The Oxx

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    I'm with Gooseaholic on this one. Brake cleaner works awesome! Just spray down the chain and everything comes right off. What's more, it dries instantly.

    Dumonde tech chain lube is far superior to anything else on the market. All you need is one drop on each link and it will last at least 2-4 rides. I had a bottle last me 3 years servicing 5 bikes.
     
  14. bing!

    bing! Active Member

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    Wow. I squirt the bottle on the chain as I run it through the pulleys. A bottle lasts me 1 year. Not complaining. Just wondering how hard it would be to put a drop on 100 links #-o
     
  15. rojomas

    rojomas A.K.A The Oxx

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    It only takes a extra minute or two but without all the excess lube on the chain it feels to me to be a better running chain.
    When a chain has too much lube on it IMO it makes the drivetrain feel dull and less responsive. I like my chain to feel crisp.
     
  16. Runs with Scissors

    Runs with Scissors Climbing > desending

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    For a really crisp chain I use only the best quality pure mesquite charcoal (no briquets), with a minimal amount of lighter fluid....

    On my MTB, I ran my first chain about 1,000 miles, and I'm about 500 miles into my second (grand total of 9 months), mostly dirt (65%). First chain I used a wax-based lube, and for the second all I use is Rock & Roll Gold, & wipe down the outside of the chain after every couple of rides with a degreaser on rag (can't remember the name, too lazy to go out to the garage and look).

    I've only used R&R Gold on my road bike so far, and I expect the chain on that bike to last much longer due to riding conditions; roughly 900 miles so far and not much water intrusion.

    On both bikes, so far I've had no chain suck, my cassettes and those toothed thingies in the front both seem to still be in great condition. Both bikes shift when I ask, and I think that's the bottom line of what we all expect.
     
  17. proraptor

    proraptor The Bikes & Brew Crew

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    for after ride cleaning I just wipe the chain down with a rag and re lube with triflow. For a total cleaning simple green in a bottle works wonder when you shake the shit out of it
     
  18. destroyer

    destroyer I build jumps

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    The OP is asking for " shop quality." Anyone care to show pictures of those drive trains to see how well your cleaning works? Maybe a little put up or shut up!

    I've seen too many of my close riding partners that think they know how to clean a drive train, after one ride it looks like the black plague has been trying to kill it.
     
  19. Ratt

    Ratt Member

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    I as mentioned previously use an empty Gatorade bottle and hot water (boil it on the stove if your tap is not scalding hot). I usually mix Zep purple (home depot) industrial degreaser with hot water and shake it hard with the chain in there, works as well as gasoline. Their industrial degrease must have phosphorous acid or some sort of acid it in because I get the 'slick' feeling I on my finger tips and then rough hands afterwards. The toxicity of the stuff started to worry me so I switched to Dawn dishwashing soap, does not work as well but does a good job. Scalding hot water is key to all of this.
     
  20. danmtchl

    danmtchl danmtchl

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    The best degreaser I have found was Pure Citrus which is actually an air freshner. You can find it in Home Depot and is usually hit or miss because the Depot uses it as a degreaser to clean the beams. Smells great also.
     

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