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Are there any out there at the moment? I've had a quick search but none have come up. I don't want to spend £20 on a Park one. I'm after the systems that clean the chain as turn the pedals backwards, kind of chain bath, not sure what the technical term is.
If there a reason why I should buy a Park or other branded one? They just look like pieces of plastic to me with a few cogs to clean the chain!!
Thanks
These cogs drive numerous brushes that scrub the chain as it is pulled through the bath. I have had the park one for many years now and can't fault it. Not cheap agreed but over the years it just gets cheaper for me.
This looks very much like the Park cleaner but is cheaper.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=4671
Even cheaper is to take the chain off and stick it in a jam jar with some cleaner.
Powerlink + Jar + Degreaser
I think Finish Line do a Park variant (I might even have this one, can't remember) + tube of gel you slap on, pedal for 2 mins, remove + degreaser = job done.
stick it in the dishwasher.
I've had two cheap ones over the years, one got melted by the degreaser I used, the other became brittle and cracked very easily, I would spend spend a bit next time
Powerlink, jar, white spirit.
Shake, hang and lube.
The revolution one from Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op - it's up for £7 at the moment.
I find I tend to break them by standing on them, so I buy cheap ones.
I've also done the powerlink and white spirit and all the rest of it, but at the end of the day, it's more of a faff to take the chain off, and life's too short.
as a professional bike mechanic I don't bother using chain cleaners on my own bikes
washing up liquid, put neat onto an old toothbrush and thoroughly scrub the cassette, chainrings, pulley wheels (on rear mech), chain device / front derailleur cage and then the chain
rinse with warm water, leave to dry indoors for 3-4 hours and carefully apply (link by link) quality chain lube
no problems to report in 25+ years of mountain biking, bmx, road and wrenching
I got this one:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-chain-cleaning-kit/
It works well & comes with a couple of brushes too. Mine's going strong after 2 years or more...
I find a chain cleaner much easier to use than takingvthe chain off. I use a strong-ish mix of Fenwicks FS-1 with it.
As geoffj and joolsburger have already said.
This is the way to do it properly, and you can do it indoors in the winter - don't try that with a chain cleaner !
But add a pair of marigolds to your shopping list first...mmmm black fingertips...
Being all middle class- powerlink, tupperware box, paraffin. Faster, better, cheaper. Then hang chain up to dry, and relube before refitting. Purrfick.