General degreaser

[RecumbentRide]

I've got a Park tool chain cleaner but I've noticed that even with cheap washing up liquid or Muc-Off neither seem to be able to get rid of road grime effectively. Having recently cleaned my chain I found the rollers in the Park Tool chain cleaner laden with grease/grime that only seemed to come off when I stuck my fingers into the rollers. I would have thought a degreaser like washing up liquid/Muc Off would have desolved the grime but unfortunately no. All that seems to be happening is the crap is being partially moved from the chain to the chain cleaner's brushes.
So can anyone recommend a solution which will tackle the grime that's built up over a period of weeks by breaking it down and therefore allowing it to be removed easily with a little physical agitation. I'm aware this will probably need something very unkind to skin and possibly paintwork if left too long on the bike.

[richardfm]

Screwfix degreaser https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense- ... 5ltr/88668 has been recommended for use with the parktool chain cleaner. viewtopic.php?f=5&t=129294

[robgul]

Screwfix degreaser https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense- ... 5ltr/88668 has been recommended for use with the parktool chain cleaner

Another vote for the Screwfix cheap and cheerful stuf : BUT there is a Fenwick's chain cleaning product that, I have found in using, is really effective. It sprays on like a long thin stream of shaving cream (or crazy string!) as you slowly rotate the cranks - leave for 10 minutes - run the chain round the drivetrain a few times and rinse with water, then dry with a rag. Better than the Park/Barbeiri type cleaner boxes.

Rob

[RecumbentRide]

Hmm unlike the Screwfix seeing a mixed bag of reviews for the Fenwicks

[nez]

I've always used neat Traffic Film Remover. Seems to work just fine.

[RecumbentRide]

Hmm I've posted in other forums and the screwfix degreaser seems to have fans!! Must be good

[Mick F]

Read my Cyclone thread. It's a bit long and convoluted though.
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=129294

Basically, I bought a Cyclone and used white spirit was ok but the unit became filthy. I bought - on recommendation on here - some soda crystals, and that cleaned it beautifully.

Then, on recommendation on here, I bought some Screwfix degreaser, and it is FANTASTIC.

Chain is perfectly clean, the Cyclone remains clean because you can wash it down the sink and give it a good wash too.

ABSOLUTELY GOBSMACKED

I'm a chain cleaning aficionado and found Gunk in a jar was the best thing to shake your chain in, but the Cyclone together with the Screwfix stuff knocks spots of it.

I mix the degreaser 50/50 with plain water.

[Bob999]

I tried looking for some 'bio-degradeable' degreasers. The Gunk mentioned above has a 'Green' version and when I've soaked a filthy chain in that, it worked really well. Although, on the other hand, the more I learn about 'bio-degradeable' labels the less stringent they seem; eg the product could take years to break down and/or could still leave toxins after breaking down.

So perhaps a 'bio-degradable' label only means probably not quite as bad as an equivalent product with no such label?

[PH]

I tried looking for some 'bio-degradeable' degreasers.

Green Oil do a chain degreaser which comes as a gel though it can be diluted, I haven't tried it.
The local chandlers sells a marine degreaser which is approved to be used on the waterways, or some such, I read the tin a while back when I was there for something else. I'm assuming that's less harmful than the usual stuff.
I don't use any, I wipe a chain with a rag and reapply oil.

[MarcusT]

In the process of trying engine degreaser from Aldi. I 'll let you know how it works out

[robgul]

Just watch it with the Screwfix stuff - if you you use it neat (I normally knock it down with 3 parts water) in, say, a container that you're going to put parts in it does attack anozied finishes after a while.

Rob

[Mick F]

Good call there.
Thanks for that.

[jb]

Paraffin in a large jam jar, place chain in jar and shake it about then empty through a coffee filter into another jar use for several chains then burn in a paraffin lamp to keep the pipes from freezing in the shed. Leave chain to drip dry then wash in soapy water, dry. and oil.

PS don't use the paraffin in your favourite primus as it will block up.

[mattheus]

^ The "Sheldon Shake" (I doubt that he invented it, but that has become the widely used term!)

[geocycle]

How 'environmentally friendly' is the screwfix stuff? Can it go down the sink?