A Clean Chain is a Happy Chain

Park Tool Cyclone Chain Scrubber - CM-5.2

On a recent visit to the local bike shop I got to listen while a couple of… may I say “dilettante”? cyclists brought their bikes in for repairs of the most basic sort: one’s tire kept getting soft (a slow leak) and the other’s computer wouldn’t read (a misaligned sensor).

My word, their chains must be a mess…

Not so around our house, because we have a chain cleaner: a Park Tool Cyclone Chain Scrubber CM-5.2. This handy little device is one of the keys to long drivetrain life and smooth-shifting chains. The Cyclone is a simple little plastic box that fits over your chain (any width) so you can clean out all the old lubricant plus the grit and grime accumulated on your rides.

The blue box (it is a Park Tool, after all) is a vaguely oval shape around 7” long, 5” high and an inch thick. The top unclips to lift off, exposing the guts: a couple of bristly spinning brushes, a pair of disks facing each other with more bristles on the inside, and a blocky sponge. You fill the bottom with liquid degreaser (Park include a small bottle of their ChainBrite), thread the bottom of the loop of chain through all the brushes, and clamp the top back down to “seal” everything. There’s a removable handle on one side so you can hold it steady while it works.

Then just turn the pedals backward for ten revolutions. Change out the degreaser (you can use soap and water, too) and repeat. Unless your chain was unbelievably foul, it’s gonna come clean on the second run-through: you won’t believe it!

The degreaser or soap and water dissolves the greasy grime, while the brushes scrub off the grit. There’s a magnet at the lowest point to pick up ferrous scraps and shavings, either from the chain or road debris. All the working parts are replaceable, including the brushes and the sponge. Works great! Once your chain is clean, re-lube it with quality chain oil and help keep that drive train clean and shiny.

A few things to note the first time you use the Cyclone Chain Scrubber:

• Make certain that the stretch of chain is as close to horizontal as you can make it, ‘cause otherwise it’s going to make a drippy mess. In fact, it’s gonna make a mess anyway, so spread some newspaper. 
• Getting the chain horizontal means you probably need a work stand, which is useful to get it up to a comfortable height. 
• It takes some practice to keep the Cyclone and chain aligned right, otherwise the chain can drop off the chain wheels – keep everything straight. 

If keeping your chain clean and lubed is important to you – and it should be – get a chain cleaner like the Cyclone Chain Scrubber and use it regularly. Your bike will thank you. Summary PLUS: Gets chains clean and bright MINUS: takes some practice to get the alignment right WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: The key to keeping your chain clean is a scrubber like the Park Tool Cyclone Chain Scrubber.

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