Chain Cleaning

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Lutin
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Re: Chain Cleaning

Post by Lutin »

A_morti wrote: Sun Mar 29, 2026 1:26 pmIt'll still fling though, as anyone with a scottoiler will tell you.
At the risk of being told that I'm not oiling my chain enough, I would say that anyone with a Scottoiler that is suffering oil fling is that the flow rate is set too high. Yes, it's a faff to try and get the setting just right - but it pays off in the end.
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Re: Chain Cleaning

Post by A_morti »

Lutin wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 9:47 am I would say that anyone with a Scottoiler that is suffering oil fling is that the flow rate is set too high.
Then where does the oil go? You are constantly adding more and it doesn't burn off, so it must be flinging off, hopefully taking some dirt and grime with it.

The trick (I never mastered it) is to have it fling just enough that the wheel isn't filthy before the next scheduled wash.
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Skub
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Re: Chain Cleaning

Post by Skub »

Supermofo wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 9:34 am Nothing I've used has stopped the rear wheel getting cruddy with lube/dust mix. Getting it off properly requires wd40 and a rag. But it'll look shite again in a few hundred miles. The thing Taipan linked to was slightly interesting but still didn't stop all the fling and looks a bit 😳 Even the XCP chain lube which is very oil like and rubs off easy in itself goes tacky once on the wheel with road dust.

The sad answer I think is rear wheels are supposed to be minging and I give up until the bike gets a proper wash. Black wheels for the win as they hide it best.
No,no,no.

It's god's way of telling you to clean the bike after every journey. 8-)
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Supermofo
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Re: Chain Cleaning

Post by Supermofo »

Skub wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 11:24 am
Supermofo wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 9:34 am Nothing I've used has stopped the rear wheel getting cruddy with lube/dust mix. Getting it off properly requires wd40 and a rag. But it'll look shite again in a few hundred miles. The thing Taipan linked to was slightly interesting but still didn't stop all the fling and looks a bit 😳 Even the XCP chain lube which is very oil like and rubs off easy in itself goes tacky once on the wheel with road dust.

The sad answer I think is rear wheels are supposed to be minging and I give up until the bike gets a proper wash. Black wheels for the win as they hide it best.
No,no,no.

It's god's way of telling you to clean the bike after every journey. 8-)
Fark dat. My time is worth more than a sparkling bike. It's for riding
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Skub
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Re: Chain Cleaning

Post by Skub »

Supermofo wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 1:07 pm Fark dat. My time is worth more than a sparkling bike. It's for riding
Doood,it's the holistic experience. Ride,clean,ride,clean. 8-)
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Dodgy69
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Re: Chain Cleaning

Post by Dodgy69 »

Mine get cleaned after every ride pretty much, no commuting. Using the cordless washer thingy it's a pop. Spray on the magic jizz and blast it off, quick blow dry. 20 mins max.

Maybe a little polish later on. 👍
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Taipan
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Re: Chain Cleaning

Post by Taipan »

Skub wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 11:24 am
Supermofo wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 9:34 am Nothing I've used has stopped the rear wheel getting cruddy with lube/dust mix. Getting it off properly requires wd40 and a rag. But it'll look shite again in a few hundred miles. The thing Taipan linked to was slightly interesting but still didn't stop all the fling and looks a bit 😳 Even the XCP chain lube which is very oil like and rubs off easy in itself goes tacky once on the wheel with road dust.

The sad answer I think is rear wheels are supposed to be minging and I give up until the bike gets a proper wash. Black wheels for the win as they hide it best.
No,no,no.

It's god's way of telling you to clean the bike after every journey. 8-)
:wtf:
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Dodgy69
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Re: Chain Cleaning

Post by Dodgy69 »

Dodgy69 wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 2:44 pm Mine get cleaned after every ride pretty much, no commuting. Using the cordless washer thingy it's a pop. Spray on the magic jizz and blast it off, quick blow dry. 20 mins max.

Maybe a little polish later on. 👍


Hang on a minute, i didn't mean the chain. 🤦🏻‍♂️
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Taipan
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Re: Chain Cleaning

Post by Taipan »

My bike is brand new so will take years to accumulate enough dirt and grime for people to say that bikes got years of accumulated dirt and grime! :thumbup:
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gremlin
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Re: Chain Cleaning

Post by gremlin »

Taipan wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 3:02 pm My bike is brand new so will take years to accumulate enough dirt and grime for people to say that bikes got years of accumulated dirt and grime! :thumbup:
Have you got a new bike?

Should have said.
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Taipan
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Re: Chain Cleaning

Post by Taipan »

gremlin wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 3:31 pm
Taipan wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 3:02 pm My bike is brand new so will take years to accumulate enough dirt and grime for people to say that bikes got years of accumulated dirt and grime! :thumbup:
Have you got a new bike?

Should have said.
Its been a few months, so I thought it was a given! :thumbup:
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Re: Chain Cleaning

Post by The Spin Doctor »

1. If you have a sealed chain, you simply don't need a thick coat of lube on the outside. The real wearing parts are INSIDE the seal, where the pin runs inside the bush. All lube on the outside does is provide some lubrication to the roller against the sprocket and prevent the externals rusting which can wear out the seals very rapidly.
2. The stickier the lube, the quicker you create grinding paste as it picks up tiny particles of dust and grit, thus wearing out the seals again.

Gear oil has kept my chains going for 30k miles and more, riding in all weathers as a courier, then instructor, for the last 40-odd years.
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Re: Chain Cleaning

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

I used to squirt my chains with lube and had the problem of excess lubricant gathering dust and dirt, Yorick said he used a brush to apply lube, I tried this and now I don't suffer from excess lube and the brush cleans the chain as I lube it. I also use a lot less chain lube and get little fling. I squirt the lube onto the brush then brush the lube onto the chain. Brush gets put in degreaser between lubes.
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Re: Chain Cleaning

Post by Supermofo »

Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 8:09 pm I used to squirt my chains with lube and had the problem of excess lubricant gathering dust and dirt, Yorick said he used a brush to apply lube, I tried this and now I don't suffer from excess lube and the brush cleans the chain as I lube it. I also use a lot less chain lube and get little fling. I squirt the lube onto the brush then brush the lube onto the chain. Brush gets put in degreaser between lubes.
What lube do you use?
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Re: Chain Cleaning

Post by Taipan »

With bikes with a centrestand, I clean it with a chain brush and wd40 chain cleaner whilst its idling. Then I spray or pour whatever oil I have to use up, or whatever chain lube I have. I have a TUTORO to fit to my current bike, but cant find anywhere to mount the reservoir.
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Re: Chain Cleaning

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

Supermofo wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 11:41 pm
Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 8:09 pm I used to squirt my chains with lube and had the problem of excess lubricant gathering dust and dirt, Yorick said he used a brush to apply lube, I tried this and now I don't suffer from excess lube and the brush cleans the chain as I lube it. I also use a lot less chain lube and get little fling. I squirt the lube onto the brush then brush the lube onto the chain. Brush gets put in degreaser between lubes.
What lube do you use?
Vaseline !!!!!!

Actually a can of Motul chain lube that I've had for about 6 years, and someone at work has given me another one, I'll probably not have to buy chain lube for another 10 years
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