thread-revive.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/391125282508
I bought these a few weeks ago. Mainly so Id have one to take to keep in France where I dont really have a workshop so for a quick chain clean the plan was one of these.
I tried one out for the first time yesterday, and blow me if it didnt work really well.
I use "Gunk" in it which seems like the perfect place to do so. The vessel is only quite small so you dont need to use lots of cleaner in it. I expect a v strong washing up liquid/water mix would work as well.
The cleaners themselves are a bit fiddly, but reasonably solidly made. Once the chain is in, and you havent spilt cleaner everywhere, they work very well and are easy to use.
park tools chain cleaner with citrus cleaner, clean chain in seconds, or i could faff about and find a jar, or spend loads on a ultra sonic cleaner or go out and buy some diesel....
5L of citrosol is £11, lasted so far , 3 years , chain cleaner is 5+ years old
chain chain means my expensive raceface alloy chain rings laster longer £85 or so for 3....... pisss take!
Juice lube Dirty little scrubber & super Gnal.
To be fair I tip my hat to anyone who makes a effort of cleaning their chain, even if it is a whip with a rag!
You would not believe how many bike we get through the workshop that not been cleaned or even lubed! even get a far few bikes a year with the cassette so full of crap the chain does not seat right and they complaining about the chain/gears skipping when riding!
End of the day, I feel using a chain cleaning device/scrubber is the easiest/best use of time/less messy way of cleaning a chain for 95% of cyclists. don't need to remove chain, fit cleaner, back pedal and rinse, wipe dry, re lube.
Do this often (after every ride, when washing your bike) you don't really need to remove the chain to clean it, maybe remove once every 2 months if high use just for a "deep" clean.
So for the ones who have the time to remove/clean/boil/swap chains etc then fair play to you and well done, keep it up.
The best device... A new chain.
Chains are not that expensive, and a fresh chain will slow down wear and tear on the rest of the drive.
So I give it a few hoses, and lubes. But after a big dirty ride, a multi day tour, a gravel 100 etc... Pop a new chain on. Spend the £18.

