What tools and solvents do I need to clean my chain?

So after a spring and summer of riding, my bike chain has a bunch of gunk built up. I'm thinking a wire brush and some sort of solvent to get the gunk off. I don't actually need one of those expensive chain cleaner kits, right? What do you guys use?

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Permalink Reply by Anne on November 9, 2009 at 7:30am
old toothbrushes work fine. rags to wipe.
Dawn dish soap is my personal fave. don't care for simple green imho.
diesel is awesome.
re apply lube to rollers only and wipe off excess.
Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on November 9, 2009 at 8:44am
Permalink Reply by dav on November 9, 2009 at 8:45am
Is it cool to use WD-40 as lube or is there something else recommended?
Permalink Reply by Davo on November 9, 2009 at 8:47am
I wouldn't use WD-4o it might make it rust more. 3-in-1 oil is the best that I know of.
Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on November 9, 2009 at 9:04am
No.

WD-40 is some of the worst stuff ever invented as it does nothing it is sold to do well.

It is a horrible penetrate and a worse lubricant; there is not anything it is claimed to do that another product does not do better.

I will not even allow it in my shop.

As for chain lube use any one of the many fine chain lubes available at your LBS. Avoid sprays and over lubrication as all it will do is help dirt and grit stick to your chain.

dav said:
Is it cool to use WD-40 as lube or is there something else recommended?
Permalink Reply by Jackie on November 9, 2009 at 9:38am
I use this degreaser. I like it a lot. It will last you forever too!

notoriousDUG said:
Permalink Reply by Joe Studer 8.0 mi on November 9, 2009 at 9:42am
Ditto. Plus, it's all environmentally friendly.

Jackie said:
I use this degreaser. I like it a lot. It will last you forever too!

notoriousDUG said:
Permalink Reply by Joyce M. Fitzgerald on November 9, 2009 at 10:27am
My favorite too. Doesn't wreck my hands, and works really fast.

Joe said:
Ditto. Plus, it's all environmentally friendly.

Jackie said:
I use this degreaser. I like it a lot. It will last you forever too!

notoriousDUG said:
Permalink Reply by dav on November 9, 2009 at 11:05am
Okay, I'm down with the El Duke, but I went to their site and didn't see anywhere near the north side that sells the stuff. Where can I pick it up?
Permalink Reply by Michael M on November 9, 2009 at 11:08am
If you have 2 minutes, watch this video from my second favorite bike-nerd site (after the chainlink, of course) :
http://bicycletutor.com/chain-lubrication/
Permalink Reply by dav on November 9, 2009 at 11:15am
Great video and great site! Thanks for the link. I'm gonna go geek out now.

Michael M said:
If you have 2 minutes, watch this video from my second favorite bike nerd site (after the chainlink, of course):
http://bicycletutor.com/chain-lubrication/
Permalink Reply by mattbikes1 on November 9, 2009 at 11:32am
WD-40 is good for one thing, to displace water. I think a good degreaser like el duke or dawn is the best and follow it up with a good lubing of the chain. You could also just stop by a DIY car wash and pressure wash the gunk off of your chain, BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO SPRAY WATER INTO YOUR HUBS OR BOTTOM BRACKET, and then lube it. You might also just want to buy a new chain if the old one is corroded.

dav said:
Is it cool to use WD-40 as lube or is there something else recommended?

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