I missed that you can buy spare brushes & wipers for the Finish Line Pro Chain Cleaner for ~$8. This doesn't change the overall results, but wanted to share the correction. Thanks to everyone for the constructive feedback - it helps us make better videos! - Jay
I wore out my brushes and wiper on Finish line and bought new ones. Like new! Then promptly the case cracked and leaks. Oh well. Can vouch the magnet is a nice touch, but the big angle on chain makes it hard to pedal quickly. Going to try Pedros next! Thanks for the great and thorough video
@@Arfonfree - Thanks for the tip. The replacement parts were simply noted as a "Y" or "N" on the scoring for each unit under the Brush & Wiper Quality section. 5:54 - Jay
Looks like that you did not see the Magnet on the Bottom of the Parktool! Iam using this one sometimes and the magnet has hold on to some Particles. At all i use this tool not with mounted chain because everything else is dirty and needs to be cleaned 1 by one.
Nice comparison. Two observations from my experience: I buy a chain cleaner to clean my chain. So I would weigh cleaning effectiveness much heavier than the other criteria. Second: I have destroyed chain cleaners with metal pins by letting them dry in the sun... the metal gets so hot and expands, causing the plastic surrounding it to crack. Happend to me twice. First time I didn't realise what caused the destruction. Took me a second time ;-) Keep up the good work!
I also think that cleaning should be more important. Also, the one cleaning the best is the cheapest one... you can buy almost two at about the price of the better ones, and I doubt that bristles and everything would score better in the more expensive one vs the cheapest used half as long. I have the cheapest and also one similar to the Finish line. Last time I used the latter because it has brushes cleaning the sides of the chain, while the cheapest one only the inner part. However the grease test could not (obviously, it's ok) judge how good the cleaner dislodges dirt in the rollers. The first cleaner, bending the chain, should be the best also for this reason. I think I will use the cheapest one more often in the future.
@@olafmarzocchi6194 it’s not really good for the environment to buy disposable cleaning tool. By looking at this test, I think some tools will be good for way more than twice the time.
Yes but the test is only about cleaning efficiency. I guess with more time and cleaning cycles spent on less efficient tools you can achieve equally good results. I would definitely not put too much weight on the cleaning rating.
Just to add (an educational) comment. You could have weighted the categories, so that for example, the drop test is less "important" the the rest. This is highly subjective, but so is giving them all the same importance. I'm perfectly happy with the review the way it is! (german scientist/engineer approved) Oh, and of course the is a standard for stuff like this. "VDI 2255 Blatt 3" if anyone is interested :D
Oh yeah, well I'm a mathematician/scientist, and I say this review is thorough and absolutely brilliant, so there Also, I really am a scientist (chemistry and physics), and a mathematician (abstract variety)
Nice review/analysis. My only suggestion is that clean grease is not the same as road grime. Testing with the grit of metal and physical dirt surely will present different challenges for each of the cleaners. I’ve used the Park Tool for years, and still find that it requires some brush work for the exteriors to really get the chain completely clean. Oh, and the sponge gives out way to quickly….but is easily replaced by cutting a sponge into the approximate shape.
This is the best product test, bar none or ANY product video I have ever seen. I should know. I did at least a decade in Test Engineering. Well Done! BRAVO!!
Damn, amazing work. I can't believe this has under 4k subscribers. Quick, consistent, thorough, and clean editing and visuals. This is so much better than anything GCN has made recently.
I have the Finish Line and it's holding very well. It helps to push the unit down to increase the tension of the chain while backpedaling. And to keep an eye to the exit angle of the chain in relation to the chainring. Once you know these tricks, it's really easy to use. I also usually dilute the degreaser with some water to reduce waste. The unit itself spills very little, but as soon as you stop moving the cranks, most of the liquid in the chain falls to the floor.
Love the park tools, used it for years. It also had a magnet at the bottom to catch any metal fragments that sink to the bottom to stop them being mixed with the cleaning fluid and causing wear. Brilliant design, and lasts years.
I had that happen on an older park tool model. The current model I tested seemed to have a different attachment method for the magnet that I think will hold up better. - Jay
From a scientist/engineer and avid MTB rider, this comparison is some great work. Taking your purchase recommendations and subscribing to your channel. Keep up the awesome work!
Awesome comparison! Thanks for the enormous time and effort put into this! From my experience, I will stay clear of these devices as they are quite meh in term of longevity if you take your bike out in the dirt and snow regularly. They bristles become damaged to the point of no return quite quickly in the conditions mentioned above. Wish you posted this a year ago :-D
Agreed, a narrow stiff bristle brush is not only more affordable, although more thorough, and just as fast once you calculate in time saved from assembling and cleaning the tool itself.
Great video. I like how the chain pig frees up a hand but think I'll stick with my Park Tool cleaner. I need to get a good degreaser that I don't get horrible about dumping. I like how this video gives me Project Farm vibes.
Great review my only criticism really is the low cost generic chain cleaner wasn't included. Many of us cheap out with such a unit and would have liked to see how it compares. The one I have which was about £3/$4 I think would do better than some of those featured in use although don't think it would endure the drop test as well as others as the plastic is a bit thin and brittle but it hasn't broken in normal use yet. Just for fun 2 old toothbrushes and a rag could have been in the mix too just to see if its worth buying a dedicated chain cleaner.
Good call. I decided to narrow down the tests to keep the video production time manageable - but maybe we'll circle back sometime and test some other methods for chain cleaning! - Jay
Thanks for the video, super informative. My 1st chain cleaning unit that I bought when I arrived in the NL 🇳🇱 was a generic unit and it works like a charm - around €3.50 and it's been good to me. It's the Marvel brand (bought in South Africa before I came to the NL) - works well and is cheap as chips. Tks mate. @@SimplyMountainBiking
This must be the best comparison review on the entire web of all existing bicycle products. It is almost scientific. Greetings from Peru, you won a subscription.
It's an odd comparison in that it appears to have weighted all tests equally. I'm FAR more interested in which tool removes the most grease/debris than which tool withstands being dropped. What I want is a clean chain. I can learn to hold on to the damn thing.
I considered weighting the results, but thought I would just share them all equally so that everyone could make an informed decision based on the factors most important to them. Cheers! - Jay
These chain cleaner/scrubbers immensely reduce the time, effort, and mess. I think that they all use plastic brushes. Plastics vary in durometer (hardness), stiffness, brush bristle diameter, and modulus of action. You could modify the brush "wheels" or make a whole brush assembly. Experiment with brass, stainless steel, copper, various plastics, or some other type bristle-fiber materials(glass, boar hair, horsehair.... There's a wide spectrum of bristle types. Once you settle on a favorite (or group of favorites...you could patent the configuration. Then offer licenses to the tool manufacturers. If you install some super hard, coarse, and stiff bristles: you might end up scratching/-upbraiding the coating, plating, or special surface processes, and/or destroying the bearing o-ring seals ... Sometimes you can go TOO AGRESSIVE. Soft bristles may require additional cycles through the cleaner and/or cleaning fluid changes... But they reduce the risk of damaging/destroying yir fancy chain.
I agree completely. The test was thorough though and allows me to weigh the categories, which resulted in a different conclusion. If it can’t perform its basic purpose at an A or B level, the other tests don’t matter. This said, even if it cleans well, unless you’re buying it as a really inexpensive one use item, a couple features seem important to me - replaceable cleaners and adding cleaner. I think the magnet is a great idea, but it seems your own magnet could be added to any of these without much expense or effort. It should also operate with minimal effort. PS I’ve had a Finish Line cleaner for several years, but it is a flat design with no magnet.
I can across your presentation as I am wanting to purchase a chain cleaning tool. I can honestly say you did an outstanding job of reviewing all of these thru the test criteria you set forth. You presented well and it was easy to follow. I am a new subscriber as a result of viewing this and gave you an immediate thumbs up. Well done. Thank you.
Incredibly high quality video. Really impressive work you put in for this with the Overlays, and very well designed tests and scoring. Thank you very much!
Have had the park tool cyclone for several years, love it. Nice analysis, might be worth considering weighted ratings as some categories may be more important than others?
This was a great test. One aspect of the cleaners you noted was the amount of chain bend required. While this can be inconvenient for bikes with derailleurs, for certain cases (internal hubs, single speeds, tandem bike synch chain) having a cleaner that does not bend the chain (like the Park version) is essential.
I bought the metal version of the parktool cleaner. About half a decade later and the case is still undamaged and it is passed around between me and five friends. best chain cleaner I have ever bought hands down. Worth the extra money
I was wondering how that would perform, but wanted to compare cleaning tools in the same price range. Glad to hear you've had a good experience with it! - Jay
'White lightning' is sold with many different names. I have used this design for years and it is very effective. Yes, it is messy but effective. I use 'Muck-off' Dry lube for lubrication after cleaning the chain.
That was a pretty thorough test but I'd like to see how they perform on a dirty chain. I currently use the White Lightning tool and Simple Green. I also would like a comparison of degreasers.
I feel like the grease was way harder to remove than any conceivable 'dirt'. In fact I think the test was a little unfair to the tools it rated 'b' for cleaning effectiveness.
You stated that the finish line parts were not replaceable, I just wanted to let you know I purchased new brushes and wipers off Amazon last year. I have been using one for about eight years and always had good luck with it using mean green degreeser that I buy from dollar general for about $4 a gallon.
Superb video, a lot of work to create I'm sure but very helpful thank you! I needed to replace my Park Tool and now after watching I will do so with another Park Tool as they have been great for the 15 years that I have owned them.
Thorough review although imo White Lightning wins hands down! Getting the chain cleaned and the price is what really matters. Also, it's not that hard to attach and having to take the top off to put in fluid is not really a big deal. An A on drop test doesn't hurt either.
I'm glad you were able to use the comparison how I intended! I was hoping everyone could draw their own conclusions based on what's important to them! - Jay
Agree! Even though it does not have replaceable parts you can buy 2 for the price of the ones he picked. Second it would take 2 seconds to drill a hole so you can add fluid.
@@btt449 White Lightning is the same as Barbieri - and there are spare brushes on sale. But I've been using this tool for more than 10 years - and I still use the brushes that were included. Although when buying the tool, I immediately bought additional brushes. I use it both with kerosene and with detergents based on surfactants.
Very helpful and informative! Many thanks! Surprisingly, my Muc-Off chain cleaning tool is still has no damage and seems to be working well after a year of weekly use, but after watching this, I may go for the Park Tool one next time.
Finish Line cleans better, i have both and also FL only has the ONE center clip not one on each end that doesn't lock in as easily but that weird chain angle takes a while to get used to
Amazing review!! General question: How do you guys clean the chain cleaner tool after cleaning the chain? My MucOff is now a greasy, grimy mess. Just water does not help anymore.
Great video! Very cool to see all the different products back to back! I am surprised that the park and pedros both got the same ease of use rating. I own both and the pig tail is such a game changer to keep the cleaner in place. I have blown out a park cleaner by having it drift into the chainring while cleaning. I feel like Pedro’s is the superior product. I think that the ones that stay in place are a much more user friendly design. Especially for bikes with short chain stays. Keep up the great work!
Fantastic test, Jay…thanks for the post-purchase validation of my Park Tool cleaner. BTW, if you do another test like this try switching orientation, for arm cranking symmetry 🙂 Looks like your right arm and shoulder got most of that workout.
Awesome! I love these in depth tests of bike parts. Would love to hear your thoughts on best degreaser (I’m using the Muc-off lube after your test). One quick note on the park tool cleaner - those little metal hanger pins that close the top/bottom come off easily and always get lost at the worst times! Think I’ll give the pig a try. Thanks for the video - we can see how much effort & time you put in!
@Alan - thanks for the comment. I've had that issue in the past. I guess time will tell if the Park Tool 5.3 version resolved it. We have degreaser in our backlog of videos, thanks for the idea! - Jay
I can’t believe these things are still being used. I went through a few maybe 20-25 years ago and they just didn’t last, were hard to fill with fluid and keep. The fluid in. I just use two toothbrushes squeezed together. Then wipe. I have a constant supply of used toothbrushes so it makes sense economically at least for me. What an awesome review, really well done and thorough.
Wire coat hanger (free), twist tie from grocery (free), glass jar with metal lid from pasta sauce (free), 1 gallon gas container ($20), 1 gallon gas ($4-$5). In my experience, gasoline as a solvent cleans chains better than all the other cleaners out there and does it quicker. Pour a little bit of gasoline in the glass jar. Remove the chain from the bike using the quick link, attach the quick link to the twist tie and tie that to the chain. Dunk the chain+quicklink into the glass jar with gasoline, put on the metal lid. Shake vigorously for 1 minute and watch all the dirt and grime settle to the bottom of the jar. Let it sit and use the coat hanger to fish out the chain. Wipe with paper towel and hang to dry. Put clean chain into hot wax bath and hang to dry/cool. Put chain back on the bike.
gasoline has residual oil in it and just allows the chain to attract dirt easier next time, not to mention prevents the wax from adhering fully. better to use a proper solvent for the use
I own the Finish line cleaner and it is intended to use in slightly different way. That`s why it is awkward to put it in. You should put it on the chain and then push it dow, so the chain copies the shape. Then you don’t have to muscle anything. Just refer to the package and you’ll see all the details 🙂
Thanks for the tip! I think that my clutched derailleur likely kept too much tension on the chain to allow it to conform to the cleaner's chain path. -Jay
@@SimplyMountainBiking maybe, I'm using it on 1x12 SRAMs and working for over year now. But still sometimes I take the chain off and clean it separately with deep clean of the whole drivetrain 🙂
The other long term test I would add in UV, had a number of these tools over the years and all suffer from poor protection from UV. So keep out of the sun if you are drying the units off after use.
None of these are the best. The best is a $10 can of lacquer thinner with a metal screw on top. Take the chain off, tie one end to a string that hangs outside the can, drop the chain into the entire can. Let it sit and shake it up periodically. Boom! Few days later, the chain is like new and it is much much easier than any tool. Plus, you reuse that same can every time.
I love when one of the two winners in a review is the only tool I've been using for years, simply by [uninformed] chance. Thanks for what you do. I just wish I could find a motorcycle chain cleaning equivalent.......
Cannot believe you only have 4K subscribers you deserve a lot more will definitely keep a look out for more of these style of videos coming from this channel.
Wow thats what I call a TEST! You took it for real and big thanks for that. Im kinda new to whole bike stuff „industry” and cant really say which brands are good and can be trusted. I think I will go for park tool cm 25. Looks solid.
Your methodology for criteria and tests is admirable. This is an excellent comparison. Its the first video I have seen from your channel and I will probably see your others too and maybe subscribe
White Lightning is the same as Barbieri - and there are spare brushes on sale. But I've been using this tool for more than 10 years - and I still use the brushes that were included. Although when buying the tool, I immediately bought additional brushes. I use this tool both with kerosene and with detergents based on surfactants. Works great!
Thanks for doing this - I have an old early 2000's Park Tool one and it appears to have more bristles on the wheels newer version and still works swimmingly
I'm not a mountain biker (road/indoors), but you got a new subscriber already just by the amazing level of detail of your review/comparison. Thanks a lot for your content!
Ty, i do a quick clean with a rag and use the muck off now and then. I love it. Expensive. The little bottle is good but i have misplaced it now and then. I got a crack on the hinge/ slider still works but it is a weak point. I think they would all crack if dropped. Its a good test as all tools eventually get dropped from around waist height. I wish replacement rollers for all of them were cheap and readily available locally (so $0 shipping cost). The ones with jockey hooks look interesting since sometimes it is hard to hold the unit in place.
Yep, I’ve had a park tools chain cleaner for over ten years, still going strong, always clean it after each use, which is the hardest job, but recently started soaking it in dish wash over night with great results.
this must be the best review video on youtube! It must've a lot of work to get it done, thank you muchly! I have the parktool one (and I'm glad to have made a good choice there)... but if i had another go, I'd probably get Pedro's chainpig... the fact that it latches on to the rear mech and leaves my hand free and a BIG plus!
I had the Bike Hand cleaner and it developed those same spider cracks after the first use. Your Bike Hand unit will be in pieces within a few days. Cheap plastic cannot handle the cleaning solution. Great job on this comparison!!
I've not used all of these, but I've been very pleased with the Park Tool cleaner. It's built solidly and lasted me the longest of any cleaner i've owned.
Dude this review is incredible! You're so thorough and informative - I definitely have a clear winner in mind for the tool I want (also gained a subscriber!)
Pedros looks good..I like the design that it hangs on the jockey wheel but park tool is my favorite...thanks for showing. I needed a second opinion on the matter before I buy
I use the White lightning cause I have found them for $8 usd. I feel no matter which chain cleaner you own, they all wear out and need to be replaced. Not discussed but I use purple power degreaser for the solvent and it works like a charm ! Maybe do a follow up video on biodegradable solvents?
I missed that you can buy spare brushes & wipers for the Finish Line Pro Chain Cleaner for ~$8. This doesn't change the overall results, but wanted to share the correction. Thanks to everyone for the constructive feedback - it helps us make better videos! - Jay
I wore out my brushes and wiper on Finish line and bought new ones. Like new! Then promptly the case cracked and leaks. Oh well. Can vouch the magnet is a nice touch, but the big angle on chain makes it hard to pedal quickly. Going to try Pedros next! Thanks for the great and thorough video
@@brianwalker9793 - Oh bummer! Thanks for sharing your experience! Let us know how the Pedro's works for you. - Jay
I missed any mention of replacement parts... in addition a brush set for the Park Tools Cyclone is ~$13.
@@Arfonfree - Thanks for the tip. The replacement parts were simply noted as a "Y" or "N" on the scoring for each unit under the Brush & Wiper Quality section. 5:54 - Jay
Looks like that you did not see the Magnet on the Bottom of the Parktool!
Iam using this one sometimes and the magnet has hold on to some Particles. At all i use this tool not with mounted chain because everything else is dirty and needs to be cleaned 1 by one.
YES, finnally!
no bla bla,
no long intro,
no screaming,
proper angle and shots,
straight to the point
great job man!
😀 - Jay
No obnoxious music or annoying intro😊
This is the project farm of chain cleaner reviews!
Haha - thanks for the feedback! - Jay
hahah Project Farm with Major Hardware Fan Showdown feel.
@@valfssantiago - Thanks! - Jay
That's Extremely High Praise! Just in case you didn't know!
Lol
Imagine if all TH-cam reviews would be this good and detailed. I don't even have a bike but still watched the entire video, great work!
I appreciate that! - Jay
Nice comparison. Two observations from my experience: I buy a chain cleaner to clean my chain. So I would weigh cleaning effectiveness much heavier than the other criteria. Second: I have destroyed chain cleaners with metal pins by letting them dry in the sun... the metal gets so hot and expands, causing the plastic surrounding it to crack. Happend to me twice. First time I didn't realise what caused the destruction. Took me a second time ;-) Keep up the good work!
Thanks for sharing! Great tip - Jay
I also think that cleaning should be more important. Also, the one cleaning the best is the cheapest one... you can buy almost two at about the price of the better ones, and I doubt that bristles and everything would score better in the more expensive one vs the cheapest used half as long.
I have the cheapest and also one similar to the Finish line. Last time I used the latter because it has brushes cleaning the sides of the chain, while the cheapest one only the inner part.
However the grease test could not (obviously, it's ok) judge how good the cleaner dislodges dirt in the rollers. The first cleaner, bending the chain, should be the best also for this reason. I think I will use the cheapest one more often in the future.
@@olafmarzocchi6194 it’s not really good for the environment to buy disposable cleaning tool. By looking at this test, I think some tools will be good for way more than twice the time.
Yes but the test is only about cleaning efficiency. I guess with more time and cleaning cycles spent on less efficient tools you can achieve equally good results. I would definitely not put too much weight on the cleaning rating.
Park tool aluminium version is the king of all cleaners!
It was stupid how good this was! Thanks! I’m ordering a Pedro’s when I get to work
Thank you for the comment, made me laugh :) - Jay
An absolutely brilliant and thorough review (from a scientist/engineer). Well done
Glad you liked it! - Jay
Just to add (an educational) comment. You could have weighted the categories, so that for example, the drop test is less "important" the the rest.
This is highly subjective, but so is giving them all the same importance. I'm perfectly happy with the review the way it is! (german scientist/engineer approved)
Oh, and of course the is a standard for stuff like this. "VDI 2255 Blatt 3" if anyone is interested :D
Oh yeah, well I'm a mathematician/scientist, and I say this review is thorough and absolutely brilliant, so there
Also, I really am a scientist (chemistry and physics), and a mathematician (abstract variety)
@@Jose_Hunters_EWF_Remixes WGAF
100% agree!
Nice review/analysis. My only suggestion is that clean grease is not the same as road grime. Testing with the grit of metal and physical dirt surely will present different challenges for each of the cleaners. I’ve used the Park Tool for years, and still find that it requires some brush work for the exteriors to really get the chain completely clean. Oh, and the sponge gives out way to quickly….but is easily replaced by cutting a sponge into the approximate shape.
Thanks for the comment and feedback! - Jay
This is the best product test, bar none or ANY product video I have ever seen. I should know. I did at least a decade in Test Engineering. Well Done! BRAVO!!
Thank you for the feedback! - Jay
I really enjoyed your straightforward review technique. No embellishments, just cold hard product testing. We need more product videos like this!
Glad you enjoyed the style. - Jay
This is, by far, the best review of any product in the whole of TH-cam. Seriously.
You're an absolute legend for this mate. I wish all reviewers had this format.
I appreciate the feedback. - Jay
Damn, amazing work. I can't believe this has under 4k subscribers. Quick, consistent, thorough, and clean editing and visuals. This is so much better than anything GCN has made recently.
Thank you for the kind words. - Jay
Such a complete, well designed but compact presentation. No wasted time here.
Thanks for the feedback - that was the goal! - Jay
I have the Finish Line and it's holding very well. It helps to push the unit down to increase the tension of the chain while backpedaling. And to keep an eye to the exit angle of the chain in relation to the chainring. Once you know these tricks, it's really easy to use. I also usually dilute the degreaser with some water to reduce waste. The unit itself spills very little, but as soon as you stop moving the cranks, most of the liquid in the chain falls to the floor.
Good to know, thank you for sharing! - Jay
Love the park tools, used it for years. It also had a magnet at the bottom to catch any metal fragments that sink to the bottom to stop them being mixed with the cleaning fluid and causing wear.
Brilliant design, and lasts years.
I second this. It's surprising how much that magnet collects too. One of the clips snapped off mine though.
I definitely like this design feature on the park tool. - Jay
I had that happen on an older park tool model. The current model I tested seemed to have a different attachment method for the magnet that I think will hold up better. - Jay
@@SimplyMountainBikingdo you know if the new iteration cleans better too?
From a scientist/engineer and avid MTB rider, this comparison is some great work. Taking your purchase recommendations and subscribing to your channel. Keep up the awesome work!
Thank you very much! - Jay
Love this test! It's the best and most thorough test of a wide variety of cleaners anywhere on the internet. Thanks!!
Thank you for the kind words! - Jay
Awesome comparison! Thanks for the enormous time and effort put into this! From my experience, I will stay clear of these devices as they are quite meh in term of longevity if you take your bike out in the dirt and snow regularly. They bristles become damaged to the point of no return quite quickly in the conditions mentioned above. Wish you posted this a year ago :-D
Thanks for watching and for the positive feedback. Also, thank you for sharing your experience! - Jay
Agreed, a narrow stiff bristle brush is not only more affordable, although more thorough, and just as fast once you calculate in time saved from assembling and cleaning the tool itself.
This is possibly the most thorough product testing I’ve ever seen. Bravo sir thank you!
Great video. I like how the chain pig frees up a hand but think I'll stick with my Park Tool cleaner. I need to get a good degreaser that I don't get horrible about dumping. I like how this video gives me Project Farm vibes.
Hey thanks! - Jay
I use Weldtite Citrus Degreaser with my Park Tools Cyclone.
Does a good job, and it's biodegradable (if that's what you mean).
That's high praise comparing to PF!
This multi test review deserves way more likes ! Good job
Much appreciated! - Jay
That was brilliantly thorough! I can’t imagine how long it took to complete all those tasks, thanks so much.
Thank you! - Jay
You are the Project Farm of Mountain Biking :) Thanks for this video!
😀 - Jay
Worth watching! The most detailed and accurate test I’ve ever seen! Great efforts! Can’t appreciate enough
Thank you very much! - Jay
Are you a scientist? This test was incredible. Can't imagine the effort to test all that.
Great review my only criticism really is the low cost generic chain cleaner wasn't included. Many of us cheap out with such a unit and would have liked to see how it compares. The one I have which was about £3/$4 I think would do better than some of those featured in use although don't think it would endure the drop test as well as others as the plastic is a bit thin and brittle but it hasn't broken in normal use yet. Just for fun 2 old toothbrushes and a rag could have been in the mix too just to see if its worth buying a dedicated chain cleaner.
Good call. I decided to narrow down the tests to keep the video production time manageable - but maybe we'll circle back sometime and test some other methods for chain cleaning! - Jay
The bike hand one looks very similar to my generic one (from Jensen) right down to the rusted "stainless steel" pins. :)
Thanks for the video, super informative. My 1st chain cleaning unit that I bought when I arrived in the NL 🇳🇱 was a generic unit and it works like a charm - around €3.50 and it's been good to me. It's the Marvel brand (bought in South Africa before I came to the NL) - works well and is cheap as chips. Tks mate. @@SimplyMountainBiking
This must be the best comparison review on the entire web of all existing bicycle products. It is almost scientific. Greetings from Peru, you won a subscription.
Glad you liked it! Welcome! - Jay
Thank you for your work, having a good proper tech test is kind of refreshing !
Glad you enjoyed it :) - Jay
It's an odd comparison in that it appears to have weighted all tests equally. I'm FAR more interested in which tool removes the most grease/debris than which tool withstands being dropped. What I want is a clean chain. I can learn to hold on to the damn thing.
I considered weighting the results, but thought I would just share them all equally so that everyone could make an informed decision based on the factors most important to them. Cheers! - Jay
These chain cleaner/scrubbers immensely reduce the time, effort, and mess. I think that they all use plastic brushes. Plastics vary in durometer (hardness), stiffness, brush bristle diameter, and modulus of action. You could modify the brush "wheels" or make a whole brush assembly. Experiment with brass, stainless steel, copper, various plastics, or some other type bristle-fiber materials(glass, boar hair, horsehair.... There's a wide spectrum of bristle types. Once you settle on a favorite (or group of favorites...you could patent the configuration. Then offer licenses to the tool manufacturers. If you install some super hard, coarse, and stiff bristles: you might end up scratching/-upbraiding the coating, plating, or special surface processes, and/or destroying the bearing o-ring seals ... Sometimes you can go TOO AGRESSIVE. Soft bristles may require additional cycles through the cleaner and/or cleaning fluid changes... But they reduce the risk of damaging/destroying yir fancy chain.
I agree completely. The test was thorough though and allows me to weigh the categories, which resulted in a different conclusion. If it can’t perform its basic purpose at an A or B level, the other tests don’t matter. This said, even if it cleans well, unless you’re buying it as a really inexpensive one use item, a couple features seem important to me - replaceable cleaners and adding cleaner. I think the magnet is a great idea, but it seems your own magnet could be added to any of these without much expense or effort. It should also operate with minimal effort.
PS I’ve had a Finish Line cleaner for several years, but it is a flat design with no magnet.
Proper level nerdness here. Thanks for a thorough review. I am on Park Tool cleaner #2 and will swap to Pedro's when replacement time hits.
Glad you enjoyed it. Hope the Pedro's works well for you. - Jay
I can across your presentation as I am wanting to purchase a chain cleaning tool. I can honestly say you did an outstanding job of reviewing all of these thru the test criteria you set forth. You presented well and it was easy to follow. I am a new subscriber as a result of viewing this and gave you an immediate thumbs up. Well done. Thank you.
Thank you very much! - Jay
Incredibly high quality video. Really impressive work you put in for this with the Overlays, and very well designed tests and scoring. Thank you very much!
Thank you very much! - Jay
This is the best bike chain cleaning tool comparison video I have ever seen! Thank you.
Glad you liked it! - Jay
Have had the park tool cyclone for several years, love it. Nice analysis, might be worth considering weighted ratings as some categories may be more important than others?
Thanks for the comment. I considered weighting, but decided to let each viewer decide what's most important to them - great suggestion :) - Jay
I have the White Lightening. It’s messy but does a great job and has been very durable over the three years I’ve been using it.
Excellent - glad you've had a good experience with it! - Jay
This was a great test. One aspect of the cleaners you noted was the amount of chain bend required. While this can be inconvenient for bikes with derailleurs, for certain cases (internal hubs, single speeds, tandem bike synch chain) having a cleaner that does not bend the chain (like the Park version) is essential.
Great point! Thank you. - Jay
I bought the metal version of the parktool cleaner. About half a decade later and the case is still undamaged and it is passed around between me and five friends. best chain cleaner I have ever bought hands down. Worth the extra money
I was wondering how that would perform, but wanted to compare cleaning tools in the same price range. Glad to hear you've had a good experience with it! - Jay
'White lightning' is sold with many different names. I have used this design for years and it is very effective. Yes, it is messy but effective. I use 'Muck-off' Dry lube for lubrication after cleaning the chain.
Thanks for sharing! - Jay
Okay bravo man 😂 this goes above beyond what I was expecting
That was a pretty thorough test but I'd like to see how they perform on a dirty chain. I currently use the White Lightning tool and Simple Green. I also would like a comparison of degreasers.
Great suggestions, thanks! - Jay
@@SimplyMountainBiking Yes! Degreasers should be on the top of you video idea list please :o
I feel like the grease was way harder to remove than any conceivable 'dirt'. In fact I think the test was a little unfair to the tools it rated 'b' for cleaning effectiveness.
I watch a lot of video's and this is the first time TH-cam has recommended yours to me. Well done, I'll be watching more.
Awesome! - Jay
You stated that the finish line parts were not replaceable, I just wanted to let you know I purchased new brushes and wipers off Amazon last year.
I have been using one for about eight years and always had good luck with it using mean green degreeser that I buy from dollar general for about $4 a gallon.
@Kevin - Great catch! Looks like you can buy spare brushes and wipers for about $8. Thanks! -Jay
Superb video, a lot of work to create I'm sure but very helpful thank you! I needed to replace my Park Tool and now after watching I will do so with another Park Tool as they have been great for the 15 years that I have owned them.
Thorough review although imo White Lightning wins hands down! Getting the chain cleaned and the price is what really matters. Also, it's not that hard to attach and having to take the top off to put in fluid is not really a big deal. An A on drop test doesn't hurt either.
I'm glad you were able to use the comparison how I intended! I was hoping everyone could draw their own conclusions based on what's important to them! - Jay
I agree...I would not buy or use a tool if it didn't remove all the grease
Agree! Even though it does not have replaceable parts you can buy 2 for the price of the ones he picked. Second it would take 2 seconds to drill a hole so you can add fluid.
@@btt449 White Lightning is the same as Barbieri - and there are spare brushes on sale. But I've been using this tool for more than 10 years - and I still use the brushes that were included. Although when buying the tool, I immediately bought additional brushes. I use it both with kerosene and with detergents based on surfactants.
I was fascinated by your video. Being a clean chain addict, I was blown away by everything! Mahalo for the work involved. Aloha.
Glad you enjoyed it! - Jay
Very helpful and informative! Many thanks! Surprisingly, my Muc-Off chain cleaning tool is still has no damage and seems to be working well after a year of weekly use, but after watching this, I may go for the Park Tool one next time.
Great to hear! Thank you for sharing your experience, glad to hear the Muc-Off is going strong! - Jay
Finish Line cleans better, i have both and also FL only has the ONE center clip not one on each end that doesn't lock in as easily but that weird chain angle takes a while to get used to
Excellent comparison. I recommend a table at the end showing all scores in all categories along with price at a single glance.
Amazing review!! General question: How do you guys clean the chain cleaner tool after cleaning the chain? My MucOff is now a greasy, grimy mess. Just water does not help anymore.
Thank you! I just use a little dish soap and water and let completely dry. I'll pop the brushes out if it's really bad and wipe everything down. - Jay
The amount of work you put into this is amazing. Well done
I appreciate the kind words, thank you! - Jay
Great video! Very cool to see all the different products back to back!
I am surprised that the park and pedros both got the same ease of use rating. I own both and the pig tail is such a game changer to keep the cleaner in place. I have blown out a park cleaner by having it drift into the chainring while cleaning. I feel like Pedro’s is the superior product.
I think that the ones that stay in place are a much more user friendly design. Especially for bikes with short chain stays.
Keep up the great work!
Thanks for sharing your experience. I agree that the tail on the chain pig is a great feature! - Jay
What an amazing comparison. You're a hero!
Wow - thanks! - Jay
Fantastic test, Jay…thanks for the post-purchase validation of my Park Tool cleaner.
BTW, if you do another test like this try switching orientation, for arm cranking symmetry 🙂
Looks like your right arm and shoulder got most of that workout.
Haha ! Thanks! - Jay
This is the best review of any product I have ever seen. Nice Job.
Awesome - Thank you - Jay
Awesome! I love these in depth tests of bike parts. Would love to hear your thoughts on best degreaser (I’m using the Muc-off lube after your test).
One quick note on the park tool cleaner - those little metal hanger pins that close the top/bottom come off easily and always get lost at the worst times! Think I’ll give the pig a try.
Thanks for the video - we can see how much effort & time you put in!
@Alan - thanks for the comment. I've had that issue in the past. I guess time will tell if the Park Tool 5.3 version resolved it. We have degreaser in our backlog of videos, thanks for the idea! - Jay
Pain staking review. Hats off to you for your your thoroughness and perseverance. Well done sir.
Thank you - appreciate the comment - Jay
Good test! These stuff are useless for cleaning. Thank you for support my current process: removing chain and cleaning in bottle of gasoline.
If you have a process that works, I'd definitely stick with it! - Jay
Very nice comparison. I wish more people would put that much effort in reviews! Thank you very much for the amount of excellent work.
Thank you for the kind note. Glad you enjoyed the video. - Jay
I can’t believe these things are still being used. I went through a few maybe 20-25 years ago and they just didn’t last, were hard to fill with fluid and keep. The fluid in. I just use two toothbrushes squeezed together. Then wipe. I have a constant supply of used toothbrushes so it makes sense economically at least for me. What an awesome review, really well done and thorough.
Thanks for the feedback and the tip! - Jay
WOW! I wish everyone tested stuff as thoroughly as you did here! Incredible!
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks! - Jay
Great video and effort, just the 300 cycles for each must have been a PITA.
Haha ~1200 cycles into the tests I was thinking "this might have been a bad idea" :). Glad you enjoyed it. - Jay
This was so exciting. I own the Pedro's Chain Pig and really like it. It's a winner for sure!
Great! 😃 - Jay
Wire coat hanger (free), twist tie from grocery (free), glass jar with metal lid from pasta sauce (free), 1 gallon gas container ($20), 1 gallon gas ($4-$5). In my experience, gasoline as a solvent cleans chains better than all the other cleaners out there and does it quicker. Pour a little bit of gasoline in the glass jar. Remove the chain from the bike using the quick link, attach the quick link to the twist tie and tie that to the chain. Dunk the chain+quicklink into the glass jar with gasoline, put on the metal lid. Shake vigorously for 1 minute and watch all the dirt and grime settle to the bottom of the jar. Let it sit and use the coat hanger to fish out the chain. Wipe with paper towel and hang to dry. Put clean chain into hot wax bath and hang to dry/cool. Put chain back on the bike.
Thank you for sharing your process :). - Jay
Some of us with eBike chains cannot use quick-links so having a chain cleaning tool like these is our only choice.
gasoline has residual oil in it and just allows the chain to attract dirt easier next time, not to mention prevents the wax from adhering fully. better to use a proper solvent for the use
This channel needs hundreds of thousands of subs! Great content
I own the Finish line cleaner and it is intended to use in slightly different way.
That`s why it is awkward to put it in.
You should put it on the chain and then push it dow, so the chain copies the shape.
Then you don’t have to muscle anything.
Just refer to the package and you’ll see all the details 🙂
And as a bonus, the wipers then work a bit better too 🙂 Just tilt it to adjust pressure on the ends.
Thanks for the tip! I think that my clutched derailleur likely kept too much tension on the chain to allow it to conform to the cleaner's chain path. -Jay
@@SimplyMountainBiking maybe, I'm using it on 1x12 SRAMs and working for over year now.
But still sometimes I take the chain off and clean it separately with deep clean of the whole drivetrain 🙂
I always use 2 nail brushes put together and they work like a charm
Sounds like a good setup. - Jay
The other long term test I would add in UV, had a number of these tools over the years and all suffer from poor protection from UV. So keep out of the sun if you are drying the units off after use.
Great suggestion! I have had a similar experience. - Jay
Straight to the point. Very nice
Thank you for the comment. - Jay
None of these are the best. The best is a $10 can of lacquer thinner with a metal screw on top. Take the chain off, tie one end to a string that hangs outside the can, drop the chain into the entire can. Let it sit and shake it up periodically. Boom! Few days later, the chain is like new and it is much much easier than any tool. Plus, you reuse that same can every time.
Thanks for sharing your experience. - Jay
it takes *days* to clean a chain?
Wasn't actually looking for a chain cleaner. But after seeing the effort you put into this video, I needa buy one.
Haha! Glad you found it helpful! - Jay
I have the finish line one and it was a pain to use till I figured out to pull it down to the ground. It worked a lot better.
Great tip. Thank you for sharing! - Jay
I love when one of the two winners in a review is the only tool I've been using for years, simply by [uninformed] chance. Thanks for what you do.
I just wish I could find a motorcycle chain cleaning equivalent.......
Thanks for watching. - Jay
Thanks for taking the time to conduct a comprehensive test.
Thanks for the feedback. - Jay
Cannot believe you only have 4K subscribers you deserve a lot more will definitely keep a look out for more of these style of videos coming from this channel.
Thanks, more to come! - Jay
Thank you so, so much! That test was a LOT of work! This is phenomenally helpful!
Wow thats what I call a TEST! You took it for real and big thanks for that. Im kinda new to whole bike stuff „industry” and cant really say which brands are good and can be trusted. I think I will go for park tool cm 25. Looks solid.
Your methodology for criteria and tests is admirable. This is an excellent comparison. Its the first video I have seen from your channel and I will probably see your others too and maybe subscribe
Thank you very much! - Jay
White Lightning is the same as Barbieri - and there are spare brushes on sale. But I've been using this tool for more than 10 years - and I still use the brushes that were included. Although when buying the tool, I immediately bought additional brushes. I use this tool both with kerosene and with detergents based on surfactants. Works great!
Thanks for doing this - I have an old early 2000's Park Tool one and it appears to have more bristles on the wheels newer version and still works swimmingly
Awesome! - Jay
Super impressed by the quality of this review. Thorough and objective. Nice work.
Much appreciated! - Jay
The greatest review from YT
Thank you! 😀 - Jay
I have both. I liked the chain pig but it broke after a small drop. I've been using the park tool its better built but I miss the jockey wheel hook.
Interesting, thank you for sharing your experience. Seems to validate what I saw in the testing. - Jay
I'm not a mountain biker (road/indoors), but you got a new subscriber already just by the amazing level of detail of your review/comparison. Thanks a lot for your content!
Great - Thanks! - Jay
Wow, thanks for doing this! I'm surprised how different they all are.
They are! Glad you enjoyed it. - Jay
Now this is how you create a product review video. Appreciate the time and effort. Subscribing even though I'm a road bike rider.
Thanks! - Jay
Wow what an excellent video, covered a huge amount of information in the shortest time possible. I’m subscribing hoping for more like this!
Awesome! More to come. - Jay
What a great review! I've been using my Parks for 3-4 years now, only thing I've replaced is the foam insert.
Good to know! - Jay
This was great. I was just looking to buy a chain cleaning tool, and this helped tremendously in picking one. Thanks!
Great to hear! -
Jay
Ty, i do a quick clean with a rag and use the muck off now and then. I love it. Expensive. The little bottle is good but i have misplaced it now and then. I got a crack on the hinge/ slider still works but it is a weak point. I think they would all crack if dropped. Its a good test as all tools eventually get dropped from around waist height. I wish replacement rollers for all of them were cheap and readily available locally (so $0 shipping cost). The ones with jockey hooks look interesting since sometimes it is hard to hold the unit in place.
Thank you for sharing your experience! - Jay
Yep, I’ve had a park tools chain cleaner for over ten years, still going strong, always clean it after each use, which is the hardest job, but recently started soaking it in dish wash over night with great results.
I run mine through the dishwasher. Have had the same finish line unit for at least 9 years now.
Nice ! 😃- Jay
Nice - didn't think of that! - Jay
this must be the best review video on youtube! It must've a lot of work to get it done, thank you muchly!
I have the parktool one (and I'm glad to have made a good choice there)... but if i had another go, I'd probably get Pedro's chainpig... the fact that it latches on to the rear mech and leaves my hand free and a BIG plus!
Glad you liked it! Thanks for the comment! - Jay
I had the Bike Hand cleaner and it developed those same spider cracks after the first use. Your Bike Hand unit will be in pieces within a few days. Cheap plastic cannot handle the cleaning solution.
Great job on this comparison!!
Thank you! - Jay
I've not used all of these, but I've been very pleased with the Park Tool cleaner. It's built solidly and lasted me the longest of any cleaner i've owned.
Dude this review is incredible! You're so thorough and informative - I definitely have a clear winner in mind for the tool I want (also gained a subscriber!)
😀 - Jay
Very nice. Why nor pedaling forward. I've been pedaling foward and it goes well. I even chage spped so I can clean gears as well with chain solvent.
The Park Tool chain cleaner should support that as the tool handle can be attached on either side of the cleaner body. - Jay
That's a TONs of work you did!!!!! Thanks for the video, it helps a lot!!
You're welcome! - Jay
Big thanks for going through all the work to plan and film this, the video is simply one of the most useful things on the internet!
Glad it was helpful! - Jay
Pedros looks good..I like the design that it hangs on the jockey wheel but park tool is my favorite...thanks for showing. I needed a second opinion on the matter before I buy
That "frustrating and hard to use" is the one I currently have...but I am also researching to replace. Thanks for the video!
Haha! thanks for sharing. I hope you find one that works for you! - Jay
I use the White lightning cause I have found them for $8 usd. I feel no matter which chain cleaner you own, they all wear out and need to be replaced.
Not discussed but I use purple power degreaser for the solvent and it works like a charm !
Maybe do a follow up video on biodegradable solvents?
Thanks for sharing your experience! Great idea too! - Jay