Cycling UK Forum

There are sooooo many cleaning solutions out there like cars, from 99p to almost unlimited

Is there any advice on cleaning chains/lubricating

I understand WD40 is a NO NO

Many thanks

A subject for which many many reams of internet pages have been writ . . . . .

Here is an older list which I found in the "Too good to lose" section.
viewtopic.php?f=25&t=22074

Even the wobbly search engine on this FORUM will find loads more for +cleaning +chains ( see top right "Search" ).

For general washing of the bike you need nothing more than a solution of washing up liquid and water in a squirty trigger bottle.hose the bike off with a gentle spray to wash off any loose muck and grit,then squirt the bike all over with squirty washing liquid mix.I then use a soft brush(the type bought as a brush and scoop set from pound shops) to wash the bike,then hose off.
I then finnish off by wiping the bike down with an old towel and giving the mechs cassette and any brake pivots etc a squirt of GT 85.
The chain is cleaned with White Spirit,search it on the forum for some detailed chain cleaning methods.

Discussed a thousand times here.

A. Remove and immerse in degreaser or solvent, repeat and rinse.

B. Use the clip on devices with degreaser or solvent.

C. Wipe the grit off exterior.

D. Add lubricant without cleaning.

I prefer A.

alexnharvey wrote:Discussed a thousand times here.

A. Remove and immerse in degreaser or solvent, repeat and rinse.

B. Use the clip on devices with degreaser or solvent.

C. Wipe the grit off exterior.

D. Add lubricant without cleaning.

I prefer A.

One must not forget the recommended Sheldon Brown method
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html

Wd40 / gt85 to use as a degreaser and then a spray grease / teflon lubricant / motor oil to replace the lubricant.

Not scientific but seems to work!

Cheers James

Again my many many thanks, for all your help

Please see

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=130649

Graham wrote:A subject for which many many reams of internet pages have been writ . . . . . .

Don't know why, but the subject always reminds me of a Radio 4 comedy, "But Officer, why do we have to drive on this side of the road?" and similar

skyhawk wrote:Please see

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=130649

I cannot believe Sheldon forgot to say that you must mark the pins and rotate each one 90 degrees on reassembly.

The Sheldon Brown pic reminds me of an article I read about the 1942 Wolverhampton - Holyhead road race.
Being war time one of the riders couldn't obtain a 3/32" chain. His solution was to completely dismantle a 1/8" chain and use a surface grinder to reduce the pins and rollers to the appropriate dimensions and the reassemble.
Possibly apocryphal ?

Jamesh wrote:Wd40 / gt85 to use as a degreaser and then a spray grease / teflon lubricant / motor oil to replace the lubricant.

Not scientific but seems to work!

Cheers James

I'm not sure we should be using teflon lubricant. Is it falloff micro plastics?

MikeF wrote:

Jamesh wrote:Wd40 / gt85 to use as a degreaser and then a spray grease / teflon lubricant / motor oil to replace the lubricant.

Not scientific but seems to work!

Cheers James

I'm not sure we should be using teflon lubricant. Is it falloff micro plastics?

IS that real I would love to know

Of course it is. It's extremely fine PTFE powder.

I wonder if different plastics vary in their harmfulness. Probably they do.