Chain degreaser what to use

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formula400
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Chain degreaser what to use

Post by formula400 »

Right at times I use cans of clutch and brake cleaner to clean my cycle/motorbike chains as it eats through gunk very well. Are there any better 5/7ltr bottles I should use that are cheaper and don’t waste cans???
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Re: Chain degreaser what to use

Post by MingtheMerciless »

I use Muc-off degreaser/cleaner, its the almost luminous yellow/green stuff. Seems to work well without being too aggressive on finishes/paint.
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Re: Chain degreaser what to use

Post by Taff »

I've always used wd40
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Re: Chain degreaser what to use

Post by Druid »

Paraffin
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Re: Chain degreaser what to use

Post by formula400 »

MingtheMerciless wrote: Sat Jan 30, 2021 9:25 am I use Muc-off degreaser/cleaner, its the almost luminous yellow/green stuff. Seems to work well without being too aggressive on finishes/paint.
Is that strong enough for chains??
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Re: Chain degreaser what to use

Post by formula400 »

Taff wrote: Sat Jan 30, 2021 9:30 am I've always used wd40
Want to move away from cans for the chain
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Re: Chain degreaser what to use

Post by Beancounter »

I’ve got a 5l can of Holts brake cleaner, £15 from EBay and decant tear into a cheap spray bottle from B&Q. Far less wastage from aerosols.
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Re: Chain degreaser what to use

Post by formula400 »

Beancounter wrote: Sat Jan 30, 2021 9:40 am I’ve got a 5l can of Holts brake cleaner, £15 from EBay and decant tear into a cheap spray bottle from B&Q. Far less wastage from aerosols.
This stuff???

https://www.carparts4less.co.uk/p/holts ... gIGvfD_BwE

And you don’t dilute it at all? Just spray on?
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Re: Chain degreaser what to use

Post by MingtheMerciless »

Yes, top tip, take chain off, put it in a Chinese takeaway plastic pot so its flat, cover with degreaser and put lid on, agitate and then leave for an hour or so before filling with boiling water and leaving for 5 mins, then drain remembering NOT to empty your SRAM eagle split links down the drain (.....not saying I've done that). Then pick the chain up (with something insulated it'll still be hot, again don't ask me how I know) and leave to dry. I also use the same technique for headset and BB bearings but either blast out the bearings with air duster or pump and then leave to dry on a hot radiator.

Or I get reasonable results filling the park chain cleaning tool with the stuff and doing it on the bike before sluicing to off with a watering can filled with hot water.
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Re: Chain degreaser what to use

Post by Beancounter »

formula400 wrote: Sat Jan 30, 2021 9:42 am
Beancounter wrote: Sat Jan 30, 2021 9:40 am I’ve got a 5l can of Holts brake cleaner, £15 from EBay and decant tear into a cheap spray bottle from B&Q. Far less wastage from aerosols.
This stuff???

https://www.carparts4less.co.uk/p/holts ... gIGvfD_BwE

And you don’t dilute it at all? Just spray on?
Yep, that’s the stuff. I don’t dilute it but then I don’t go crazy with it either.
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Re: Chain degreaser what to use

Post by crust »

Parafin or Patio Heater fuel as it's known in B&Q

Old plastic 5 ltr container, pour a pint-ish of parafin into container, drop chain in, lid on - shake like mad for minute. Empty container, tip out shiny clean chain.
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Re: Chain degreaser what to use

Post by weeksy »

GT85 but that's all I use on chains anyway
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Re: Chain degreaser what to use

Post by Timmy »

Finish Line degreaser and a chain cleaning tool.
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Re: Chain degreaser what to use

Post by Bigjawa »

I just use heating oil.
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Re: Chain degreaser what to use

Post by Mr Moofo »

paraffin - dead cheap, doesn't dry out seals
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Re: Chain degreaser what to use

Post by formula400 »

Mr Moofo wrote: Thu Feb 18, 2021 9:02 am paraffin - dead cheap, doesn't dry out seals
Is paraffin thick??
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Re: Chain degreaser what to use

Post by Couchy »

My chains never get covered in gunk tbh, on the mtb I wipe it down after every ride with GT85. A tiny bit of lube and it’s ready. Gets replaced every 500 miles or so. On the motorbike pretty much the same process. Only time I have to clean a chain is when I buy a bike, I guess some people put lube on top of lube and don’t clean them. But same process GT85 and a brush and cloth
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Re: Chain degreaser what to use

Post by formula400 »

ive done about 1000km on my cycle chain, and its pretty decent, just want to find the best easiest way to keep it like that
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