Chain Cleaner Tool

[comish83]

I was wondering if either of the two chain cleaner tools come recommended by anyone? GCN has a video recommending the Muc-Off X-3 which is $45 but I am curious if anyone has tried the $10 Fyong chain cleaning tool?

Muc-off X-3 $45
https://www.amazon.com/Muc-Off-277-C...+chain+cleaner

Amazon also has a cheap $10 Fyoung Bike Cleaner.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MFB1640...P01-V01-O3-B55

[ultraman6970]

Never used one of those because I always be under the impression that at the end the brushes inside of the devices end up so nasty that need to clean them afterwards.

Is faster and quicker just use the rag/paper towel and oil technique.

[Llewellyn]

Get an old paintbrush and the degreaser of your choice and smother the chain thoroughly. Let the gunk drip off and then wash. Cheaper than both of the options you listed (and much more effective too).

[dgauthier]

For $45 they can definitely muc-off...

+1 for a rag.

[KonaSS]

These type of cleaners can work well. I would go with the cheapo one. This isn't rocket science.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by comish83

I was wondering if either of the two chain cleaner tools come recommended by anyone? GCN has a video recommending the Muc-Off X-3 which is $45 but I am curious if anyone has tried the $10 Fyong chain cleaning tool?

Muc-off X-3 $45
https://www.amazon.com/Muc-Off-277-C...+chain+cleaner

Amazon also has a cheap $10 Fyoung Bike Cleaner.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MFB1640...P01-V01-O3-B55

Buy some snap links, get a cleaned plastic milk bottle..some mineral spirits..chain off, shake, shake, shake, let dry, put back on.

I 'clean' my chain about once a month if I'm riding 4-5 days a week. I lube it when it sounds like I have a bird in my pocket..after that ride.

[martl]

Those who clean their chains a lot (especially with degreaser), end up buying lots of chains. I'm with Jobst Brandt on that one. Wipe outside clean with an oily rag, apply oil very carefully to the links, wipe excess off again.

[regularguy412]

I've had REALLY good luck with just good ol' WD-40 as the 'cleaner' (solvent). Wipe down really well and let it air-cure for a few minutes. Then follow up with some home-brew lube (3:1 ratio with camp fuel as the 3 and synthetic motor oil as the 1).I use a 1:3 ratio of the same stuff to lube other pivot points.

I just measured my chain that I've been using for 2 years ( ~6,000 miles) on my Fondo (7900 DA steel chainrings) and there is still NO appreciable stretch. I measured it at a couple of different points with same result.

I'm actually amazed at the lack of wear. I've worn out many, many chains in 30 years and this is the best result I've ever had.

I used to use one of those chain cleaners (Vetta). Found that it didn't really do much good and did, as others have posted, gunk up inside and needed, itself, to be cleaned frequently.

Mike in AR

[Cicli]

Those chain cleaners are a joke. OMS and a jar works well. OMS and a rag works really well too.
For a data point, I cleaned a cassette with simple green yesterday. It will be the first and last time I use simple green on a bike. Too slow and too much scrubing. OMS is better and works much better as a solvent. I would never use a water based cleaner on a chain either.
WD 40 works well as a solvent for cleaning.

[ultraman6970]

What is OMS?

[rwsaunders]

Originally Posted by ultraman6970

What is OMS?

Odorless mineral spirits.

[ColonelJLloyd]

I'm with Old Potatoe. Remove the damn chain from the bike, people. Use a jar, jug, ultrasonic cleaner or whatever works for you. If you want to clean the chain well, you need to remove it. I echo the "no water based anything", which seems very common sense to me.

[ultraman6970]

Thanks

[Bob Ross]

Originally Posted by Cicli

last time I use simple green on a bike. Too slow and too much scrubing. OMS is better and works much better as a solvent.

That's weird, I've had exactly the opposite experience: For me OMS doesn't work as quickly nor as effectively as Simple Green. Bizarre.

[chiasticon]

Originally Posted by regularguy412

I've had REALLY good luck with just good ol' WD-40 as the 'cleaner' (solvent).

this dude advocates it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvzVRxlIUL0

says that if you use wd40 as the cleaner AND the lubricant, it works great.

personally, I use NFS and it stays pretty clean. I clean the side plates every few rides with a rag. apply a few drops every couple weeks. unless I hit some real muck and have to clean it all off and re-do it all. even then, I still don't use a de-greaser, except on the chainrings and cassette. seems to work. probably 5K out of each chain.