Xhumeka
04-29-2010, 12:25 PM
So I read this post in the thumpertalk forums a couple years ago:
there is only one way to properly clean a chain. I'm not sure where I learned this method, but I'll bet more than a couple of guys on this forum have done it. It was developed 40 years or so ago and works even better in this day and age because our power tools have become much more sophisticated. Here's how it worked:
First you took the chain off of the bike and then put the master link back in connecting the chain back together. Next you found your Dad's electric drill. Then you located an old countersprocket, ran a bolt thru it and put the threaded part of the bolt into the electric drill. This connected the countersprocket to the drill. Next you laid the drill on a table with the countersprocket sticking out over the edge of the table, and draped the chain over the countersprocket. The chain now hung along the table and almost touched the ground if you had the height right. You placed a pan of your favorite 'cleaner' in just the right spot so that your chain dangled into the cleaner. If you did it just right, when you pulled the trigger on the drill, the chain would run down into the cleaner, makes it's turn in the cleaner and come back up to the countersprocket.
Back in the old days, Dad had a one speed drill and it only took about 1 second to drain the pan of cleaner and throw it all over the ceiling of the garage. Todays drills are much better.
If you aren't using this method for cleaning your chain, then you simply aren't doing it right. There is no other acceptable way.
Ever since reading that post, I've always wanted to try that method... so last night I gave it a shot. Here's a quick video of my attempt:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP3XR8rTWkU
Both chains I tried it with were badly kinked and should be thrown out. The kinks made it hard to get the drill going much faster than you see in the picture, but either way I think this method is kind of a waste of time. Didn't work very well if you ask me.
Has anyone else used this method before??
there is only one way to properly clean a chain. I'm not sure where I learned this method, but I'll bet more than a couple of guys on this forum have done it. It was developed 40 years or so ago and works even better in this day and age because our power tools have become much more sophisticated. Here's how it worked:
First you took the chain off of the bike and then put the master link back in connecting the chain back together. Next you found your Dad's electric drill. Then you located an old countersprocket, ran a bolt thru it and put the threaded part of the bolt into the electric drill. This connected the countersprocket to the drill. Next you laid the drill on a table with the countersprocket sticking out over the edge of the table, and draped the chain over the countersprocket. The chain now hung along the table and almost touched the ground if you had the height right. You placed a pan of your favorite 'cleaner' in just the right spot so that your chain dangled into the cleaner. If you did it just right, when you pulled the trigger on the drill, the chain would run down into the cleaner, makes it's turn in the cleaner and come back up to the countersprocket.
Back in the old days, Dad had a one speed drill and it only took about 1 second to drain the pan of cleaner and throw it all over the ceiling of the garage. Todays drills are much better.
If you aren't using this method for cleaning your chain, then you simply aren't doing it right. There is no other acceptable way.
Ever since reading that post, I've always wanted to try that method... so last night I gave it a shot. Here's a quick video of my attempt:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP3XR8rTWkU
Both chains I tried it with were badly kinked and should be thrown out. The kinks made it hard to get the drill going much faster than you see in the picture, but either way I think this method is kind of a waste of time. Didn't work very well if you ask me.
Has anyone else used this method before??