How To Easily Clean A FILTHY Chain
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 พ.ค. 2024
- Is your bike chain absolutely filthy? Isn't it time you gave it a deep clean? Don't know how to clean your bike chain properly? We're here with all the equipment you'll need, and a step-by-step guide to making your chain sparkly and new again!
Cleaning your bike chain 0:00
What do I need to clean my bike chain? 0:24
Applying degreaser to my chain 1:13
How does a degreaser work?
Rinsing down your bike 3:40
Next steps 3:58
Drying your bike chain 4:45
Appling chain lube 5:02
Deeper chain cleaning 5:55
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Share your chain cleaning tips in the comments ⛓
I always remove the chain to clean it. I also never use water or water-based degreasers. I use a toothbrush, an old paint tray, and white spirit I keep in a jar and reuse.
It then gets dipped in hot wax so no need to dry it after.
I basically do what you do for the gravel bike… but on the road, everything’s now waxed 🤜🤛
I pull the chain and cassette and throw them in an ultrasonic cleaner with hot water and degreaser (just a whatever bulk bottle). Worst chain I've had took 7 trips through the cleaner before I could finish up for waxing it, it had drip lube on it for who knows how long, but still measured as ok wear wise. Even bad cassettes only take 1 or 2 trips since there are fewer tight spaces for junk to hide. 7 rounds through an ultrasonic cleaner sounds like a lot of work, but it's mostly a minute or two to fill, and then turn it on and forget about it for a while.
Old school: a couple of tablespoons of diesel fuel in an old water bottle sitting in the bottle cage on the seattube. With a paintbrush "paint" the chain, cogset and chainrings. Wash the rest of the bike with dish soap, using a separate sponge to clean the drivetrain. Rinse well...not strong...well.
Wipe bike dry, maybe using some polish, then wipe the drivetrain bits with a throwaway rag. Clean, shiny and with a bit of lubrication left on all the moving bits. Just like the pro mechanics did for years until Karcher gave away those gawdawful pressure washers and way-too-harsh degreasers came on the scene.
If it was good enough for Felice Gimondi...
Top chain cleaning tip I learned from this video: work for GCN and get Ollie to do it.
I like Si’s method of bike cleaning. Ride it until the chain is absolutely covered in grime, then get another GCN presenter to clean it all. Seems very efficient to me!
Hahaha we can think about a few other presenters that do this 👀
Ollie…..The way you identified the one good reason for cross-chaining was brilliant
Glad you enjoyed it!
Oil from the inside track of the chain, using the lower span between the bottom of crank and lowest jockey. When you spin the cranks, the centrifugal force pushes the oil from the inside to chain to the other side covering more of the pins.
I use a citrus oil degreaser found at the hardware store. Works just as well as cycle branded products and much cheaper.
Also look for motorbike products. That can also be cheaper
You mean like Simple Clean? How do you get it off the chain? They always say not to rinse it off bc it will get into the bearings
I think Si pulled off a clever con job getting Ollie to do his dirty work.
Like Tom Sawyer painting the fence.
There’s a sucker born every minute!
As a Chemistry teacher, I REALLY appreciated this. Might even use in a lesson to give everyday example of solvent - solute interactions 👍👍👍
Love this! I’ve watched so many of these GCN chain videos over the years, & I think this is the first time they recommended doing a cross chain when applying lube. Brilliant! Thanks again GCN. And, we all know Si keeps a clean bike.
This was actually helpful! The cross-chaining tip especially was completely new to me, makes perfect sense.
Simple, but super helpful video! I hadn't heard of the cross-chaining tip, when lubing the chain. Thanks guys!
Watching this video was a total eye opener for how I can EASILY clean my chain and cassette way better than what I have been doing!!!! Thank you!!!
Did you lick it clean?!
We're on the same page regarding chain cleaning Ollie, excellent once again. I also look forward to Chemistry time (2:43).
I used to have a filthy chain, but now it's nice and clean. Thanks mate.
The part where you talk about molecules and grease I had put on my glasses an push them further up my nose. Great video 😊
Timely. First 200km Audax of the season here in Switzerland on Saturday. I’ll be getting my jam jar of soapy water and acetone out tomorrow evening. Great little video.
Thanks for the simple tips and demo. Easier than you think!
Easy when you know how - glad you found it helpful! Now, time to clean your bike?
My question is how do you clean the microfiber cloths from chain residues or do you just buy 1000 microfiber cloths?
Awesome. Most of us forget to clean our chains and wind up going out without performing a cleaning. This is a super fast way to get the job done.
I sometimes use a scrubber to clean my chain. Usually though, I do it myself.
Thanks for the video
If you wet the floor under the bike before starting the process you can avoid some very nasty staining.
My favorite way to clean my chain/cassette is to remove them from the bike and wheel and put them in an ultrasonic cleaner. Run with warm water and a bit of degreaser for about 10 minutes and then scrub, rinse then dry. Gets them perfectly clean then I hot melt wax and drip as needed.
Ultrasonic cleaners are not terribly expensive. Less than $100. Save $$$ on all the expensive degreaser chemicals that become unnecessary!!! Dishwashing detergent is inexpensive and works well in the cleaner. If you intend to ride long term, by far the best solution!!!
@@kokonanana1 Definitely! I bought mine for less than $50 from Harbor Freight.
Nice tip on the cross chaining. I usually thoroughly clean the clain then remove the wheel and clean the cassette some more with a rag between each cog. I reassemble everything and leave my bike in the HOT Sun to dry up and remove any moisture in the chain rollers before applying any lube. Thanks again.
Hi, I have your road bike mainance book and wondered if you are planning to make one for track bikes. Keeup up the good work :)
It's important to note that some/many/most? quick links have a direction of travel which is indicated by a tiny near-invisible arrow engraved on it. If you put it on backwards, you WILL notice.
I always find that the more I take things apart, the easier they are to clean. Not just the chain, I remove a dirty cassette before cleaning it, I often remove the jockey wheels when I clean the rear derailleur, I take the crank off when cleaning the bottom bracket area etc. Cleaning fully assembled bikes typically mean lots of work and not particularly satisfying results!
I really think we need more videos like this, and willing to help by letting Ollie use my dirty bike for it at least once a week. 😊
It is great that we get an update of all the cleaning videos once a new sponsor comes onboard. Don't get me wrong, I love Silca products and understand the economic realities of GCN having to pay their staff. But wow this is so transparent
You can also buy non transparent Silca products!
You say to use a "fresh quick link" at 7:20 but is that really useful? The few molecules of metal lost during the quick link removal/return don't come from a spot on the quick link that is under stress while cycling.
I use a single stage wash with solvent in a jar. Works great to remove the factory grease and to remove the metal dust and remnants of the old wax between waxings. I don't discard the degreaser, just let the dirt precipitate and reuse it.
Nice apron. Is a new cook book due out soon?
1:06 when your friend calls you nasty without calling you nasty!
😂
Good tip on cross chaining to open the links big sprocket big gear.
How come no mention of the mechanical chain scrubber (e.g. blue Park Tool)? It uses the solvent (dish soap works well too) to scrub the chain and even has a magnet to pick up metal wear particles.
Nice and useful video, thanks. Would have appreciated some hse (particular environmental) considerations. Petroleum ether ? Acetone ? Into the ground ? Seriously ?
When deep cleaning off the bike, has anyone found that harsh(good) degreasers like acetone or mineral spirits degrade the metal faster? I've had a run of bad luck of chain breaks (not stretched) and wonder. The 11 and 12 speed plates are getting pretty thin these days. Thanks for the video!
Does Simple Green work as a degreaser ?
Mineral Spirits! Best choice
Will the degreaser also work on cleaning waxed chains?
If you’ve got time to get going and dedication to stick with it, Hot wax. Initial set up was a pain, but now It’s the only way. Removing rinsing and rewaxxing a chain is so much cleaner and faster than stripping black oil and gunk from the whole drivetrain. I’ll never go back to wet lubes. The bonus is that components last longer and you get some free efficiency watts back.
I didn't know that Si was a would-be psychologist. I'm impressed by his ability to get someone, (Ollie), to do his bike cleaning.
It may seem like shameless advertising on Ollie's part advocating the Park 10.3 bike stand, but I've got one and it makes working on my bike SO much easier. It's world's better than my old stand. If you do your own maintenance, it really is a must have.
Glad you are enjoying the Park Tool stand! 👍
Good stuff that silca cleaners.
I'm cleaning my bike and components tomorrow before a big service next week. I would always clean my bike frame, seat, post etc first before taking on the chain and cassette. This way you won't get water all over the chain and potential dirt dropping on it.
Finally a dirty chain that gets cleaned!
Surprised though this was Si’s bike. Hasn’t he done some videos about how he quickly cleans his bike after every ride and how easy that is?
WD-40 on the cassette followed by degreaser and a scrub. works great and is fast.
Dr Bridgewood's tried and tested method!
Good thing dirtying the Visitor Space area 😊
Pl share the link to buy these products used
Howdo you clean a chain scrubber?
I don't ride when it's bad out... so my chain doesn't get that dirty.... so i microfiber the chain and then apply DuPont Chain Saver- Wax Based Lubricant that also contains Teflon and Moly for wear protection.... great stuff.... I do that about every 150-200 miles... I use bike chain bio degreaser every once in a great while... keeps the bearings fresh that way...
Us commuters have to ride in nasty conditions! My bike has gone through monsoons, sandstorms, fog, splashes through Icky Goop on commutes. Fancy road bike can stay pristine, but the commute demands rain-or-shine riding.
@@questgivercyradis8462 best you use a wet lube and regular cleaning according to weather....
Love you too, Ollie!
what about getting degreaser on disc brake no problem?
What about a chain scrubber like the Park Cyclone?
Is there a rule of thumb on where to apply the chain lube? I notice Ollie always tends to apply it on the top of the chain which is opposite of where the chain connects to the sprockets but I've seen other presenters like Alex apply the lube on the other side (video reference - 'Easy & Effective On-The-Bike Chain cleaning!')
I once asked for Pedro's Oranj Peelz by name and the bike store owner literally laughed at me and told me to save my money by using dish soap LOL
I use a makita leaf blower to dry off
“It gets attracted to the grease and binds to the grease” is my love language
Great video, but I'd add one more thing though: allow your chain to dry fully before applying your wax or grease. Water still trapped inside the links may prevent proper distribution of your lubricant or the lubricant may accidentally seal in the water. I'd say a few good hours in the sun or indoors overnight should do.
#askgcntech what do you think of the chain cleaning baths that you can hang on the chain with it snaking through a set of brushes? #askgcntech
Would this method work for cleaning out sand from the chain without taking it off the bike? Would dish soap be an acceptable degreaser?
Do degreasers work for waxed chains, or what is the cleaning protocol for waxxed chai s?
In my case, the chain gets two changes of boiling water, and then into strong isopropyl alcohol, and after a quick dry, it's into the wax pot. The chainrings and cassette also get a boil and a wipe down with a clean rag. The jockey pulleys get brushed with a stiff brush; since they are resin (2000 Record and Chorus), I'm concerned they won't handle the heat.
I used a nailbrush or paintbrush. I dip them in the degreaser, and paint it onto the chain and cassette and allow it to work its magic before blasting it off with a hose. I make sure to not go to close to any bearings.
Don't let people know... they'll ask for a Cannings chain washing video!
Is turpentine safe on chain? I have been using small amounts(so that it doesn't go anywhere where i don't intend it to... hubs for example) of it to get a cloth a bit wet and then wipe with it... Seems to work great for me
I've used it in the past and it was fine for me
@@JonCannings good to know, thanks! :)
worth mentioning as I only found this out recently: 0.5 for 11 speed + and 0.75 only for 10 speed or below. Even then I think its worth considering at 0.5 to protect more expensive components'.
I was this years old when I found out ...
Don't really understand why 11 sp should have less stretch than 10sp.
This would’ve been a great opportunity to mention the option of waxing your chain, instead of the traditional oily and greasy mess that you’re now having to deal with.
Waxing your chain is a different process, but it saves your expensive components and really takes less time and money than cleaning your oily chain all the time.
You guys do a great job covering all manner of cycling topics, keep up the good work
hey! Thanks for the comment. We are amazed that Ollie didn’t turn this into a chain waxing video, he usually does! Glad you are enjoying our videos 👍
What if your chain is waxed nog greased?
Acetone is a fantastic solvent, but please remember it has a flashpoint of minus 7degC. Keep it away from anything that might spark or ignite it!
A local blew the top off their house playing with acetone. Somehow I don’t think they were cleaning bike chains at the time.
Realy liked the tip abort crosschaning to open links makes alot of sende Will try That.next. time
yep, same here
I cleaned and lube the chain after each ride and being that the grease is biodegradable, I don't need a cleaner, it comes right off with a hose. I use ceramic grease.
Isn´t it just easier to take / remove the chain from the bike and clean the chain separately ? And the take the back wheel from bike and rinse the cassette seperatly?
I went wax ..... first ride i snapped the chain.... cleanest chain repair ever!
🤣 Was that on a new chain?
Any chance GCN aprons are coming to the GCN shop?
Doesn't cramming the chain and shaking it around in a jar like that create kinks and stress on the pivots? I'm afraid of that causing a weakened/future broken chain. Am I being unreasonable?
The chain is more resistant than you think 🙌
What happened to the previous recommendation of using an aerosol can of degreaser on previous GCN videos?
how to deal with rust spots on the cassette?
When my chain gets dirty I just throw the bike out in the garbage and buy a new one. Easier than cleaning the chain
Please let us know where you live. We will happily take away your garbage!
On my way now to go through your bins
@@gcntech The junk man comes by every Thursday night before the trash truck comes on Friday. He usually gets first dibs at whatever people leave out. 😉😉
always funny to see bcj comments on the loose!
Send me your address 😂😂
Por que no mencionan que WD 40 tiene una línea de productos específicos para bici, sería bueno una reseña
Just subbed your channel too!
I purchased a 3L Vevor ultrasonic cleaner. I will never go back to cleaning a chain on the bike. While I am washing up the rest of the bike, I toss the chain and cassette in the ultrasonic cleaner, rinse/dry it and lube it. The chain looks like it is brand new again. You may have to change your master link more often this way but you have a very clean chain each time.
nice tip! Out of interest, how long does that ultrasonic chain cleaning process take? Thanks!
@@gcntech I did the same but a 6L ultrasonic cleaner which is easier for cleaning the cassette. My first try I did 30 minutes for the chain and the cassette. That was overkill.
This last time I did 12 minutes for the chain with very hot water. I wax my chain so the cassette didn't look dirty enough to need a deep clean. I' guessing I'll clean the cassette once every 1000 miles or so.
OH. I also did shake the chain in a jar for a minute in mineral oil and then acetone. After I was done I think it would have better to just have a degreaser.
Also please suggest drying the cassette off with a leaf blower. It is easy and water is the devil to anything steel. Maybe water should have been Kryptonite for the Man of Steel.
My tip is:
*Always* cover the brake disc somehow and wear some cheap eye protector glasses, and Workshop apron or old clothes if you do that.
You don’t worry about the brake discs contamination when spraying chain degreaser and using the brush ? For example using MUC Off brake disc protection discs ?
You can use degreaser on the rotor to get rid of grease spray after rinsing chain first. My personal trick is to use paper and food plastic wrap to waterproof the entire part.
@@drill_fiend1097 I use the MUC Off Disk brake neoprene protection covers because I also don’t want to risk contamination and squeezing disk brakes 😝 so looks to me as the same thought …wrapping the entire part just to be on the save side😇👍🏽
7:02 - Don't use a glass jar, use a plastic tub. My friend cracked his years ago and cut his hand open.
Great tip! 👌
After Si's WD40 solution for everything it is just consequent to bring it up as degreaser on Sis bike
What if you don't have a hose??
Or even worse, what if you don't have a dirty chain!?
Battery powered power washer can pull water from a bucket. Or you could get an old water fire extinguisher -- basically just a tank you can fill with water and pump up with a bike pump to use as a sprayer.
I put a piece of thin cardboard, with a thin U shaped slot cut in it, opposite my cassette, to keep disc brake parts from getting contaminated from over spray or splatter.....A quick cleaning every 3-4 rides keeps things running smoothly.
I use brake cleaner which is very fast and effective. No need for expensive spesialized bicycle chain cleaners. Wet a cloth with brake cleaner and clean the chain of heavy grease. Then spray directly on the chain and dry. Done.
I think history is repeating itself: Easy & Effective On-The-Bike Chain Cleaning!
I feel like drying with a cloth can’t possibly remove all the water from the internals of the chain. Why is mixing oil and water not a concern?
Use an ultrasonic bath .I also use it to clean my wife’s jewels and metal watch straps as well
If you ride frequently, and care about your chain / drivechain, then SILCA (TH-cam channel SILCA velo) and zero friction cycling are amazing resources. They do a deep dive into how and why components wear, the major shortcomings (and deceptive practices) of traditional lubricant brands, and why you should consider investing a little more to extend the life of your components over 200-300%. People suggesting WD40, acetone, and heavy grease on the drivechain can honestly find a rock to climb under.
I'm going to give them a try, good links can really help people.
Fairy liquid fenwicks chain sponge cassette brush compressor to dry chain job done
What Si WD 40 clean and lube does not work.. Shocker
That’s a very big hoodie. 👍🏼
This and other big hoodies are available on the GCN shop gcn.eu/shop 😉
I wouldn't want to get mine dirty either....clearly borrowed Conner's
Whatever lube I'd been using on my commuter was... no good. It became a sticky black mess.
It took a whole big can of degreaser to get her clean. Yikes. Got some gentler lube on her now and she hasn't gummed up again yet. Yay!
Hey guys, is oil in groundwater no longer a problem in the UK after Brexit? You're emulating the dirty chain grease and it's contaminating the soil. There will be ways to get the bike clean without messing up the environment. Even if it's just an old towel that you put on the floor underneath the chain.
'Visitors Spaces' in the background tells me Ollie is talking about chains in prisons!
There are other places too where you can have fun with chains
It's actually the cycling illuminati head quarters 😉
@@gcntech CIHQ or with letters re-ordered CHIQ. It all makes sense now.
@@OperationDarkside Hmm🤔🤨 Ah yes . . . Bondage
Nice, how all the oil gets into the ground. Certainly very good for the soil and the environment. Be sure to repeat that as often as possible. 🚲👍
(1) Depends on quantity. Compare this to an automobile that uses 30x the product.
(2) It's not oil; the chemical structure is altered completely.
(3) Silca's brand is designed to be incredibly environmentally friendly (compared to virtually all others on the market). Its not carcinogenic nor classed as a PoP.
(4) It's not soil, but rather pavers sitting on top of compacted crushed rock and stone dust / sand
Is the residue that comes off going to dissolve my asphalt driveway?
You should be all good 😉
Shouldn't i be worried that the degreaser and water might get into the cup & cone bearings?
Or get a gates carbon belt drive. Less maintenance. Bit of a clean with a cloth now and then and silicone spray.