Timeline for How does a chain get filthy and how can you stop it from getting filthy?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
6 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
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| Apr 3, 2020 at 19:42 | comment | added | BetterSense | I use hot wax on all chains and they stay pretty clean. I can literally grab my chain with my hand and my hand stays clean (mostly single-speed road bikes FWIW). To clean chains from the factory I put them in a Ziplock quart-size freezer bag with perchloroethylene or acetone, or both in that order, and shake them. Previously I had a metal paint can of perchloroethylene that I used. Once the chain is totally clean and dry I do hot wax and never mess with it again until it breaks. | |
| Mar 30, 2020 at 22:07 | comment | added | Criggie♦ | @swifty well I cooked up 4 chains in 1 kg of wax, and almost all of that is still in the pot ready for next time. I'm aiming to re-wax twice a year, so this block should last me decades. Also, Mikes' answer covers nicely the cause and composition of the filthy mess, there's nothing to add to that good answer. | |
| Mar 30, 2020 at 22:06 | comment | added | Criggie♦ | @WeiwenNg For a brand new chain, I was lazy and just put them straight in the wax bath. The manufacturing protectant seems to be a wax, which was compatible. If its an old chain with oil on it, then a serious clean with degreaser, or solvent would be required. In that case the old oil has to come off completely. | |
| Mar 30, 2020 at 17:56 | comment | added | Weiwen Ng | Can you comment how thoroughly one has to degrease the chain? The Molten Speed Wax and Friction Facts sites make it sound like you need petroleum-based solvents to get the chain clean enough (e.g. methylated spirits), followed by alcohol to dissolve the leftover petroleum film after that. I wonder if consumers can get sufficient results just using citrus-based degreasers (e.g. Simple Green or many bike-specific degreasers), or even dish soap. | |
| Mar 30, 2020 at 15:10 | comment | added | Swifty | Don't know who downvoted, meh - whilst it skips over the first part of the question it answers the important second part in a very solutions-focused manner (is that a thing? feel like I made it up). but also, the "20% of it so far" could be qualified by a timescale, weeks, years? | |
| Mar 29, 2020 at 20:54 | history | answered | Criggie♦ | CC BY-SA 4.0 |