preferred-google-button
log in
register

Chain Cleaning

  • Creator
    Topic
  • January 12, 2016 at 1:25 pm #25234
    MT63

    I just noticed this on the KMC website regarding maintenance of your chain:

    • Do not use acidic or alkali based detergents (such as rust cleaners), these can damage the chain and may cause breakage.
    • Do not dip your chain in (aggressive) degreasers – they remove the remaining grease from the chain’s bearings, and may cause cracks. They are also bad for our environment.
    • If the chain is really dirty and difficult to clean, besides using a brush for the inside, try putting some solvent on a cloth and use it to clean the chain’s exterior.
    • Try to avoid a so-called ‘chain washing machine’ in combination with solvent. This will instantly ruin your chain.
    • Some lubricant brands advise you to completely degrease the chain, KMC does not recommend this.

    The full details can be found here:

    http://www.kmcchain.eu/MAINTENANCE

    This says use some light soapy water if required and some solvent on a cloth to clean the exterior of the chain. This seems to go against everything I have been doing to clean my chain and suggests that all the marketing products for cleaning your chain could actually be bad for it. Do I throw away my chain washing machine?

  • Creator
    Topic
Viewing 2 replies - 16 through 17 (of 17 total)
1 2
  • Author
    Replies
  • January 13, 2016 at 10:28 pm #864849
    0
    Carton

    Meh. Most products seem to be

    Meh. Most products seem to be OK. Thousands (millions?) of cyclists use chain cleaners. Few calamities are reported. Strong solvents mixed with a strong brush or  a cleaning machine seem to be too much, according to the manufacturers.

    I’ve found chain care to be a wholly separate hobby within a hobby. To be honest, it’s more like a semi-religion, like yoga, meditation or Herbalife. Basically, even an abused MTB chain can last you well over 1,000 miles on semi-frequent WD-40. If you clean it with a little dishwasher / soft degreaser on a rag every once in a while, use a decent lube and wipe off the excess (somewhat like this) it may last a bit longer. If the hassle puts you off from doing it somewhat regurlarly, it probably wont. When in doubt, buy a new chain. You can get an Ultegra-level 10sp chain for £13 online. Or something else. I love KMC chains’ removable links. YMMV. Sizing a new chain is somewhat aggravating. Still, way quicker than many cyclists’ cleaning rituals. Again, YMMV.

    Or you can spend a few hours and a few buckets of diluted biodegradable child-safe super-organic non-transgenic fair-trade extra-virgin anti-allergenicic hyper-cleaner after every ride degreasing it roller by roller, plate by plate and pin by pin with a horse-hair nail brush. And then cook it in unscented wax gently scraped of the groin hairs of kasai river bonobos. Whatever floats your boat. No judgement here. Well, perhaps the tenderest of ribbings.

    January 12, 2016 at 4:47 pm #864847
    0
    allanj

    I got a row for asking this I

    I got a row for asking this I think: 

     

    http://road.cc/content/forum/169415-chain-wrecking

     

    No one knows but it makes some people cross when you ask

  • Author
    Replies
Viewing 2 replies - 16 through 17 (of 17 total)
1 2
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.