Despite using minimal amounts of lube I'm still getting a bit of build up of claggy black gunk.
Is citrus degreaser any good at cleaning it - normal degreaser is more for oil based Lubes?
Throw it in the bin and use some other dry lube. That smooth stuff turned black and gunky in about 30 seconds, was impossible to clean off, was noisy and generally terrible. I tried using less and less and always left it to dry before use, so it wasn't user error.
Fenwicks dry is my lube of choice for the road bike anyway. On the MTB I just use wet lube year round.
I used to use the Halfords citrus degreaser, but it took a good scrub after a soak to remove real gunk.
Switched to Peaty's foaming degreaser and it needs next to no scrubbing and gets off grime super easy. It does almost does too much of a good job, I found recently when switching to dry lube for the summer the chain almost had dry crunch to it, have switched back to wet lube which has helped re hydrate the chain.
Chain and cassette into a pot of solvent. In the end, as long as you dispose of it correctly, this is the most eco and efficient cleaning method.
You'll only really get the black gunk buildup when you reapply without having properly cleaned in-between. Or maybe you applied smoove on top of another lube, or even the packaging grease.
You could a 'dry' teflon lube, but it'll cost you a minimum of like 10 watts.
I found the same thing with smoove. Went back to squirt.
I've used Smoove for years and it's great. Quiet and helps chains last ages. I use neat or very slightly diluted Fenwick's cleaner in a chain cleaner when the chain needs degreasing. The only time I've had the gunk build up is when I haven't cleaned properly (or often enough) or used too much of it.
I find it lasts much better than squirt but it's definitely muckier, though nothing like a wet lube.
Anyone who is throwing away Smoove, please feel free to throw it my way.
I use Swarfega Jizer to remove the original grease from the chain, then wash with dish soap. If the chain gets grubby, I give it the good news with a baby wipe and if I can feel movement in the rollers, it gets one drop of Smoove on each link.
Of the jockey wheels get a bit mucky, then again, it's the baby wipe.
I find the thin layer on the chain ring and cassette seem to help with keeping it all quiet.
If I want to clean them along with the rest of the bike, hot soapy water is all it needs. I do take the chain off for bike washing though.
Use squirt. Don't put too much on & only put it on where its needed.
i use squirt and smooth. both work well.
To clarify, I am a long term user and generally happy with it, it's just that when I do get some build-up, I find that regular degreaser doesn't always break up the Clag.
Will give baby wipes a go.
Paraffin is a great allpurpose degreaser, take the chain off and throw it in. Only trouble is it totally degreases, right into the links, so you need to be damn sure your lube is doing just a good job of getting back in.
I got told off for putting too much on, it does build up even when you wipe off the excess. Degrease it thoroughly then put a small drop on each link. I think Smoove recommend their own degreaser, smoove prep or suchlike, but it seems to cost as much as angel tears.
The other thing is when applying it, don't spend ages spinning the cranks and applying all of it to the jockey wheels.
Once it's mostly dry, give the jockey wheels and cogs a wipe down. You won't get much more transfer from chain to cogs.
I use Smoove and don't get much build up, occasionally I need to scrape the jockey wheels. I normally degrease using a chain scrubber and greenoil degreaser when the chain starts sounding dry, I suspect those with claggy drivetrains are not degreasing often enough. I find Smoove beads up and dries in the surface rather than being pulled in if I don't degrease regularly.
The Smoove Prep is expensive but it takes mere drops in a chain cleaner, on the cassette and the jockey wheels to get them all immaculate. I probably get away with a third as much as they recommend with great results. Put on properly, Smoove will easily do a full stage race on one application. Never had another lube come close to that.
^^
Bar steward, you've compelled me to buy the Smoove Prep!
From the Singletrack merch store obvs. I'm not a total monster! I didn't know they sold it till Google just told me.👍
https://singletrackworld.com/shop/smoove-prep/?
How do you use it in a chain cleaner, do you apply Prep direct to the chain and brushes and then use a chain scrubber 'dry'? With normal degreaser I fill it until the bottom of the brushes are in the degreaser. Thanks
I put about a third/half a measure of prep into the bottom of the chain cleaner, lock it onto the chain and then shake the cleaner up and down whilst running the chain through it. That gets it onto the brushes and chain. Run the chain through the cleaner. Then once the chain has got it on, I pour what's in the bottom of the cleaner onto a brush and clean the cassette and jockey wheels with it. Leave it a couple of mins then rinse off with water. Voila, back to new. Dry the chain thoroughly, leave it for a while, put on the new lube, leave for at least am hour, preferably overnight then ride forever. When you're cleaning it after a ride and don't want to re-lube you can get away with light rinsing and drying the chain, but nothing thorough.
Thanks, I've chosen not to buy it twice now but when my degreaser runs out I might give it a whirl.
Cheers @Jeeble
Was wondering same as spooky.
Ill give the method a try.👍
Might water or down a little in the chain cleaner, same as I do the mucoff citrus cleaner I use presently. Not sure if that makes much difference though as I too shake the cleaner around a bit as I back pedal the chain to clean it.
Almost out of muc-off so good time for a switch.
Big fan of Smoove here. Lasts for ages saves money in the end, not to mention reduced chain/drivetrain wear. Subjectively of course. Only place I get a build up is on the jockey wheels occasionally.
North Downs mainly so mainly clay/chalk. Wonder if different soil conditions give the different results mentioned above??
Bit of a newb question, but when taking chain off to clean thoroughly do folk break the chain? I was under the impression this was a bad idea as it weakens links / issues with rejoining?
Bit of a newb question, but when taking chain off to clean thoroughly do folk break the chain? I was under the impression this was a bad idea as it weakens links / issues with rejoining?
#QuickLinks
I was under the impression this was a bad idea as it weakens links / issues with rejoining?
Do you mean at the quicklink or by knocking a pin out?
I've not had any bother with reusing quicklinks multiple times to rejoin, even those which claim to be non-reuseable.
If you're removing a pin, replace that link with a quicklink.
I don't think it's necessary to remove the chain, I just use a Park chain scrubber and greenoil degreaser and it comes out clean, and dry lube like Smoove get sucked straight into the links. If it's not clean, the lube beads on the surface, so it's good enough in my opinion 🙂
Yep, I don't remove the chain either. The Park chain cleaner is the only Park took I possess as it's actually pretty cheap even compared to generic ones.
I have 12 speed setups and I do reuse the quick links but do it too many times and they do get noticeably loose so I only break them when really necessary.