Before applying the chain lubricant you need to clean your chain thoroughly. Once clean apply a wax based lubricant for best performance. Reference charts.... www.facebook.c...
I was looking coal, but I found diamonds, your explanation it is an absolute best on the way you explain things through all the video. I was making a decision on what to buy, and I was about to buy the ultrasonic cleaner but, then you came with the results. I'll definitely will buy the chain cleaner because of you. I saw different opinions through Amazon and RUclips, you know, usual stuff that makes you think. But you came up with a solution so clear, very detailed and explained that I have to say thank you and God bless you man. You've saved me thousands of dollars for the next years
Hi just tried Your waxing on my hometrainer bike. it is sooo great. I started the chain in gasoline, then my ecological degreaser, then cellulose thinner, acetone, and a 1 hour cleansing in my ultrasonic cleaner with all the good stuff in. Ended up by boiling the chain for 10 minutes in water, the dried it. Man it was so clean you could use it for medical purposes. Put it in the hot wax for 1 hour, with lots of stirring, and just mounted it. Runs like a charm. Thanx for your great videos and always new ideas how to get the best cheapest. Keep up the good work. :-)
Hello from Brisbane! Love your videos - some of the best bicycling advice around, I reckon. I've been using your degreasing and paraffin wax method on a chain since new, and it is way better than the previous chain, so smooth. I degrease and wax the chain when it needs it, which is after about 250 kilometres. There's no black build up ever, and the cassette always stays shiny, though I do degrease it every 500 km's because I feel like it, not that it needs it. Thanks for all of your thorough experiments and good advice - great work mate!
+Rob Pennefather Thank you Rob,glad you like the vids. Yes the liquid wax method is good but if you can do the wax bath method (next video coming) its even better in all aspects.
Lots of effort went into making this vid and regardless of some protestations about scientific method etc. (some people seem to default to whinging rather than showing gratitude), I got a lot out of it and appreciate your time and effort. My son and I do the maintenance for our family mtn bikes (4) + my roadie and are always looking for better ways to keep our bikes running well and lasting longer. So big thanks and cheers from Sydney - Dave & young Will
Hi Dave and family. Glad the vids are helpful for you's. There are always viewers who negatively comment before actually trying how its done in vid. See you at the Tour Down Under?
@@stevenleffanue Just human nature at play I suppose. We'll be in Melbourne during the TDU but will get there one day. We spent last week cycling around Canberra - my daughter (6) did a couple of 22 kayers and a 42k around the city and my son (8) and I did some additional sessions around Stromlo where he really pushed himself to do the loops without stopping, including a number of full climbs of Stromlo and even ran over a brown snake across the track. We are now kitting up to do some self-supported bike camping trips. Love it that you're keen to share your hard earned wisdom with us amateurs and now we need it more than ever. Cheers - Dave
@@stevenleffanue Thanks mate - no computer games, TV or iPads and you magically end up with fit, engaged kids who love being outside and can push themselves like you wouldn't believe [ ant]. Today I installed quick release links onto all our bikes so I can properly clean our chains, cassettes, rings etc. on the strength of your videos. Is it normal to get this excited about bike maintenance?? About to head to Port Macquarie for a week of riding, mountain biking etc. - can't wait. Cheers and thanks again big time, Dave
I agree....my kids were brought up on a farm,climbing trees,bonfires,up early milking goats,etc,etc. Kids learn so much more about life than a screen could ever give them. Nice you got the links,make cleaning so much easier. Have a good time at Pr Macquarie.
One of the most informative and well made Cycling tech tip vids on the Tube ... outstanding info and presentation - thanks mate and bless good old Aussie know how.
Ok. Serious question. What chain link do you use? I was looking at a KMC one for my Campagnolo 11 speed but they suggest to replace them after 2 breaks. What is your experience with master links and what do u recommend? I always use a brush cleaner as Campagnolo don't recommend the Master link..
+WalrusRider Wipperman connex make the best removable link,Jon. All stainless,removable with just your fingers and last longest. Im still using same links after about 15,000km. Compatable with all chains too.
The petro chain clean is the way to go for sure! I let mine sit for 12-24 hours, rinsed it in MS, then waxed the chain using the DIY method and it worked perfectly. My wax barely gets dirty. The wax got dirty all of the time until I cleaned my chain with the petro. It worked so well I did the same thing to my husband's chain. we get asked all the time what we do to our chain. Yes, it's a bit of work up font, but once you have your set up going its fast and really simple. Thanks for this video OZ cycle. I have saved so much money using wax over buying oil and washing my bike all of the time.
Oz... I've learned so much from watching your videos. Thanks for taking the time to be objective with products and showing us cost effective ways to fully enjoy the sport. Cheers from the US!
I really liked the thorough comparison of different methods and their effectiveness. I have stopped using petrochemicals however, even though they do the job very well. I just don't think the cleanest/most efficient bike is worth the environmental cost of having pollutants leached into the soil, streams and organisms. As there are biodegradable options now availabe, I've been sticking to those instead. I don't run top of the range components and I just make sure everything is cleaned when needed.
@@scuba453 I use citrus degreaser for the chain. Weldite and other brands make it. It derives from citrus peels. Other products like the muc off degreaser work slightly better and claim to be biodegradable, however, they have hydrocarbons. Many products with volatile hydrocarbons are labelled as inherently biodegradable in the SDS, but that is very different from being readily biodegradable... Muc off boasts about being green, but looking at the ingredients list and their SDS shows a different picture... I've asked them to clarify the SDS against their marketing claims, but got not reply... I've tried a few lubes and green oil is one of the best which is not petrochemical based. Both wet and dry. I also tried the WPL dry lube, but it lasts next to nothing no matter how it's applied. I want to check Peatys (some of their range claims to be readily bio)and Kingud eventually...
Hi Oz , i have been watching DIY vdos on cycle maintenance , and specially the chain cleaning, and you have been by far the best in all the youtube channels that i have subscribed to ,i did make the chain cleaning container not exactly like yours but still made my own version for it , but what helped is the idea , the mesh was like a saving grace in the conatiner for cleaning smaller parts which can easily be lost or dropped, cut to the chase , i did it bought a 9 speed missing link, cleant the chain like you mentioned in your VDO and now my ridding is so smooth and effortless ..... A BIG BIG BIG THANK YOU > your the best teacher a double thumps up for you ...
Ive been using the gasoline and paraffin method for this season, on your advice, and I love it. It repels dusty dirt and keeps the drive train very clean. It takes me a couple weeks to start hearing when it needs a redo. Good stuff. Thx
THANKS! I've been clean chains the 'homemade" method for decades, but I never knew it was as good as you have shown. Well I don't do quite your method. I use paraffin. I used to use gasoline when a was a kid. Paraffin (kerosene) is less volatile. Sediment settles on the bottom of the tank, and I can recycle an almost clear jar of the stuff by decanting into a second jar. (I guess you could to the same with gasoline, but, but one has to apply more caution.)
Excellent comparison of different ways of chain cleaning. I'm kind of impressed that it took only 10min for chain to sit in petrol, with some additional degreasing, for the Homemade cleaner to win this contest. In later video "The Ultimate bicycle chain clean" its recommend to leave chain soak in petrol for couple of hours, preferably over night. Or was it intended to do it prior waxing only?
I use a chain cleaner device thing and it does great.. Although you seem to barely use any chemical in it. I fill it until it overflows and then run it through, and repeat a few times when it all splashes out of the holes. I can run it through a soapy cloth without any black being left on the cloth.
oz cycle yeah they tend to do that. Mine is larger so it takes longer to empty itself, but messy nonetheless. Does a good job though after a few cycles of it and after a rinse with soapy water.
Agreed. I just cleaned my chain in my ultrasonic cleaner and the 2nd 15 minute cleaning still had a lot of grease left behind. I kind of wish I had done it a 3rd time to see what would happen. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for making and sharing this video comparison... They all do a great job of cleaning. I do feel that the brush system is half baked. You still need to clean the cassette and the chain ring. With the chain on, not so easy. The homemade cleaner you can also use a jar to clean the cassette. The disadvantage with the homemade cleaner is the responsible disposal of the gas. Both the homemade method and the ultrasonic bath also allows for cleaning multiply parts including the cassette and easily access the chainring and jockey wheels. I feel that the ultrasonic cleaner allows for that drivetrain maintenance to be performed easily at the same time with less of an environmental concern.
the one HUGE advantage for the plastic chain cleaner...you can leave it on your bicycle! ...i'm not sure i'm strong enough to worry about the 5 watts! :) however, this was a very interesting video and enjoyed it from start to finish!
I use a clip on cleaner, the Parktools CM 5.2 is amazing, you can eat off the chain before you re-oil it and it took me 50 minutes from start to finish.
DFTA (Don't Feed The Animals) in my experience, you get all the chain residue in your jockey wheels, rear cassette/fw from the plastic chain cleaner. Just me though lol
djeondj - I agree 100%, I spend a good amount of time cleaning those as well. I like how into this discussion we all are. Of course, all of our methods are still better than those poor neglected bicycles you hear squeaking down the street! :)
I don't know if anyone else noticed but the 5th gear cog is worn completely out. It looks to have done at least 7-10000 km on one chain. And also 4th gear cog is also getting a good amount of ware. It might be a suggestion to use a wider range of gears and change the chain a little more frequently.
I found your videos very helpful. This has been definitely one of my favorite. I like your style, pretty straight forward and friendly to the every cyclist. I can't wait to share your channel with my friends. Keep it up! Greetings from México!
Greeting from the US of A! Very nice video. I have been using WD40 to degrease the chain and then use the clip-on brush cleaner with dish soap to clean the chain. Despite all that I will still have black stain on my finger by touching the chain. I am going to try the homemade method now; that seems to be highly effective and simple enough.
Very scientifically done. Bravo. I thought the ultrasonic cleaner would be the hands down winner, but it's nice to know that good old gasoline will do the trick, followed by an IP alcohol soak.
Was the home made cleaner the best or was it the solution used? What is the result using just degreaser and dish soap in the home made cleaner? I'd be interested in seeing the result of that. I'm not talking about repeating the entire test, just the home made test. Seems to me the petrol did all the work, the shaking did little. Therefore any container with petrol would bring about the same results, regardless of agitation. Cheers for taking the time to make this video in the first place.
Yeah that is a problem with those plastic cleaners. I find two nail brushes facing each other is a quick way of getting the bulk out of my chain. (I ride mountain bikes, so mud is just part of the deal) Thanks for your time, I've found a few of your videos really helpful. The home made chain lube is a great video. I've been using 50% candle wax and 50% paraffin oil as a fire starter for years! I make it into the toothpaste you show in that video and rub it onto a cotton ball, starts fires easy-as and stores forever, I never once thought of putting it on my chain! I will be from now on though!
If you're paying AU$150+ for an ultra sonic cleaner, you're buying a rather expensive one. Additionally, you're getting one that allows you to put every single piece of your chain equipment into it at that. And your pedals, crank set and probably everything else you'd want cleaned, including your entire tool set. And there's nothing stopping you from using a different mix of chemicals either. However, the main advantage of the ultra sonic cleaner over the homemade cleaner, is that you're not left inhaling unhealthy fumes, polluting your lot or accidentally leaving something around that your kids will decide to either sniff or drink.
a good way to do additional cleaning... when you have the chain hanging, spray it heavily with brake cleaner spray... that will blast out any remaining crud. it also drys quickly with no film.
Excellent video. I've been using various home made shakers to clean my chains for years. I just don't like using gasoline but I Do often use gasoline +two stroke oil mix left over from my chainsaws fuel supply. After cleaning the chain I filter the gasoline oil mix through coffee filter paper to remove the residue and then run it in the chain saw. There's two fuel filters between tank and carb so the gasoline is the easiest to get rid of for me. Keep up the great practical tips. Moe people should try your ideas because I've been doing many of these things for years including making my own chain lube :thumbsup:
I'm going to climb Norton with a giant helium balloon attached and go for the KOM.😑 Made a batch of the paraffin lube and I cannot believe how clean it has remained and that I can change the viscosity so it doesn't spray or drip...thank you very much for your tutorial....
Do you always have to put degreaser in the ultrasonic cleaner to take of the wax? Is there a alternative? Ps. Have been waxing my chain for a yer now and its totally awesom! Really never going back to the lub :)
Why did you use "degreaser", soap and water on the first two chains and gasoline on the last chain? Will the degreaser, soap and water, remove all the wax? If the "Petrol"/gasoline was a better wax solvent than the degreaser, soap, water formula you used on the other chains, would there be more available wax to come off in the Metholated Spirits solution? And if there was more wax to come off, wouldn't the sonic cleaner chain and the blue chain cleaner contraption be more cloudy looking than the chain that you "degreased" in Petrol?
Thanks for the video and the detailed way in which you went about the test. I wonder how effective it would be to do a quick 2min clean in the shaker and then a quick rinse under warm water and 10mins in the ultrasonic bath to get the last of the debris out of the chain? Maybe even a shake of the chain to move the links about half way through the 10mins?
Hi Oz Cycle, if you were in Canada, this video could almost qualify for the Red Green show for handyman corner if it were slightly less thought out. However, I still cringe just a little at using some of these petroleum products. But at the end of the day, I would like to discern they difference in clean chains from a best methods vs best solvents. I still get out the old nail brush and give the chain a good scrub.
With the Red Green Show.... we need the chainsaw running in the background. Just for that Northern ON/BC/MB/NB/SK/ AB did I get them all?? EFFECT! Makes me homesick! Hah a ha ha
Excellent video. It's very thorough, and I love the attention to detail. If I had the room to doo all of that, then I would, and I just might after getting my new chain in a week or so. However, and this of course doesn't clean and lube as well as the steps done here. Hello everyone. My name is Andrew, and I use WD40 on my chain. I tried to stop, but it is just so damn convenient. I spray it only on the chain and let it sit to loosen up the grime while I give the whole bike a good scrubbing after a ride. Once I dry the bike I power wash the chain with the highest setting on the water hose to blast out the majority of gunk while rotating the chain backwards. With a dry towel, I wrap the chain, and dry it by rotating the chain backwards again. After the chain is dry, I spray a light coat of WD40 on it again. Then wrap the dry towel around the chain to remove most of the WD40 from outside of the chain, leaving it as dry as possible. The pins will have WD40 on the inside where it is important, but the outside won't, leaving my cycling clothes spiffy cuz that is what's important ;)
I use Simple Green in my 120 degree (F) ultrasonic bath. Then soak it in hot water followed by a good rinse and dry. If I am still getting residue when wiping dry, it goes into the ultrasonic cleaner again to repeat the process. Then, I simply soak the chain overnight with Liquid Wrench Cable and Chain Lube. I let it hang and drip for a couple of hours and then wipe it off before installing it. It's worked for me as long as I can remember. And I ALWAYS clean my cassette and chain rings each time. No point in contaminating my clean chain with those being dirty.
Thanks for the great video Oz. How did you determine and quantify that the more thorough chain cleaning is worth 5 watts over traditional "quick and dirty" chain cleaning?
Went for my first mtb ride after doing the Chain as in your Vidio , it feels so ultra smooth and the Chain is so efficient like a piece of fine machinery . How do I clean my Chain now without losing my wax inside the Chain. Another question why do you use a mixture of degreaser/ laundry liquid and water only in the Chain cleaner hand Tool. Smooth Smooth Smooth ! thanks.
+Michael Towler If your chain begins to sound dry but us still clean,you can just rewax it,Michael. If you have been riding off road and dirt has got into the chain,reclean and rewax.Cleaning is the hardest part of the process...the chain must always be completely clean before waxing. Petrol ruins the brushes in the clip on cleaner.
This is the best chain lubricant because my bike chain is well lubricated and silent. The chain is also very clean compared with the previous wet lubricant I used. Therefore I do not have to clean the chain after every 60-kilometre ride. In fact, I do not clean the chain anymore. I do not mind to tell you I never wash my bike. This lubricant is easy and cheap to make. The only thing I do not like is my wife will give me a shelling when I make the chain wax lubricant because the kitchen will smell of wax. Now I would make it when she is not around. Thank You so much, oz cycle.
Hi! tks for the information, I am undertaking the process etc.. but, two questions please. I would rather not use Petrol, what about kerosene? (it did check to see if someone asked by could not see it, so pols for a duplication in case you already answered). Second question, regarding the wax lube for in-between... would my chain cleaner plastic took work ok for this, ie put the lube in the cleaner and let it spin for a while? Want to do something with the no longer need chain cleaner! Ray...
The faulty logic in this test is amazing. An unsafe degreaser/cleaner (gasoline) is used in the homemade cleaning device. It leaves a film and so a second degreaser is required to remove the film left by the gasoline. And yet the author concludes the homemade method works better than the ultrasonic cleaner when the ultrasonic cleaner was used improperly and yet it still equaled the effectiveness of the homemade method when the ultrasonic cleaning time was doubled. How much extra time was required to use a secondary degreaser to remove the gasoline film from the chain? That increase in time and cost of the homemade method was never factored into the comparison. The ultrasonic cleaner may require a little more time (but we can't be sure because the author did not appear to use the correct fluid level -- with the correct level it may not have required any more time). But, in the end (after the extra time) the ultrasonic cleaner achieved just as good a result as the homemade device yet offered a HUGE advantage: It achieved its good results with a safe degreaser and cleaner. No risk to health. No fire hazard. No risk to the environment. No requirement to use a second degreaser to clean the film left by the gasoline. I appreciate Oz Cycling. The author has produced some very insightful and helpful videos. My favorite videos address composite frames and components. Kudos and thanks to Oz Cycling for the great content. Sadly, this video is not among the good ones. And the original Oz video demonstrating the homemade cleaning device is even worse. In that video we see the author splashing gasoline on his ungloved hands. Imagine if he had splashed the gasoline in his eyes as he shook his homemade device! He never cautions the users to the risks of gasoline. Nor does he explain that gasoline will melt some plastics, therefore the user must be careful that the container they select for their homemade cleaning device is approved for gasoline. My advice: Remove those videos. Modify the homemade method so it works with a "safe" degreaser/cleaner that does not require a secondary degreasing. Then shoot new videos with the improved method. This will serve your viewers much better. The homemade method may truly be the "winner" if it is modified for safe use at home by do-it-yourselfers.
+D.Eldon Petrol still cleans way better than my ultrasonic cleaner...tried and tested over at least six months. Try it for yourself...pull the chain apart after the clean and you will see which leaves cleaner pins and rollers.
Sure, gasoline dissolves grease and oil faster than the "safe" degreaser you used in the ultrasonic cleaner. No dispute there. The problem is: gasoline use presents risks to health, safety and the environment. If you base your degreaser selection only on effectiveness as a degreaser, then why limit yourself to gasoline? Why not use acetone or MEK or toluene? They are each more effective than gasoline. I think the reason you're using gasoline is because it's cheap, plentiful and it's the "easy" choice if you don't care about your health, safety or the environment. I'd hate to think what you'd use if acetone, MEK or toluene were cheaper and more plentiful than gasoline! I respectfully recommend that you not advocate the use of strong, unsafe degreasers like gasoline for degreasing bike parts. So far, this video has illustrated the opposite of what you intended. It shows that the Oz Cycling homemade cleaning device works so poorly that it requires a strong, unsafe degreaser.
+D.Eldon The petrol used in the 'Homemade cleaner is about 300mL. It is reused 4-6 times before needing to be discarded. So 50mL - 60mL per use...quite conservative. Yes Petrol is cheap and available worldwide,unlike a lot of other cleaners.
+D.Eldon The petrol used in the 'Homemade cleaner is about 300mL. It is reused 4-6 times before needing to be discarded. So 50mL - 60mL per use...quite conservative. Yes Petrol is cheap and available worldwide,unlike a lot of other cleaners.
Michael Smedley Typical whataboutism. The main commentary was making a good point: always use as best method not only the most effective but also the least environmentally harmful one.
That's right, and did you know petroleum never ever breaks down, because once the dirt and grime is removed, it's then returned to it's 'natural' lubricating state. The more dirt.. the more wear. Just think of all the oil we've discarded over the years, when it could've been centrifuged and re-used many times over; such as, aboard ships at sea (HELLO).
Is the unleaded fuel safe? I would be afraid that a spark during the shaking process ignites the whole thing and it blows up! Just wondering. Is there not a safer option?
used to do petrol clean in 1970. Obviously the chain clean tool is best. I have one and breaking a chain and reconnecting will take longer than the tool. also the author proved the stuff is from the middle is not touching the drivetrain. Also my chains have no holes. I can clean 5 times as often since it requires that much less time and not considering time to go and buy breaker links.
i have never in my life seen so many so concerned about their bike chain and the extra watt's it takes when a chain gets dirty! just my opinion on seeing how much a great problem this is turning out to be? Does no one make a thin ribbed or cogged drive belt to use instead of a chain? Or better yet,, A drive shaft?
Yes. A belt drive with internal hub gears is an option. They are very durable and low maintenance but cost 4 or 5 times as much. Good for world touring.
I have tried all the cleaning methods described in your videos but, whatever I try, the chain always turns back to black after one ride after dipping in the wax mixture and riding ! Even when utilizing a brand new chain and cleaning the factory grease off it the chain turns black. Chainrings, cassette and jockey are also always cleaned but that also does not make a difference!Please advise what else I can try!
Nice. I've used the chain brush thing in the past and wasn't impressed at all so binned it. I came up with my own solution rather similar to your homemade one but use paraffin/kerosene as my solvent rather than petrol but hadn't realised about the waxy film it leaves behind. Best thing I've found in recent months is a can of pressurised degreaser, but it isn't as thorough as your methods and gets expensive fast. I've just bought several litres of aqueous degreaser to experiment with.
I'm going to switch to wax. I'm DONE with greasy leg syndrome. Why do you need to use a degreaser AND petrol? My plan was to use naptha (lighter fluid or white gas) since I already have a can of it. Naptha is very clean. Is there further lubricant in naptha? And if so, why not just use the degreaser? Am I missing something here? Thanks for your time.
To wax a chain successfully it needs to be perfectly clean .Degreaser does not remove all contaminants,petrol does but leaves an oily film which needs to be removed....hence the degreaser. Hope that makes sense?
Yes, thank you. I was using naptha to clean my rims too, for brake performance, but it didn't quite do what I wanted, although was not too bad. It certainly cleans the tars well. Rainy day today, nice day for a trip to the hardware store. Thanks.
WD-40 changes from a solvent that penetrates into a thick grease that lubricates after a couple weeks of the volatile components evaporating. This makes it ideal for a chain because it will penetrate down to the o-rings and be held there by it's surface tension until it changes to grease. Only the excess will fling off if the chain is used before the conversion process takes place. I spray it on my bike chains with cardboard under the chain to catch the over spray. This cleans the chain. Then, I wipe off the excess, leaving the small amount that penetrated. It, also, is an excellent anti-oxidant to prevent rubber cracking from oxidation. I use it on my motorcycle seat before winter storage and it prevents cracking. Salt spray testing in an environmental lab showed it to be the best at corrosion prevention.
i swear i read this comment on another chain vid lol, from what i've read inc. a few v helpful comments from other WD-40-onlyists I think I'm gna stick to simple regular frequent and liberal application of WD-40 for my new chain on my new bike too
bicycle chains don't have o rings motorcycle chains do. i believe wd-40 is petroleum based although its apparently safe on rubber i still would use it if anything it would promote cracking
Hey Oz cycle, Can you recommend an accurate chain checker, there’s lots of confusion out there and prices vary from peanuts to mortgage the house. Any help much appreciated Cheers 👍
interesting video if you're interested in this type of thing. I can only imagine that it took a bunch of time in setup, filming and editing. given the effort weighing the chains pre and post clean would be worthwhile imo, also identifying the # links in each (I assume the same?). measuring the terps and standardised shaking... maybe too much. thanks
@@BPoweredLove chain does not need to be ultra/super/hiper clean, for first cleaning if switch from oil to wax, gaseline/petrol is good to remove all important dirts that matters, when chain is on wax, no need for that deep cleaning, just rewax 2 times and all dirt will go out of chain, i need 8 minutes to make 2 passes of wax on chain installed on bike by useing inductive heater that heats up chain in few seconds and then can be aplied wax
I live in the UK and yes it rains all the time, really all the time. On the video it mentions adding some paraffin oil to the mixture, I was wondering how many Millilitres would you suggest? We have a problem with rust on the chain and cassette while gravel riding if we use the standard mixture, any suggestions would be welcome 🙏
daft question here, but why do manufactures of bike chains not do Stainless steel? surely these would last longer, be stronger therfore not stretch, just a question?
Petrochemical solvents like petrol, turps or kero, are very good at dissolving most oils and waxes but are no good at dissolving water and water is no good at dissolving oils and waxes. Degreaser and water is only a mediocre solvent for oils and waxes because water is a polar molecule and oil isn't. All the degreaser does is weaken the molecular polarization a little. Same issue with green cleaners as they are water based. Alcohol, is a petrochemical chain that has a hydroxyl on the hydro carbon chain. The hydroxyl part of the molecule is polarized. Therefore, alcohol will dissolve water and visa versa but alcohol can dissolve a small number of oils and waxes, usually only some vegetable or synthetic ones, not mineral. For example, caster oil is soluble in methanol but requires physical agitation to do so. If you think about this, it partly explains the results. Using petrol, degreaser and water steps, combines different solvent bases so will flush material that is impeded in these bases. If you were to then use alcohol to flush the water, the chain would then dry much faster due to alcohols higher evaporation rate. Yep, organic chemistry 1976. When I was young, I used kero as a 1st clean and degrease. It was cheap then but isn't now. Petrol is kind of dangerous, it doesn't take much to ignite the vapor and is pretty hazardous for the body. I generally take the chain off, soak and swirl it in turps these days as it's quicker than using cleaners that are ineffective oil and wax solvents. I would agree with using degreaser after that. The in line chain cleaner is largely ineffective because the small volume of solvent limits the dispersion of material cleaned off the chain and a lot of that material gets caught on the gears and jockey wheels to re-contaminate the chain. That makes a big job, uses a lot of rags, wipes etc and you still can't be sure you got it all. This is my main reason for taking the chain off the bike to clean. Thank goodness for quick links. I'm sure some people can point out exceptions, the principal of incompatibility between polar and non polar molecules is only a generalisation for the majority of cases.
I always used to think a brand new chain that was greased was fine to leave however i was told to get that sticky crap off! Everything stuck on your new chain. Soak it gas or thinner over night shake it and make sure its good. Then apply the lube you want
Dear Sir. My English not good, I am not understand all your words. Please explain with me : I will choose isopropyl alcohol Or methylated spirits to soak a dirty string (which is sticking oil, grease, dust, etc) and after 24 hours I will have a clean and perfect chain, Am I right? because I can't buy Digger Methylated Spirits like in your video, but I can buy isopropyl alcohol 99,7%. Thank you so much. Best Wishes.
Why would you need to get an oily film offf the chain cleaned in petrol - seems like a benefit and then to soak the chain in water only to have to thoroughly dry it - i like to use diesel
I do like the idea to clean and lube chain of the bike but I was told do not use power lock with shimano's chains. do you really use new shimano pin after every clean. thnx
Martin Loksik - power lock is one time use, so no good for sram either. SRAM powerlink is their reusable link, but I have only found them for 9 speed Shimano recommend not to do lots of things that should be ok in practice
Have to agree with the lubricant statement, paraffin is great, I just started use pure paraffin although Oz means some paraffin oil should be added, in any case the friction is among the lowest you can get and above all the drivetrain stays clean! No more oil/dirt mix gunking up the drivetrain and the bike cleaning is easier than ever!
+Bdogsp 001 The homemade cleaner...just pop lid back on then use same used petrol up to three times before disposal. There are quite a number of enviro friendly degreasers these days to choose from too.
+sc0608023 Haha. Actually dont pour disolved wax repeatedly down sink....it builds up and clogs the sink. Dont worry the grass is fine....its petrol that kills grass tho.
I'm wondering why the oily film left over from the petrol is so bad. Wouldn't it just kind of mix with the paraffin oil and wax and help to get the wax where it needs to go? Similarly, years ago, I used to use white spirit to clean my chains. (Not sure if that's what you call it in OZ. In the UK, it's what we typically use to clean paint brushes, and its cheap and readily available). I'd imagine it's slightly safer to use than petrol. However, I've been told that that also leaves an oily film. I was wondering whether to go back to using WS, prior to lubing with paraffin oil/wax.
+Mike W Ellwood An oily film hinders the wax sticking to the metal of the chain. The chain needs to be completely bare...it begin to oxidize so wax it as soon as possible afterwards. If white spirits removes all previous lubricant thats fine Mike.
No,petrol is the best cleaning solvent. It requires very little petrol and you can re-use the it up to four times before disposing of it. Allow petrol to evaporate then wipe out the container with a rag or tissue.
I have 2 or 3 questions. Im not certain how you would clean an already waxed chain. What is the best de waxer. Also I have a USS cleaner but im not sure how the solvent works. Does the degreaser mix with the water or float to the top. If that is the case then the chain is bathed in water only ?? Can I use petrol in the USS cleaner. If not then what is the best degreaser. I can see that the detergent might make the degreaser miscible but would it form micelles which essentially removes the degreaser from interacting with the oil. Thanks for your videos
+James Hi James.Paraffin wax solvents...Xylene,Toulene and Acetone. Petrol works good too but requires degreaser afterwards. In USC the degreaser mixes with the water to suspend the wax in the water. Never use petrol in USC! A USC pulses tiny bubles of air on the surface of item being cleaned...this leverages loose material from more solid material...ie dirt from a metal item. The water/chemicals simply carries the dirt away for disposal. If my explanation isnt clear there are some youtubes on how USCs work which you may find good to watch.
Well I have found that using furniture polish is just as good as a paraffin wax. It contains something called isoparaffin whatever that means but it a whole lot cheaper than the chain lubes All you do is spray it on the chain it goes on as a foam so it penetrates deeper into the chain let it sit over night. Since using this I find that my legs seem to spin faster. I get about 300 miles out of each treatment
Great video as usual. I have a question about the cleaning agent, is it because you used petrol on the home cleaning method that it took the win? What if you used the same chemicals on all? Thanks for sharing i am always looking forward to watching your videos
+Farouk Cherchali Could be Farouk,petrol is very effective. I certainly wouldnt put petrol in sonic cleaner tho. Petrol disolves some plastics too so it would need to be a chain cleaner with the right plastic.
Hola quiero hacer una consulta qué producto usa además de la parafina en otro video vi como derretía velas y le agregaba otro producto quería saber si era parafina con vaselina o si era otra cosa, muchas gracias espero respuesta, saludos Pablo de Argentina
Hola Pablo Los tres que se usan son "cera de vela, aceite de parafina y xileno". El xileno también se conoce como diluyente de pintura. Espero que te ayude Saludos desde Australia
Build myself the Homemade Cleaner and clean it it "Bremsenreiniger" in German ;) also mean Brake Cleaner. There is kind of Petrol and another thing´s in it. But i choose for 1€ a Pencil Holder with a small Grid outside, (so i can clean another Part´s) and a thin can for 2€. My wax is made out of Tealights (8 of it) and Mineral Lamp Oil. It is on my Bike at Monday 13.2.17 and the Condition are dry and cold. My chain look´s very clean and all the other Part´s on it =) To Friday we maybe get wet condition and im exited how the chain will look like =) Ride ~6km it isnt much but the chain can get very dirty even on this short distance. Oh and it is really a much smoother ride and gear change... absolute love it. Happy to see you next time =P
I was looking coal, but I found diamonds, your explanation it is an absolute best on the way you explain things through all the video. I was making a decision on what to buy, and I was about to buy the ultrasonic cleaner but, then you came with the results. I'll definitely will buy the chain cleaner because of you. I saw different opinions through Amazon and RUclips, you know, usual stuff that makes you think. But you came up with a solution so clear, very detailed and explained that I have to say thank you and God bless you man. You've saved me thousands of dollars for the next years
Good to hear Carlo.
chains already looked clean...perhaps that says something about my bike maintenance
A true legend, one of the most down to earth cycling REAL TIPS channel. Kudos!
Hi just tried Your waxing on my hometrainer bike. it is sooo great. I started the chain in gasoline, then my ecological degreaser, then cellulose thinner, acetone, and a 1 hour cleansing in my ultrasonic cleaner with all the good stuff in. Ended up by boiling the chain for 10 minutes in water, the dried it. Man it was so clean you could use it for medical purposes. Put it in the hot wax for 1 hour, with lots of stirring, and just mounted it. Runs like a charm. Thanx for your great videos and always new ideas how to get the best cheapest. Keep up the good work. :-)
Hello from Brisbane! Love your videos - some of the best bicycling advice around, I reckon.
I've been using your degreasing and paraffin wax method on a chain since new, and it is way better than the previous chain, so smooth.
I degrease and wax the chain when it needs it, which is after about 250 kilometres. There's no black build up ever, and the cassette always stays shiny, though I do degrease it every 500 km's because I feel like it, not that it needs it.
Thanks for all of your thorough experiments and good advice - great work mate!
+Rob Pennefather Thank you Rob,glad you like the vids. Yes the liquid wax method is good but if you can do the wax bath method (next video coming) its even better in all aspects.
Lots of effort went into making this vid and regardless of some protestations about scientific method etc. (some people seem to default to whinging rather than showing gratitude), I got a lot out of it and appreciate your time and effort. My son and I do the maintenance for our family mtn bikes (4) + my roadie and are always looking for better ways to keep our bikes running well and lasting longer. So big thanks and cheers from Sydney - Dave & young Will
Hi Dave and family. Glad the vids are helpful for you's. There are always viewers who negatively comment before actually trying how its done in vid.
See you at the Tour Down Under?
@@stevenleffanue Just human nature at play I suppose. We'll be in Melbourne during the TDU but will get there one day. We spent last week cycling around Canberra - my daughter (6) did a couple of 22 kayers and a 42k around the city and my son (8) and I did some additional sessions around Stromlo where he really pushed himself to do the loops without stopping, including a number of full climbs of Stromlo and even ran over a brown snake across the track. We are now kitting up to do some self-supported bike camping trips. Love it that you're keen to share your hard earned wisdom with us amateurs and now we need it more than ever. Cheers - Dave
Well done! 😎 ...thats quite a big distance for your kids.
@@stevenleffanue Thanks mate - no computer games, TV or iPads and you magically end up with fit, engaged kids who love being outside and can push themselves like you wouldn't believe [
ant]. Today I installed quick release links onto all our bikes so I can properly clean our chains, cassettes, rings etc. on the strength of your videos. Is it normal to get this excited about bike maintenance?? About to head to Port Macquarie for a week of riding, mountain biking etc. - can't wait. Cheers and thanks again big time, Dave
I agree....my kids were brought up on a farm,climbing trees,bonfires,up early milking goats,etc,etc. Kids learn so much more about life than a screen could ever give them.
Nice you got the links,make cleaning so much easier. Have a good time at Pr Macquarie.
One of the most informative and well made Cycling tech tip vids on the Tube ... outstanding info and presentation - thanks mate and bless good old Aussie know how.
Rikitocker que os
Ok. Serious question. What chain link do you use? I was looking at a KMC one for my Campagnolo 11 speed but they suggest to replace them after 2 breaks. What is your experience with master links and what do u recommend? I always use a brush cleaner as Campagnolo don't recommend the Master link..
+WalrusRider Wipperman connex make the best removable link,Jon. All stainless,removable with just your fingers and last longest. Im still using same links after about 15,000km. Compatable with all chains too.
The petro chain clean is the way to go for sure! I let mine sit for 12-24 hours, rinsed it in MS, then waxed the chain using the DIY method and it worked perfectly. My wax barely gets dirty. The wax got dirty all of the time until I cleaned my chain with the petro. It worked so well I did the same thing to my husband's chain. we get asked all the time what we do to our chain. Yes, it's a bit of work up font, but once you have your set up going its fast and really simple. Thanks for this video OZ cycle. I have saved so much money using wax over buying oil and washing my bike all of the time.
Nice to hear its working for you guys 😁
It's people like you which has the potential to drive property value up, simply because of the value you bring. What a contribution.
Oz... I've learned so much from watching your videos. Thanks for taking the time to be objective with products and showing us cost effective ways to fully enjoy the sport. Cheers from the US!
Thanx Chris. Greetings from Australia too 😎
I really liked the thorough comparison of different methods and their effectiveness. I have stopped using petrochemicals however, even though they do the job very well.
I just don't think the cleanest/most efficient bike is worth the environmental cost of having pollutants leached into the soil, streams and organisms. As there are biodegradable options now availabe, I've been sticking to those instead. I don't run top of the range components and I just make sure everything is cleaned when needed.
Exactly, I'm with ya
Could you please share what these options are? Thanks
@@scuba453 I use citrus degreaser for the chain. Weldite and other brands make it. It derives from citrus peels.
Other products like the muc off degreaser work slightly better and claim to be biodegradable, however, they have hydrocarbons. Many products with volatile hydrocarbons are labelled as inherently biodegradable in the SDS, but that is very different from being readily biodegradable... Muc off boasts about being green, but looking at the ingredients list and their SDS shows a different picture... I've asked them to clarify the SDS against their marketing claims, but got not reply...
I've tried a few lubes and green oil is one of the best which is not petrochemical based. Both wet and dry. I also tried the WPL dry lube, but it lasts next to nothing no matter how it's applied.
I want to check Peatys (some of their range claims to be readily bio)and Kingud eventually...
@@nluisa thanks for the detailed reply. much appreciated. happy biking!
Hi Oz , i have been watching DIY vdos on cycle maintenance , and specially the chain cleaning, and you have been by far the best in all the youtube channels that i have subscribed to ,i did make the chain cleaning container not exactly like yours but still made my own version for it , but what helped is the idea , the mesh was like a saving grace in the conatiner for cleaning smaller parts which can easily be lost or dropped, cut to the chase , i did it bought a 9 speed missing link, cleant the chain like you mentioned in your VDO and now my ridding is so smooth and effortless ..... A BIG BIG BIG THANK YOU > your the best teacher a double thumps up for you ...
and yes the first step towards it was your VDO on wax lube , and my search for xylene ... thanks for everything
Ive been using the gasoline and paraffin method for this season, on your advice, and I love it. It repels dusty dirt and keeps the drive train very clean. It takes me a couple weeks to start hearing when it needs a redo. Good stuff. Thx
+Patrick Ford Glad to hear and thanx for your feedback Patrick. :)
if you can hear chain wear, you have waited too long to lube.
Hello from England, great video, thorough testing, I'm convinced. Please keep up the good work. Cheers👍
+tiptopstuff Giday tiptopstuff from Australia :)
THANKS! I've been clean chains the 'homemade" method for decades, but I never knew it was as good as you have shown. Well I don't do quite your method. I use paraffin. I used to use gasoline when a was a kid. Paraffin (kerosene) is less volatile. Sediment settles on the bottom of the tank, and I can recycle an almost clear jar of the stuff by decanting into a second jar. (I guess you could to the same with gasoline, but, but one has to apply more caution.)
Excellent comparison of different ways of chain cleaning. I'm kind of impressed that it took only 10min for chain to sit in petrol, with some additional degreasing, for the Homemade cleaner to win this contest. In later video "The Ultimate bicycle chain clean" its recommend to leave chain soak in petrol for couple of hours, preferably over night. Or was it intended to do it prior waxing only?
A long soak in petrol is essential to remove factory grease before the initial waxing.
I use a chain cleaner device thing and it does great.. Although you seem to barely use any chemical in it. I fill it until it overflows and then run it through, and repeat a few times when it all splashes out of the holes. I can run it through a soapy cloth without any black being left on the cloth.
+dan110024 I tried filling it up more,dan,but same thing...it spilled out,so for the video I put the recomended level.
oz cycle yeah they tend to do that. Mine is larger so it takes longer to empty itself, but messy nonetheless. Does a good job though after a few cycles of it and after a rinse with soapy water.
Agreed. I just cleaned my chain in my ultrasonic cleaner and the 2nd 15 minute cleaning still had a lot of grease left behind. I kind of wish I had done it a 3rd time to see what would happen. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for making and sharing this video comparison...
They all do a great job of cleaning.
I do feel that the brush system is half baked. You still need to clean the cassette and the chain ring. With the chain on, not so easy.
The homemade cleaner you can also use a jar to clean the cassette. The disadvantage with the homemade cleaner is the responsible disposal of the gas.
Both the homemade method and the ultrasonic bath also allows for cleaning multiply parts including the cassette and easily access the chainring and jockey wheels.
I feel that the ultrasonic cleaner allows for that drivetrain maintenance to be performed easily at the same time with less of an environmental concern.
Was surprised that the winner was not the ultrasonic cleaner. Great test and great video!
the one HUGE advantage for the plastic chain cleaner...you can leave it on your bicycle! ...i'm not sure i'm strong enough to worry about the 5 watts! :) however, this was a very interesting video and enjoyed it from start to finish!
+DFTA (Don't Feed The Animals) Your right,most people dont take their chain off to clean so the clip on chain cleaner is so convienient.
I use a clip on cleaner, the Parktools CM 5.2 is amazing, you can eat off the chain before you re-oil it and it took me 50 minutes from start to finish.
DFTA (Don't Feed The Animals) in my experience, you get all the chain residue in your jockey wheels, rear cassette/fw from the plastic chain cleaner. Just me though lol
djeondj - I agree 100%, I spend a good amount of time cleaning those as well. I like how into this discussion we all are. Of course, all of our methods are still better than those poor neglected bicycles you hear squeaking down the street! :)
Excellent test, thank you Oz Cycle. Question: How do you safety/ecologically dispose of the used petro once you've used it to clean your chain?
Evaporation then wipe out dirt and grease with paper towel or tissues.
I don't know if anyone else noticed but the 5th gear cog is worn completely out. It looks to have done at least 7-10000 km on one chain. And also 4th gear cog is also getting a good amount of ware. It might be a suggestion to use a wider range of gears and change the chain a little more frequently.
I found your videos very helpful. This has been definitely one of my favorite. I like your style, pretty straight forward and friendly to the every cyclist. I can't wait to share your channel with my friends. Keep it up! Greetings from México!
+Alejandro Badillo Thanx Alejandro. G'day mate from Australia :)
oz cycl
looks like I'm going to save a bunch of money and have a cleaner chain.
sounds like a win to me.
thanks for the great videos.
Wish I saw this a day ago. Just ordered one of the park tool chain cleaner and solution combo. ..
Greeting from the US of A! Very nice video. I have been using WD40 to degrease the chain and then use the clip-on brush cleaner with dish soap to clean the chain. Despite all that I will still have black stain on my finger by touching the chain. I am going to try the homemade method now; that seems to be highly effective and simple enough.
Greetings from Belgium, Europe. Your videos really opened my eyes, from now on, I'll do it your way! Thanks for sharing your know-how!
+Frank Van Damme Hi Frank from Australia. Glad you find the vids helpful. Cheers.
Very scientifically done. Bravo. I thought the ultrasonic cleaner would be the hands down winner, but it's nice to know that good old gasoline will do the trick, followed by an IP alcohol soak.
Was the home made cleaner the best or was it the solution used? What is the result using just degreaser and dish soap in the home made cleaner? I'd be interested in seeing the result of that. I'm not talking about repeating the entire test, just the home made test. Seems to me the petrol did all the work, the shaking did little. Therefore any container with petrol would bring about the same results, regardless of agitation.
Cheers for taking the time to make this video in the first place.
Yes,the petrol did the bulk of the cleaning but you can't put petrol in clip-on chain cleaners...it ruins the brushes.
Yeah that is a problem with those plastic cleaners. I find two nail brushes facing each other is a quick way of getting the bulk out of my chain. (I ride mountain bikes, so mud is just part of the deal) Thanks for your time, I've found a few of your videos really helpful.
The home made chain lube is a great video. I've been using 50% candle wax and 50% paraffin oil as a fire starter for years! I make it into the toothpaste you show in that video and rub it onto a cotton ball, starts fires easy-as and stores forever, I never once thought of putting it on my chain! I will be from now on though!
If you're paying AU$150+ for an ultra sonic cleaner, you're buying a rather expensive one. Additionally, you're getting one that allows you to put every single piece of your chain equipment into it at that. And your pedals, crank set and probably everything else you'd want cleaned, including your entire tool set.
And there's nothing stopping you from using a different mix of chemicals either.
However, the main advantage of the ultra sonic cleaner over the homemade cleaner, is that you're not left inhaling unhealthy fumes, polluting your lot or accidentally leaving something around that your kids will decide to either sniff or drink.
Wear a mask?
a good way to do additional cleaning... when you have the chain hanging, spray it heavily with brake cleaner spray... that will blast out any remaining crud. it also drys quickly with no film.
All clean the chain, I prefer number 3 but how many time do you have to clean your bike? Or some one clean your bike for you and obvios pay.
Excellent video. I've been using various home made shakers to clean my chains for years. I just don't like using gasoline but I Do often use gasoline +two stroke oil mix left over from my chainsaws fuel supply. After cleaning the chain I filter the gasoline oil mix through coffee filter paper to remove the residue and then run it in the chain saw. There's two fuel filters between tank and carb so the gasoline is the easiest to get rid of for me. Keep up the great practical tips. Moe people should try your ideas because I've been doing many of these things for years including making my own chain lube :thumbsup:
I'm going to climb Norton with a giant helium balloon attached and go for the KOM.😑
Made a batch of the paraffin lube and I cannot believe how clean it has remained and that I can change the viscosity so it doesn't spray or drip...thank you very much for your tutorial....
+TheCrossroads09 Give Harley a run for his money up Nortons :)
Harley is a vile human being.
Do you always have to put degreaser in the ultrasonic cleaner to take of the wax? Is there a alternative?
Ps. Have been waxing my chain for a yer now and its totally awesom! Really never going back to the lub :)
Why did you use "degreaser", soap and water on the first two chains and gasoline on the last chain? Will the degreaser, soap and water, remove all the wax? If the "Petrol"/gasoline was a better wax solvent than the degreaser, soap, water formula you used on the other chains, would there be more available wax to come off in the Metholated Spirits solution? And if there was more wax to come off, wouldn't the sonic cleaner chain and the blue chain cleaner contraption be more cloudy looking than the chain that you "degreased" in Petrol?
Thanks for the video and the detailed way in which you went about the test.
I wonder how effective it would be to do a quick 2min clean in the shaker and then a quick rinse under warm water and 10mins in the ultrasonic bath to get the last of the debris out of the chain? Maybe even a shake of the chain to move the links about half way through the 10mins?
+Jackson Gee Thanx Jackson. Yes,there must be a lot of ways to clean a chain....as long as its as clean as possible before waxing.
Well you've made it much easier to consider what the best method is, so thank you.
Hi Oz Cycle, if you were in Canada, this video could almost qualify for the Red Green show for handyman corner if it were slightly less thought out. However, I still cringe just a little at using some of these petroleum products. But at the end of the day, I would like to discern they difference in clean chains from a best methods vs best solvents. I still get out the old nail brush and give the chain a good scrub.
+SlowBoyAthlete Petrol cleans best...try it....no need for scrubbing. Degrease after and its ready for the wax.
With the Red Green Show.... we need the chainsaw running in the background. Just for that Northern ON/BC/MB/NB/SK/ AB did I get them all?? EFFECT! Makes me homesick! Hah a ha ha
Excellent video. It's very thorough, and I love the attention to detail. If I had the room to doo all of that, then I would, and I just might after getting my new chain in a week or so.
However, and this of course doesn't clean and lube as well as the steps done here.
Hello everyone. My name is Andrew, and I use WD40 on my chain. I tried to stop, but it is just so damn convenient. I spray it only on the chain and let it sit to loosen up the grime while I give the whole bike a good scrubbing after a ride. Once I dry the bike I power wash the chain with the highest setting on the water hose to blast out the majority of gunk while rotating the chain backwards. With a dry towel, I wrap the chain, and dry it by rotating the chain backwards again. After the chain is dry, I spray a light coat of WD40 on it again. Then wrap the dry towel around the chain to remove most of the WD40 from outside of the chain, leaving it as dry as possible. The pins will have WD40 on the inside where it is important, but the outside won't, leaving my cycling clothes spiffy cuz that is what's important ;)
I use Simple Green in my 120 degree (F) ultrasonic bath. Then soak it in hot water followed by a good rinse and dry. If I am still getting residue when wiping dry, it goes into the ultrasonic cleaner again to repeat the process. Then, I simply soak the chain overnight with Liquid Wrench Cable and Chain Lube. I let it hang and drip for a couple of hours and then wipe it off before installing it. It's worked for me as long as I can remember. And I ALWAYS clean my cassette and chain rings each time. No point in contaminating my clean chain with those being dirty.
oz cycle: How about combining the ultrasonic machine AND homemade cleaner?
Thanks for the great video Oz. How did you determine and quantify that the more thorough chain cleaning is worth 5 watts over traditional "quick and dirty" chain cleaning?
"Zero friction cycling" tests and publishes stat's on chain cleaning and lubrication.
@@stevenleffanue Got it, thank you for the quick response.
Went for my first mtb ride after doing the Chain as in your Vidio , it feels so ultra smooth and the Chain is so efficient like a piece of fine machinery . How do I clean my Chain now without losing my wax inside the Chain. Another question why do you use a mixture of degreaser/ laundry liquid and water only in the Chain cleaner hand Tool. Smooth Smooth Smooth ! thanks.
+Michael Towler If your chain begins to sound dry but us still clean,you can just rewax it,Michael. If you have been riding off road and dirt has got into the chain,reclean and rewax.Cleaning is the hardest part of the process...the chain must always be completely clean before waxing. Petrol ruins the brushes in the clip on cleaner.
First time watching your content and i gotta say, you got an entertaining bodylanguage
This is the best chain lubricant because my bike chain is well lubricated and silent. The chain is also very clean compared with the previous wet lubricant I used. Therefore I do not have to clean the chain after every 60-kilometre ride. In fact, I do not clean the chain anymore. I do not mind to tell you I never wash my bike. This lubricant is easy and cheap to make. The only thing I do not like is my wife will give me a shelling when I make the chain wax lubricant because the kitchen will smell of wax. Now I would make it when she is not around. Thank You so much, oz cycle.
Oh, I post the above remarks in the wrong section. It should in the section where you oz cycle show how to make this chain waz lubricant. Tk.
Hi! tks for the information, I am undertaking the process etc.. but, two questions please.
I would rather not use Petrol, what about kerosene? (it did check to see if someone asked by could not see it, so pols for a duplication in case you already answered).
Second question, regarding the wax lube for in-between... would my chain cleaner plastic took work ok for this, ie put the lube in the cleaner and let it spin for a while? Want to do something with the no longer need chain cleaner!
Ray...
Kerosene is too oily.
@@stevenleffanue tks
Excellent video - very well constructed and presented.
Does petrol harm the inner O rings inside the links ?
No,its all metal
The faulty logic in this test is amazing. An unsafe degreaser/cleaner (gasoline) is used in the homemade cleaning device. It leaves a film and so a second degreaser is required to remove the film left by the gasoline. And yet the author concludes the homemade method works better than the ultrasonic cleaner when the ultrasonic cleaner was used improperly and yet it still equaled the effectiveness of the homemade method when the ultrasonic cleaning time was doubled. How much extra time was required to use a secondary degreaser to remove the gasoline film from the chain? That increase in time and cost of the homemade method was never factored into the comparison.
The ultrasonic cleaner may require a little more time (but we can't be sure because the author did not appear to use the correct fluid level -- with the correct level it may not have required any more time). But, in the end (after the extra time) the ultrasonic cleaner achieved just as good a result as the homemade device yet offered a HUGE advantage: It achieved its good results with a safe degreaser and cleaner. No risk to health. No fire hazard. No risk to the environment. No requirement to use a second degreaser to clean the film left by the gasoline.
I appreciate Oz Cycling. The author has produced some very insightful and helpful videos. My favorite videos address composite frames and components. Kudos and thanks to Oz Cycling for the great content. Sadly, this video is not among the good ones. And the original Oz video demonstrating the homemade cleaning device is even worse. In that video we see the author splashing gasoline on his ungloved hands. Imagine if he had splashed the gasoline in his eyes as he shook his homemade device! He never cautions the users to the risks of gasoline. Nor does he explain that gasoline will melt some plastics, therefore the user must be careful that the container they select for their homemade cleaning device is approved for gasoline. My advice: Remove those videos. Modify the homemade method so it works with a "safe" degreaser/cleaner that does not require a secondary degreasing. Then shoot new videos with the improved method. This will serve your viewers much better.
The homemade method may truly be the "winner" if it is modified for safe use at home by do-it-yourselfers.
+D.Eldon Petrol still cleans way better than my ultrasonic cleaner...tried and tested over at least six months. Try it for yourself...pull the chain apart after the clean and you will see which leaves cleaner pins and rollers.
Sure, gasoline dissolves grease and oil faster than the "safe" degreaser you used in the ultrasonic cleaner. No dispute there. The problem is: gasoline use presents risks to health, safety and the environment. If you base your degreaser selection only on effectiveness as a degreaser, then why limit yourself to gasoline? Why not use acetone or MEK or toluene? They are each more effective than gasoline. I think the reason you're using gasoline is because it's cheap, plentiful and it's the "easy" choice if you don't care about your health, safety or the environment. I'd hate to think what you'd use if acetone, MEK or toluene were cheaper and more plentiful than gasoline! I respectfully recommend that you not advocate the use of strong, unsafe degreasers like gasoline for degreasing bike parts.
So far, this video has illustrated the opposite of what you intended. It shows that the Oz Cycling homemade cleaning device works so poorly that it requires a strong, unsafe degreaser.
+D.Eldon The petrol used in the 'Homemade cleaner is about 300mL. It is reused 4-6 times before needing to be discarded. So 50mL - 60mL per use...quite conservative. Yes Petrol is cheap and available worldwide,unlike a lot of other cleaners.
+D.Eldon The petrol used in the 'Homemade cleaner is about 300mL. It is reused 4-6 times before needing to be discarded. So 50mL - 60mL per use...quite conservative. Yes Petrol is cheap and available worldwide,unlike a lot of other cleaners.
Michael Smedley
Typical whataboutism.
The main commentary was making a good point: always use as best method not only the most effective but also the least environmentally harmful one.
That's right, and did you know petroleum never ever breaks down, because once the dirt and grime is removed, it's then returned to it's 'natural' lubricating state. The more dirt.. the more wear. Just think of all the oil we've discarded over the years, when it could've been centrifuged and re-used many times over; such as, aboard ships at sea (HELLO).
I have a question, is petrol good for cleaning ? I mean it is affecting on the chain life or no ?
Is the unleaded fuel safe? I would be afraid that a spark during the shaking process ignites the whole thing and it blows up! Just wondering. Is there not a safer option?
Just what you want to do...get rid of the lube inside the rollers where you can't get a wax ?
Your videos are really helpful. If I ride 150-200km a week, how often I need to clean and lube my chain?
+Hyuk-Sang Moon appx 300km mark or if the chain sounds dry.
used to do petrol clean in 1970. Obviously the chain clean tool is best. I have one and breaking a chain and reconnecting will take longer than the tool. also the author proved the stuff is from the middle is not touching the drivetrain. Also my chains have no holes. I can clean 5 times as often since it requires that much less time and not considering time to go and buy breaker links.
Hi...love yr diy video for cleaning chain...but can i just use acetone instead of petroluem ?
Glad you like the vid Muizz. Yes,acetone should clean your chain pretty good....surely petrol is cheaper tho??
i have never in my life seen so many so concerned about their bike chain and the extra watt's it takes when a chain gets dirty! just my opinion on seeing how much a great problem this is turning out to be? Does no one make a thin ribbed or cogged drive belt to use instead of a chain? Or better yet,, A drive shaft?
Yes. A belt drive with internal hub gears is an option. They are very durable and low maintenance but cost 4 or 5 times as much. Good for world touring.
I ussaly use mineral spirits to clean mine . and a coffee filter after the junk settles and poor it back in the big bottle
I have tried all the cleaning methods described in your videos but, whatever I try, the chain always turns back to black after one ride after dipping in the wax mixture and riding ! Even when utilizing a brand new chain and cleaning the factory grease off it the chain turns black. Chainrings, cassette and jockey are also always cleaned but that also does not make a difference!Please advise what else I can try!
Follow the method in the video and it will work....it has been well tested over years.
Excellent video; very much appreciated indeed.
Cheers from snow covered Philadelphia
Is it just tap water in the ultrasonic cleaner?
Have you compared using petrol to kerosene? Or diesel fuel?
Yes
Why did you use petrol in your homemade chain cleaner and not the same chemicals as the other two?
Petrol ruins the brushes of the clip-on cleaners
Are you adding washing liquid with the degreaser? Degreaser being the stronger acid..what is the point of adding the dishwashing soap?
Nice. I've used the chain brush thing in the past and wasn't impressed at all so binned it. I came up with my own solution rather similar to your homemade one but use paraffin/kerosene as my solvent rather than petrol but hadn't realised about the waxy film it leaves behind. Best thing I've found in recent months is a can of pressurised degreaser, but it isn't as thorough as your methods and gets expensive fast. I've just bought several litres of aqueous degreaser to experiment with.
+Hugh Wallace Automotive shops often sell degreaser cheaper than anywhere else Hugh.
OZ CYCLING, do you think cleaning contaminated disc brake pads using the ultrasonic cleaner is a good idea ?
+Yusuf Saber Good thought Yusuf. Im not sure about that but I will certainly give it a go. I might even do a vid on it...great idea!!
I'm going to switch to wax. I'm DONE with greasy leg syndrome. Why do you need to use a degreaser AND petrol? My plan was to use naptha (lighter fluid or white gas) since I already have a can of it. Naptha is very clean. Is there further lubricant in naptha? And if so, why not just use the degreaser? Am I missing something here? Thanks for your time.
To wax a chain successfully it needs to be perfectly clean .Degreaser does not remove all contaminants,petrol does but leaves an oily film which needs to be removed....hence the degreaser. Hope that makes sense?
Yes, thank you. I was using naptha to clean my rims too, for brake performance, but it didn't quite do what I wanted, although was not too bad. It certainly cleans the tars well. Rainy day today, nice day for a trip to the hardware store. Thanks.
You may be the most serious but funny bike cleaner ever!
Regarding the magnet, stainless steel is almost entirely non-magnetic so any steel particles at the bottom probably got there by gravity.
Depends on the steel. Most stainless steel pans work with induction stoves
WD-40 changes from a solvent that penetrates into a thick grease that lubricates after a couple weeks of the volatile components evaporating. This makes it ideal for a chain because it will penetrate down to the o-rings and be held there by it's surface tension until it changes to grease. Only the excess will fling off if the chain is used before the conversion process takes place. I spray it on my bike chains with cardboard under the chain to catch the over spray. This cleans the chain. Then, I wipe off the excess, leaving the small amount that penetrated.
It, also, is an excellent anti-oxidant to prevent rubber cracking from oxidation. I use it on my motorcycle seat before winter storage and it prevents cracking. Salt spray testing in an environmental lab showed it to be the best at corrosion prevention.
i swear i read this comment on another chain vid lol, from what i've read inc. a few v helpful comments from other WD-40-onlyists I think I'm gna stick to simple regular frequent and liberal application of WD-40 for my new chain on my new bike too
bicycle chains don't have o rings motorcycle chains do. i believe wd-40 is petroleum based although its apparently safe on rubber i still would use it if anything it would promote cracking
I thought cogs were mads out of wood and used in windmills but chains run on sprockets. Like chainring sprocket and cassette sprockets?
Hey Oz cycle,
Can you recommend an accurate chain checker, there’s lots of confusion out there and prices vary from peanuts to mortgage the house.
Any help much appreciated
Cheers 👍
Park cc 3.2
interesting video if you're interested in this type of thing. I can only imagine that it took a bunch of time in setup, filming and editing. given the effort weighing the chains pre and post clean would be worthwhile imo, also identifying the # links in each (I assume the same?). measuring the terps and standardised shaking... maybe too much. thanks
Have you gone mad, sir? You think if one has two more links than another that it will make a difference in the cleaning results?
@@BPoweredLove chain does not need to be ultra/super/hiper clean, for first cleaning if switch from oil to wax, gaseline/petrol is good to remove all important dirts that matters, when chain is on wax, no need for that deep cleaning, just rewax 2 times and all dirt will go out of chain, i need 8 minutes to make 2 passes of wax on chain installed on bike by useing inductive heater that heats up chain in few seconds and then can be aplied wax
@@BPoweredLove The chains looked the same length whilst they were hanging to dry, to me.
I live in the UK and yes it rains all the time, really all the time. On the video it mentions adding some paraffin oil to the mixture, I was wondering how many Millilitres would you suggest?
We have a problem with rust on the chain and cassette while gravel riding if we use the standard mixture, any suggestions would be welcome 🙏
Yes , add paraffin oil 50:50...so half paraffin wax half paraffin oil.
daft question here, but why do manufactures of bike chains not do Stainless steel? surely these would last longer, be stronger therfore not stretch, just a question?
+Davy Scales There are some stainless steel chains. Wipperman Connex do them Davy
Thank you Oz
Petrochemical solvents like petrol, turps or kero, are very good at dissolving most oils and waxes but are no good at dissolving water and water is no good at dissolving oils and waxes. Degreaser and water is only a mediocre solvent for oils and waxes because water is a polar molecule and oil isn't. All the degreaser does is weaken the molecular polarization a little. Same issue with green cleaners as they are water based. Alcohol, is a petrochemical chain that has a hydroxyl on the hydro carbon chain. The hydroxyl part of the molecule is polarized. Therefore, alcohol will dissolve water and visa versa but alcohol can dissolve a small number of oils and waxes, usually only some vegetable or synthetic ones, not mineral. For example, caster oil is soluble in methanol but requires physical agitation to do so. If you think about this, it partly explains the results. Using petrol, degreaser and water steps, combines different solvent bases so will flush material that is impeded in these bases. If you were to then use alcohol to flush the water, the chain would then dry much faster due to alcohols higher evaporation rate. Yep, organic chemistry 1976.
When I was young, I used kero as a 1st clean and degrease. It was cheap then but isn't now. Petrol is kind of dangerous, it doesn't take much to ignite the vapor and is pretty hazardous for the body. I generally take the chain off, soak and swirl it in turps these days as it's quicker than using cleaners that are ineffective oil and wax solvents. I would agree with using degreaser after that. The in line chain cleaner is largely ineffective because the small volume of solvent limits the dispersion of material cleaned off the chain and a lot of that material gets caught on the gears and jockey wheels to re-contaminate the chain. That makes a big job, uses a lot of rags, wipes etc and you still can't be sure you got it all. This is my main reason for taking the chain off the bike to clean. Thank goodness for quick links. I'm sure some people can point out exceptions, the principal of incompatibility between polar and non polar molecules is only a generalisation for the majority of cases.
Thanks for that excellent comment ! Just to clarify. You soak in mineral turpentine then soak in degreaser as well?
Unfortunately not all of us have quick links on our chains so that they can be removed.
you complicate simple situation, if you use wax, you can clean chain with wax, take a look on my coment to Mr. Miss
@@khalilrazak6486 I never had a quick link on my chains 30 years, my bike I'm building will as I am embarrassed at my chain and cassette are black!
Khalil Razak
A quick link costs almost nothing and installs with ease. There’s no excuse for not having a quick link :)
I always used to think a brand new chain that was greased was fine to leave however i was told to get that sticky crap off! Everything stuck on your new chain. Soak it gas or thinner over night shake it and make sure its good. Then apply the lube you want
Dear Sir.
My English not good, I am not understand all your words. Please explain with me : I will choose isopropyl alcohol Or methylated spirits to soak a dirty string (which is sticking oil, grease, dust, etc) and after 24 hours I will have a clean and perfect chain, Am I right? because I can't buy Digger Methylated Spirits like in your video, but I can buy isopropyl alcohol 99,7%. Thank you so much. Best Wishes.
Petrol soak first. Then degreaser. Then IPA
@@stevenleffanue Thank you so much again. Best Regards.
Why would you need to get an oily film offf the chain cleaned in petrol - seems like a benefit and then to soak the chain in water only to have to thoroughly dry it - i like to use diesel
I love it when the best approach is also the easiest one!
This is AWESOME video. Very detailed. Great comparison. I like this.
Thank you and greetings from Colombia. How many kilometers of use I have to clean the chain?
+Juan Alirio Gómez About 300km,Juan.
oz cycle thank you very much.
I do like the idea to clean and lube chain of the bike but I was told do not use power lock with shimano's chains.
do you really use new shimano pin after every clean. thnx
+Martin Loksik Nope.... wipperman connex link is the best, Martin.
Martin Loksik - power lock is one time use, so no good for sram either. SRAM powerlink is their reusable link, but I have only found them for 9 speed
Shimano recommend not to do lots of things that should be ok in practice
Have to agree with the lubricant statement, paraffin is great, I just started use pure paraffin although Oz means some paraffin oil should be added, in any case the friction is among the lowest you can get and above all the drivetrain stays clean! No more oil/dirt mix gunking up the drivetrain and the bike cleaning is easier than ever!
I would use the second one because you can keep it on your bike and it does just the same as all the others
My only concern is where can you dispose these products and do they charge for disposal? Other than that, I am keen on trying out your methods mate.
Just buy cleaners that are safe for the environment. Then u can just pour it in the grass.
Why hurt grass? Just pour it into the sink! :D
+Bdogsp 001 The homemade cleaner...just pop lid back on then use same used petrol up to three times before disposal. There are quite a number of enviro friendly degreasers these days to choose from too.
+sc0608023 Haha. Actually dont pour disolved wax repeatedly down sink....it builds up and clogs the sink. Dont worry the grass is fine....its petrol that kills grass tho.
Okay, but how do you dispose of the used petrol?
ANOTHER BRILLIANT VIDEO -Thanks
is it ok to clean your derailleur with petrolium?
I mean is it ok to submerge it in petrolium for a good clean
Brilliant! Now I have to watch your wax video! Do you have any thoughts on using Simple Green as a degreaser?
Not strong enough Michael , automotive degreaser is best
@@stevenleffanue awesome! Thanks!
Hi Oz Cycle, can I use same 3 stage cleaning process for cassette obviously just metal bits not spacers?
Use wax and grease remover and medium bristled brush for cassette. Video how to do it out soon
I'm wondering why the oily film left over from the petrol is so bad. Wouldn't it just kind of mix with the paraffin oil and wax and help to get the wax where it needs to go?
Similarly, years ago, I used to use white spirit to clean my chains. (Not sure if that's what you call it in OZ. In the UK, it's what we typically use to clean paint brushes, and its cheap and readily available). I'd imagine it's slightly safer to use than petrol.
However, I've been told that that also leaves an oily film.
I was wondering whether to go back to using WS, prior to lubing with paraffin oil/wax.
+Mike W Ellwood An oily film hinders the wax sticking to the metal of the chain. The chain needs to be completely bare...it begin to oxidize so wax it as soon as possible afterwards. If white spirits removes all previous lubricant thats fine Mike.
Would the home made cleaner be as good with the same chemicals as the other two? And how do you dispose of the petrol?
No,petrol is the best cleaning solvent. It requires very little petrol and you can re-use the it up to four times before disposing of it. Allow petrol to evaporate then wipe out the container with a rag or tissue.
I have 2 or 3 questions.
Im not certain how you would clean an already waxed chain. What is the best de waxer.
Also I have a USS cleaner but im not sure how the solvent works. Does the degreaser mix with the water or float to the top. If that is the case then the chain is bathed in water only ??
Can I use petrol in the USS cleaner. If not then what is the best degreaser. I can see that the detergent might make the degreaser miscible but would it form micelles which essentially removes the degreaser from interacting with the oil.
Thanks for your videos
+James Hi James.Paraffin wax solvents...Xylene,Toulene and Acetone. Petrol works good too but requires degreaser afterwards. In USC the degreaser mixes with the water to suspend the wax in the water. Never use petrol in USC! A USC pulses tiny bubles of air on the surface of item being cleaned...this leverages loose material from more solid material...ie dirt from a metal item. The water/chemicals simply carries the dirt away for disposal. If my explanation isnt clear there are some youtubes on how USCs work which you may find good to watch.
Thanks.
Well I have found that using furniture polish is just as good as a paraffin wax.
It contains something called isoparaffin whatever that means but it a whole lot cheaper than the chain lubes
All you do is spray it on the chain it goes on as a foam so it penetrates deeper into the chain let it sit over night.
Since using this I find that my legs seem to spin faster. I get about 300 miles out of each treatment
Great video as usual. I have a question about the cleaning agent, is it because you used petrol on the home cleaning method that it took the win? What if you used the same chemicals on all? Thanks for sharing i am always looking forward to watching your videos
+Farouk Cherchali Could be Farouk,petrol is very effective. I certainly wouldnt put petrol in sonic cleaner tho. Petrol disolves some plastics too so it would need to be a chain cleaner with the right plastic.
i use your wax but ckeaning,,, how bout carb cleaner followed by denatured alcohol??
How much is a new chain? What kind of tool do you need to break a chain without a master link
There are different quality chains. Good ones are usually $50-$100. Without a masterlink you can use a 'chain pin tool'.
Hola quiero hacer una consulta qué producto usa además de la parafina en otro video vi como derretía velas y le agregaba otro producto quería saber si era parafina con vaselina o si era otra cosa, muchas gracias espero respuesta, saludos Pablo de Argentina
Hola Pablo Los tres que se usan son "cera de vela, aceite de parafina y xileno". El xileno también se conoce como diluyente de pintura. Espero que te ayude Saludos desde Australia
Build myself the Homemade Cleaner and clean it it "Bremsenreiniger" in German ;) also mean Brake Cleaner. There is kind of Petrol and another thing´s in it. But i choose for 1€ a Pencil Holder with a small Grid outside, (so i can clean another Part´s) and a thin can for 2€.
My wax is made out of Tealights (8 of it) and Mineral Lamp Oil.
It is on my Bike at Monday 13.2.17 and the Condition are dry and cold.
My chain look´s very clean and all the other Part´s on it =)
To Friday we maybe get wet condition and im exited how the chain will look like =)
Ride ~6km it isnt much but the chain can get very dirty even on this short distance.
Oh and it is really a much smoother ride and gear change... absolute love it.
Happy to see you next time =P