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Crivit Sports Cycle Chain Cleaning Kit £3.99 @ LIDL

Found 5th Apr 2014

My chain is black at the moment gonna head out now and buy it.
£3.99 its gotta be worth a try.

Easily cleans most standard bicycle chains without dismantling or spraying dirt onto braces, rims etc with 3 rotating brushes
Grease and biodegradeable cleaning agent included, both 50ml

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29 Comments

5th Apr 2014

Got one of these last time round; I'm still using the hardware and the chemicals were OK too.

5th Apr 2014

Got one of these yesterday and was the last one in my local. Seems acceptable quality for the price. Bargain

Original Poster

5th Apr 2014

Just returned from a store, non left:(

Edited by: "cheaperthebetter" 5th Apr 2014

5th Apr 2014

That's a great price, at least double on fleabay

Add white spirit to the reservoir, when the degreaser runs out ... super quick to clean then

hawk299
I've got one of these but without the de-greaserAnyone got any experience … I've got one of these but without the de-greaserAnyone got any experience or hints what cheap degreaser to buy?

Edited by: "speric07" 5th Apr 2014

5th Apr 2014

I've got one of these but without the de-greaser
Anyone got any experience or hints what cheap degreaser to buy?

5th Apr 2014

sweet, I'll give it a go. Just done a quick search, WS sounds good but make sure to clean off fully before applying lube

5th Apr 2014

hawk299
I've got one of these but without the de-greaserAnyone got any experience … I've got one of these but without the de-greaserAnyone got any experience or hints what cheap degreaser to buy?

Don't know if im allowed to post links so I recommend Swarfega Oil and Grease Remover which is about £9 for 5L. This is available from Toolstation and previously B+Q. You can also use it to clean virtually anything and its also safe on oil and grease stains from clothing. However just remember to fully wash you chain after use to avoid whatever your choice of lube is from breaking down. Also being water based its a bit less brutal than white spirit.

I would generally avoid specialist bike degreaser as that is just a licence for the manufacturers to print money (based on my experience of finish line stuff in the past). Combine the above with a general application of muc off or any generic bike cleaner and it should get your bike sparkly clean.

5th Apr 2014

hawk299
sweet, I'll give it a go. Just done a quick search, WS sounds good but … sweet, I'll give it a go. Just done a quick search, WS sounds good but make sure to clean off fully before applying lube

No problem

5th Apr 2014

They've also got these bike workstands which are decent quality and really good value, will make cleaning your chain even easier!

lidl.co.uk/cps…265

5th Apr 2014

Bought one of these today, haven't tried it yet, but for £3.99 it looks OK. Plenty in Sevenoaks, Kent store.

The bike stand looks great too!

5th Apr 2014

cheaperthebetter
Just returned from a store, non left:(

And that's helpful because...............................?

5th Apr 2014

Besford
And that's helpful because...............................?

I suppose the thought was there

5th Apr 2014

wire brush , old take away plastic tub , car oil . dip and run the chain through the tub. runs super smooth done this for years.

5th Apr 2014

Surely the chain is meant to be greasy??

5th Apr 2014

The ONLY way to effectively clean your chain is to completely remove it. It has to be degreased and re-lubricated BEFORE it goes back onto the bike. Then you must clean the jockey wheels on the rear mech, the chainset and the rear sprockets all with degreaser. You'll find that everything the dirty chain touched will be covered with an abrasive oily paste and in all probability, worn. Simply cleaning the chain at this one point and allowing the rest of it to be bathed in a dirty, abrasive solution is a complete waste of time. A new chain costs about £10 today. The components it touches cost about £150 - £500 and upwards. My advice? Follow the above and as soon as there's any wear in the chain, throw it in the bin and spend a tenner on a new one.

5th Apr 2014

Pacman83
The ONLY way to effectively clean your chain is to completely remove it. … The ONLY way to effectively clean your chain is to completely remove it. It has to be degreased and re-lubricated BEFORE it goes back onto the bike. Then you must clean the jockey wheels on the rear mech, the chainset and the rear sprockets all with degreaser. You'll find that everything the dirty chain touched will be covered with an abrasive oily paste and in all probability, worn. Simply cleaning the chain at this one point and allowing the rest of it to be bathed in a dirty, abrasive solution is a complete waste of time. A new chain costs about £10 today. The components it touches cost about £150 - £500 and upwards. My advice? Follow the above and as soon as there's any wear in the chain, throw it in the bin and spend a tenner on a new one.

Any wear? I'll take it if you are going to throw it away, clean and oil the chain properly on regular basis and it will last another 1000 miles or more. I used to have one these kits and found them next to useless for the reasons above. Mess all over the place and chain remained contaminated. Proper way to clean is to remove the chain, give it a good bath and shake in a plastic bottle filled with degreaser. While it is sitting in the solution, clean the cogs as well. Rinse and wipe dry, then put it back on the bike and apply chainsaw oil, 1ml is enough, more is a mess. Rotate the cranks backwards so it penetrates properly, wipe the excess and you are good to go.

5th Apr 2014

what's wrong with soap n water.

Banned

5th Apr 2014

got this last time brill

6th Apr 2014

frakison
I suppose the thought was there

I think it's the thought which was missing!

6th Apr 2014

great price for one of these,i just use an old toothbrush and some GT85,does the trick

Edited by: "themachman" 6th Apr 2014

6th Apr 2014

Good price for a chain cleaner...but as several bikies have said on here 'tis the season to fit a new chain. A new chain is cheap, easy to fit and saves wear on the other more expensive bits...chains don't just wear but stretch too and its well worth changing every year...then clean in between. Good cycling..

6th Apr 2014

cheaperthebetter
Just returned from a store, non left:(

Thanks for the warning, looks like these might be popular.

6th Apr 2014

hawk299
I've got one of these but without the de-greaserAnyone got any experience … I've got one of these but without the de-greaserAnyone got any experience or hints what cheap degreaser to buy?

Parafin.

eye will
Surely the chain is meant to be greasy??

Yes, but first you need to remove the old stuff which will be contaminated with grit/dirt and therefore be abrasive. Once out, reapply clean stuff.

6th Apr 2014

Thx for all the tips

6th Apr 2014

algloster
Don't know if im allowed to post links so I recommend Swarfega Oil and … Don't know if im allowed to post links so I recommend Swarfega Oil and Grease Remover which is about £9 for 5L. This is available from Toolstation and previously B+Q. You can also use it to clean virtually anything and its also safe on oil and grease stains from clothing. However just remember to fully wash you chain after use to avoid whatever your choice of lube is from breaking down. Also being water based its a bit less brutal than white spirit.I would generally avoid specialist bike degreaser as that is just a licence for the manufacturers to print money (based on my experience of finish line stuff in the past). Combine the above with a general application of muc off or any generic bike cleaner and it should get your bike sparkly clean.

Specialist degreaser is a licence for the manufacturers to print money, but muc off isn't?!

Just use soap and water!

6th Apr 2014

Just FYI: These chain cleaners are pretty good, but a pain to use if you don't have some kind of bike stand or someone to help you.

Lifting the bike takes one hand, holding the cleaner in place another, and turning the pedals a third.

Original Poster

6th Apr 2014

I normally take the chain off then place it in a jam jar and pour petrol in. Put the lid back on giving it a good shake then use a old tooth brush to scrub it clean. Its messy, smells and highly flammable but found it does the best job. I reuse the petrol once the gunk settles down to the bottom of the jar.

Edited by: "cheaperthebetter" 6th Apr 2014

7th Apr 2014

Use white spirit with around a quarter of oil added. The mix has nice low viscosity so will be able to penetrate well into the chain links, and the WS will eventually evaporate away leaving the oil behind to protect against rust and provide some lubrication. Every now and then a better clean and lube by taking the chain off (easy if you have a quick link fitted) is ideal but these tools are good for more frequent maintenance especially if the bike gets used in the wet.

8th Apr 2014

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8713278/bike/IMAG0004_BURST003.jpg

This is after about 2-3 minutes of 'cleaning'. Admittedly it has removed most of the big bits of gunk out of the chain (the entire bike was cleaned about 2 weeks ago, though you wouldn't know it from that photo). The rest of the drive train (chainrings/cassette/derailleur) was all taken off and cleaned about a week ago.

My advice. Use an old toothbrush and save 4 quid.

Also, if you have a 'modern' road bike mech (i.e. my yellow label 105) it probably won't work with the little hook. I had to hold onto it with my left hand and reverse turn the crank with the right. Worked okay on my girlfriend's bike that has an old plastic fantastic Simplex Alpha mech.

Edited by: "johnstalvern" 8th Apr 2014

Crivit Sports Cycle Chain Cleaning Kit £3.99 @ LIDL

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