Diluted Dawn dish soap for chain cleaner?

[charliedid]

Originally Posted by kramnnim

Might depend on what you use to lube the chain. I use motor oil, and use an ultrasonic cleaner to clean. Dish soap doesn't cut the grime.

A shocking amount of grit is left at the bottom of the cleaner from the chain...

Just a thought.

Maybe if you didn't use motor oil as chain lube you'd have a lot less gunk when cleaning?

[tigoat]

I submerge my chains in a bow of WD40 to clean them.

[kramnnim]

Originally Posted by charliedid

Just a thought.

Maybe if you didn't use motor oil as chain lube you'd have a lot less gunk when cleaning?

Huh, never thought of that.

It's actually reasonably clean for the first few re-lubes if you wipe it down. I tend to get lazy and it gets nasty after a while.

[Ralph]

I have found for my bikes....and using oil (bar oil)....you only need 3-4 drops around chain to get it worked in all around. Doesn't collect as much dirt this way.

[Tickdoc]

I clean mine with simple green. takes a few applications but it is mild enough that it doesn't remove all the oil and doesn't seem to damage anything else.

[bigbill]

When I lived on Oahu and commuted daily between Ewa Beach and Pearl Harbor, my chain would be exposed to all kinds of crap including salt water and red dirt plus near daily rain, all causing chain wear and bad shifting.

On the last work day of the week (Fri or Sat), I'd pull the chain off, I used SRAM chains with the link, and put it in a Gatorade bottle with Dawn or Simple Orange and hot water. I'd shake the bottle a few times and let it soak for about 30 minutes then shake again. The bottom of the bottle would have a layer of sand and dirt. I'd put the chain back on and soak it with my homebrew (3:1 mineral spirits:synthetic motor oil). I'd replace the chain every three months (around 2k miles) along with a new back tire. That's the only place I ever took the chain off, everywhere else it was just a good wipedown and new lube.

[spoonrobot]

I take my chain off, put it in the drop sink and scrub with brush and regular dish soap. Works great, takes hardly any time and really illustrates all the stuff hiding inside a visually clean chain.

[charliedid]

Originally Posted by kramnnim

Huh, never thought of that.

It's actually reasonably clean for the first few re-lubes if you wipe it down. I tend to get lazy and it gets nasty after a while.

Run what ya brung

[Ozz]

I've done the Dawn dishwasher soap before...it's OK.

Currently use Zep Heavy Duty Citrus Degreaser I can buy at Home Depot by the gallon.

[rnhood]

I use mineral spirits and it always works great. No reason to change. But since I use Dupont Chain Saver as a lube, I don't need to clean it very often.

[tylercheung]

What I'm not clear on - how to clean whatever cleaning solution you're using once you're done?


Dawn/Degreaser - rinse w water thoroughly, dry and re-lube?

Mineral spirits - wait to evaporate, then re-lube?

WD-40 - evaporate, then relube?

[Ozz]

Originally Posted by tylercheung

What I'm not clear on - how to clean whatever cleaning solution you're using once you're done?


Dawn/Degreaser - rinse w water thoroughly, dry and re-lube?

...

This...or sometimes I spray on some WD-40, wipe and relube

[jchasse]

I'm a huge fan of Oil-Flo Safety Solvent. Great for any sort of oil/grease/tar cleanup.

[gasman]

This is the proper way to clean a chain:

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html

[Bob Ross]

Originally Posted by Seramount

using $30 KMC chains, I typically get 8-10K miles out of them.

I must be doing something wrong; I too use the $30 KMC chains, 95% road-only riding, rarely if ever ride in the rain (only if I get caught mid-ride, would never intentionally ride during a downpour)

...and if I get more than 2,500 miles before the shifting turns to crap and/or it start's making clicking noises with every turn of the cranks, I feel like I've won the lottery!