How To Clean, Degrease and Lube a Bike Chain

http://www.BicycleBikes.com

I explain and show how to clean, degrease, and lubricate a bicycle chain. It is easy to do, and takes only about 10 minutes from start to finish and will keep your bike chain running smooth for many miles of riding. I demonstrate using one of my mountain bikes, but this applies to road bikes, triathlon bikes, recumbents, or whatever other type of bikes you have. In the video, I am using a Park Tools CM-5 (or CG-2) chain cleaning tool.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• bicycle
• bike
• dirty
• chain
• grease
• degrease
• clean
• lube
• lubricate
• maintenance
• how-to
• cycling
• instruction

[shyflirt1]

Jospeh, I clean/degrease my chain when it is dirty. Like if you have been riding in the rain and the chain is covered with grit. If you see a little bit of surface rust on the chain, then do it. If you ride a lot, then it can't hurt do it a couple times a year anyway.

[shyflirt1]

It's a Park Tools CM-5. You can get it at Amazon:

[shyflirt1]

Lube and degreasing are the complete opposites. First you degrease the chain, taking all the old dirty grease/oil off the chain. But then you have to lube the chain again.

[SimonD157]

i use paint thinner with the chain cleaner machine thing there and i recycle the paint thinner in a jar after a while the dirty sediment settles to the bottom of the jar .

[210482fmj]

Are you meant to rinse most chian cleaners with water after use. I use degreaser and it says to rinse with water after using. I just remove my chain and put it in a plastic tub and use a brush and wipe the liquid into a tissue so it doesn't pollute drains. YOu shouldn't pollute drains. Try an absorb the chain cleaner fluid into a a load of tissue after use and not pour into the ground or drain. People who pour chemicals down drains are uncaring assholes or into soil

[pascuionel1987]

@gasgascrosser . I believe @gasgascrosser is right, and try to lube the chain on the inside(that is the bottom part of the chain)!

[rainbowinthedark73]

Hi just to let you know i got the Barbieri Chain Cleaner from ebay for £5.95, free post.

Works great and really cheap. Quite similar to the Park one.

[boomy818]

try brake cleaner for cars! works and grease falls out right on contact its amazing my local bike shop uses it for their service with repairs

[david197407]

@Josephlimk for that amount of running 2-3 times per year should be plenty, maybe running the cleaner 2-3 times at a time if extra dirty

[david197407]

@rf1293 rather than 3 in 1 oil a slightly lighter lubricant with teflon is perfect for bike chains, teflon gives a protective coating preventing wear & also helps chain run easier

[david197407]

its also handy to use maybe an old toothbrush or similar & some of that citrus cleaner & go round the gears as well to remove any grime from them that may go back onto the chain, i usualy do both once per year on my bike, maybe more often depending how much running & as you mentioned if realy dirty may have to run cleaner 2-3 times

[macias102]

Nice, but you have too much soap at home -- I doubt that for real you touch you chain so much with bare hands. And about money, Park Tools is cool, I have some of their stuff, but for basic tools, I think it makes no sense to buy PT because their tools are overpriced.

[rf1293]

@kunkymonkey I'd go with the 3 in 1 oil.