Cleaning of the chain

[Roshan Madtha]

Hi team,

 

I am owning  ACT 110 S my question is how frequent we need to clean our chains ? if yes can we clean using normal cloth ?

 

Regards

Roshan Madtha

--

thanks regards
Mr Roshan Madtha M
Shanthi Nikethan
Opp EPF Office, Silva Cross Road, Falnir, Mangalore Karnataka 575001
Spice :09964668151

[Sudarshan]

There are loads of videos on youtube which can get you started on this exercise :-)

Sheldon Brown calls this a "religious problem" peep into this link to know the reason (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chains.html)

Cleaning once a month should do! Using the right lube does the trick. For a very long time I used singer (sewing machine oil) and didn't realise that it was doing more harm than good. It was spoiling my chain by magnetising every other micro particle (grit) on road :-). I now use 2T oil and is serving my purpose (way better than the sewing machine oil). A good friend of mine (gokul) uses coconut oil :-) . No wonder sheldon brown terms this "religious" :-) 

The procedure is simple:

1) Wipe the chain with a cloth before using the lube.

2) Lube your chain (you must watch the video to know how to do it).

3) Wipe the chain with a cloth once again to remove excess lube.

I commute a lot within the city regularly and my chain tends to demand a lot more maintenance than what is considered usual. I lube it every week and I clearly see the difference between lubing regularly and not!

Sudarshan

[Sudarshan]

and yeah, answering your question, you can of course clean it with a normal cloth (or a paper cloth). But remember, both before and after!

[gokul]

> (gokul) uses coconut oil :-) . No wonder sheldon brown terms this
> "religious" :-)

I am embarassed :) Anyway it is a reckless pseudo-experiment. Please
don't try it without accepting risk of failure....
(Next I am thinking of trying to wax the chain sometime. I saw this in
old bicycle magazines. Dipping the cleaned chain in a bath of melted
paraffin (some oil can be mixed in to make it more 'greasy'). The
chain is supposed to stay extremely clean and also last long.)

[gokul]

>
> 1) Wipe the chain with a cloth before using the lube.
> 2) Lube your chain (you must watch the video to know how to do it).
> 3) Wipe the chain with a cloth once again to remove excess lube.
>

Grit in between the rollers and rivets (or what're they called) is
what wears (lengthens) the chain. So I don't stop at wiping with a
cloth. I dip it in a bath and scrub with a brush (old toothbrush or
any other longer bristle one) and some grit collects at the bottom of
the bath.
Sheldon says no chain cleaning technique is satisfactory enough...
(either on-the-bike chain cleaning device or off the bike dipping in
bath and scrubbing method)

A parktools page on cleaning the bike with pics:
http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/bike-washing-and-cleaning

[gokul]

Before I get flak for being crazy or something, let me put some
sheldon brown links about waxing the chain to transfer the blame to
someone else (he's RIP so you can't fight with him now haha)
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chains.html#wax

[Opendro]

Cleaning is easiest using any oil, thinner the better - e.g. kerosene,
petrol, turpentine oil (you can get it from paint shops, used as
rubber paint thinner), etc. There is no need to go for expensive WD40
or whatever. Just make sure you don't spray too much around the
bearing areas, where greases are not supposed to be washed away.

If you don't want to dip in it, you can fill in an empty Mr.muscle or
similar kind of sprayer (spring based sprayer) and blow hiss-hiss on
the chain... make sure, you do it outside the house, it will make
things dirty. You can hold a cloth right behind to reduce the spaying
all around.

Now, you have to lube it. I know that there are expensive lubes, but I
have never used them.

From my experience of village cycling where chains are supposed to
last forever, I can tell you that the dirty looking greasy chain is
any day better than a sparkling clean chain. Unfortunately, we don't
have chain guards in our expensive cycles (available as accessories in
US) and whatever we put on our chain, it gets muddy-greasy. I can
definitely tell you that even this muddy-greasy is better than
sparkling clean chain. It does not make creaking noise and it will
last longer, but if you are going to put in a car or going to pedal
with a bottom wide pant, you might get stain here and there.

[Rohan Kini]

Village cycles are mostly single speeds. Plus bike shops there dont have a Park tools CC3 chain wear indicator tool

Butterflys (or bumblebees?) are not supposed to fly, they fly cause no one has told them they cant  ;)

Chain lube - get some synthetic variety. Typically easier to use and lasts longer and a small bottle will last you ages! 

Cleaning the chain - do it regularly, and you should be good.

On Mon, Mar 21, 2011 at 10:28 AM, Opendro <ope...@gmail.com> wrote:

From my experience of village cycling where chains are supposed to
last forever, I can tell you that the dirty looking greasy chain is
any day better than a sparkling clean chain. Unfortunately, we don't
have chain guards in our expensive cycles (available as accessories in
US) and whatever we put on our chain, it gets muddy-greasy. I can
definitely tell you that even this muddy-greasy is better than
sparkling clean chain. It does not make creaking noise and it will
last longer, but if you are going to put in a car or going to pedal
with a bottom wide pant, you might get stain here and there.

On Mar 18, 6:08 pm, Roshan Madtha <rmad...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi team,
>
> I am owning  ACT 110 S my question is how frequent we need to clean our
> chains ? if yes can we clean using normal cloth ?
>
> Regards
>
> Roshan Madtha
>
> --
>
> thanks regards
> Mr Roshan Madtha M
> Shanthi Nikethan
> Opp EPF Office, Silva Cross Road, Falnir, Mangalore Karnataka 575001
> Spice :09964668151

--
biking conversations on the world famous "Bangalore Bikers Club" :)

are you a part of the bicycle racing scene?
Visit www.bangalorebicyclechampionships.com for more details

[Sreepathi Pai]

On Mon, Mar 21, 2011 at 9:09 PM, Rohan Kini <rohan...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Village cycles are mostly single speeds. Plus bike shops there dont have a
> Park tools CC3 chain wear indicator tool

And I might add, the cost for a single-speed chain + freewheel is less
than 100 rupees.

Price for a 9speed chain and cassette :) ?

BTW, are there /working/ chain guards for non-internally geared cycles?

--
Sreepathi Pai

[rushi]

Parachute oil works just as well. I use it on my Ultegra chain. Works
great because the links have slots on the links, so I just drip some
from the side into the links in between the two RD rollers. In the
early mornings (not that I have seen many lately), the oil solidifies
a bit and protects the chain even better. After the ride, I wash off
the oil with Pril or Palmolive dish detergent and a scrub pad, and re-
apply just before the next ride.

The only problem is, dogs chase after me thinking I'm a fresh Tatte
Idli with coconut chutney.

On Mar 21, 8:39 pm, Rohan Kini <rohan.k...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Village cycles are mostly single speeds. Plus bike shops there dont have a
> Park tools CC3 chain wear indicator tool
>
> Butterflys (or bumblebees?) are not supposed to fly, they fly cause no one
> has told them they cant  ;)
>
> Chain lube - get some synthetic variety. Typically easier to use and lasts
> longer and a small bottle will last you ages!
> Cleaning the chain - do it regularly, and you should be good.
>

[gokul]

On Mar 21, 9:10 pm, rushi <rushib...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Parachute oil works just as well. I use it on my Ultegra chain. Works
> great because the links have slots on the links, so I just drip some
> from the side into the links in between the two RD rollers. In the
> early mornings (not that I have seen many lately), the oil solidifies
> a bit and protects the chain even better. After the ride, I wash off
> the oil with Pril or Palmolive dish detergent and a scrub pad, and re-
> apply just before the next ride.

Oh great! Me too, parachute oil.
Cleaning is with detergent like rin soap, also the oil itself is a
great degreaser.
First use the oil to dissolve black cococut oil+ grit. Toothbrush/ any
longer brush. Then detergent rinse. Toothbrush / any longer brush.
Then detergent rinse again. Then water rinse. Hang chain to dry.
Oil with parachute/whatever cococut oil next day when dry.

Serve cold, on clean freewheels and derailleurs.

>
> The only problem is, dogs chase after me thinking I'm a fresh Tatte
> Idli with coconut chutney.
>

No never happens to me :) Reflective jackets though, attract barking
dog chases.

[gokul]

DISCLAIMER: Don't pounce on me. I am not advising this (cocount oil/
detergent) as any recommended method. Just what I do.

[Apurv Manjrekar]

We'll lot of people have been successfully using vegetable oils. I dont think that causes any problem. The problem comes when one does not want to clean the chain for long periods of time. For folks who are willing to clean the chain once in 3-4 weeks, vegetable oils should do fine.

[వినయ్ రాజ్ డి]

using brush doesn't clean the grit in between the links, take a thin cloth strand put it through the links wipe the dirt on the inner plate of the links....
---
VINAY D' RAJ
o... Burn fat, not fuel - Bike along to a healthier life and cleaner world!

[gokul]

[gokul]

On Mar 22, 6:22 am, Apurv Manjrekar <apurv.manjre...@gmail.com> wrote:

> We'll lot of people have been successfully using vegetable oils. I dont
> think that causes any problem. The problem comes when one does not want
> to clean the chain for long periods of time. For folks who are willing
> to clean the chain once in 3-4 weeks, vegetable oils should do fine.
>

Yeah I clean _almost_ after every ride!! I am OCD with chain
cleaning I think :P
Maybe it would dry too soon/ gum up etc if you leave uncleaned for way
too long, but right now my chain is pretty good with the frequent
cleaning.
Not sure if coconut oil gums up...

[gokul]

On Mar 22, 7:51 am, వినయ్ రాజ్ డి <dvinay...@gmail.com> wrote:
> using brush doesn't clean the grit in between the links, take a thin cloth
> strand put it through the links wipe the dirt on the inner plate of the
> links....

> *---

Yes i wipe with a cloth also...yes a brush may dislodge grit which
may still stick around but a cloth will remove it off.

> VINAY D' RAJ*
> o**... Burn fat, not fuel - Bike along to a healthier life and cleaner
> world!

[gokul]

On Mar 22, 8:47 am, gokul <mgokuldee...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Mar 22, 7:51 am, వినయ్ రాజ్ డి <dvinay...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > using brush doesn't clean the grit in between the links, take a thin cloth
> > strand put it through the links wipe the dirt on the inner plate of the
> > links....
> > *---
>

Oh!! woah wait a minute! Take a thin cloth strand and wipe through
each link!! One by one?
Reminds me of this sheldon brown April Fool joke: :D
http://sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html

[deepakvrao]

How often do you ride? ;-)

On Mar 21, 9:10 pm, rushi <rushib...@gmail.com> wrote:

[gokul]

On Mar 22, 2:03 pm, deepakvrao <deepakv...@gmail.com> wrote:
> How often do you ride? ;-)
>

Not too much, commute home on weekends (20km to and fro) plus short
1/2 hour rides on weekday mornings (not necessarily every morning) +
some weekend long rides (not necessarily every weekend).

I kind of clean it once every week i guess (OCD?), removing, dipping
in solvent, using a cloth briefly over the chain (not every link! :P),
and all that stuff.

:)

[gokul]

> ... commute home on weekends (20km to and fro) plus short

correction - 40 km to and fro

[gokul]

> 1/2 hour rides on weekday mornings (not necessarily every morning) +

another one - one/two hour not half hour

[shan...@gmail.com]

Eh.. I'm not sure if he was asking you man ;)

Regards,
Shankar
Sent from my Nokia 5700 xpressmusic

--

biking conversations on the world famous "Bangalore Bikers Club" :)

are you a part of the bicycle racing scene?

[shan...@gmail.com]

And everytime i see gokul its three mails at one go. Maybe its a lucky number thing? And yeah.. While off topic, when is the gkvk ride man?

Regards,
Shankar
Sent from my Nokia 5700 xpressmusic
-----Original Message-----
From: gokul
Sent: 22/03/2011 15:30:24
Subject: [BBC] Re: Cleaning of the chain

--

[gokul]

On Mar 22, 3:01 pm, "shanka...@gmail.com" <shanka...@gmail.com> wrote:
> And everytime i see gokul its three mails at one go. Maybe its a lucky number thing? And yeah.. While off topic, when is the gkvk ride man?

Hmmm... will try to keep it in one mail...
While off topic too, GKVK trail probably Thu or Fri? We have to decide
yet... will contact you by tomorrow.

[Sreepathi Pai]

On Tue, Mar 22, 2011 at 3:31 PM, shan...@gmail.com
<shan...@gmail.com> wrote:
> And everytime i see gokul its three mails at one go.

*Sigh*. You BBC guys are lucky ;)

--
Sreepathi Pai

[rushi]

It's not how often, but how well. Let me be done with my base building
in the next 3 years, then I'll crank up the frequency, followed by
intensity. Or something like that. I forgot the details but then it's
not about the details.

Now back to the coconut oil.

On Mar 22, 2:03 pm, deepakvrao <deepakv...@gmail.com> wrote:

[deepakvrao]

Stupid me. You are one of those perpetual thinnie guys :-(

[deepakvrao]

Building base? Cycling miles? Or waist inches?

On Mar 22, 8:42 pm, rushi <rushib...@gmail.com> wrote:

[rushi]

All I'll say is, my Mulky Effect prowess will blind you with
jealousy.

[deepakvrao]

I think I can do more of a Mulky than you. LOL

[R. Venkatachalam]

I don't think the 'Mulky' in question is on BBC... and last heard, his bikes are collecting dust :P

Visit www.bangalorebicyclechampionships.com for more details

--
Best Regards,
R. Venkatachalam
- http://www.facebook.com/cleatedwarriors

[gokul]

On Mar 23, 8:46 pm, "R. Venkatachalam" <r.venkatacha...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> I don't think the 'Mulky' in question is on BBC... and last heard, his bikes
> are collecting dust :P
>
>
>
> On Wed, Mar 23, 2011 at 9:12 PM, deepakvrao <deepakv...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I think I can do more of a Mulky than you. LOL
>
> > On Mar 23, 2:21 pm, rushi <rushib...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > All I'll say is, my Mulky Effect prowess will blind you with
> > > jealousy.
>

I RTFMed and googled for Mulky Effect http://www.google.co.in/search?q=mulky+effect
but I'm not following anything :)
Guess it's some joke.

> > Visitwww.bangalorebicyclechampionships.comfor more details

[rushi]

> Guess it's some joke.
>

One thing I can assure you of is that the Mulky Effect is not a joke.
It is very serious business. So serious that we don't define it on the
internets for the safety of all living beings on the road and off it.

And yes Venkat the Mulky in question is in fact on BBC. And his
Brompton does regular milk and egg runs. Blame Cadbury for the rest.