How To Clean and Lube a Bicycle Chain with a Park Tool Chain Cleaner

Chain cleaning is an essential part of bike maintenance. This video will walk you through each step of cleaning and lubricating a drivetrain.

Questions or comments? Leave them below!

Video contents:
00:22 Tools Needed
01:12 Clean with solvent
02:30 Rinse with soapy water
03:12 Chain Lubrication

➤ Tools & materials used:
• CL-1 Synthetic Blend Chain Lube -
• Rags


➤ Fix It:
Did you know that Park Tool is the #1 resource for bicycle repair education?

➤ About Park Tool:
Since our founding in 1963, Park Tool has been the leading name in bicycle tools. Our YouTube channel is an extension of our mission to be the ultimate resource for mechanics and riders of all skill levels. Here you will find comprehensive repair help tutorials for a wide range of components and processes, as well as troubleshooting guides, tips and tricks, and information on the latest Park Tool products.

➤ More Chain Repair Help:

[EricLoic]

I would suggest cleaining the derailleur pulley wheels, the cassette and chainrings BEFORE cleaning the chain to prevent dirt going on the cleaned chain.

[ryanchambers]

I got here from watching drag racing videos. Now i wanna go buy a bike and clean its chain.

[andre.]

Cleaning once a month? Best I can offer is once a year.

[twizz]

LOL the chain in the before shot looks like my chain *after* I clean it.

[thatsschwinn]

The Biodegradable Citrus ChainBrite solution has worked great as a general purpose cleaner on all my restorations.

[CultureAgent]

Here's a tip to speed up lubrication of the chain, use a paintbrush dipped in lube. It really works the lube in well and uses a minimal amount.

[johnnunn]

After solvent and washing water, I use a kettle of boiling water, poured over the chain while I back pedal. This gets rid of the last of the solvent and washing water, while helping the chain dry quicker. I get ride of any water by using GT85, which also ensures penetration of lube.

[johnwalter]

Very informative and helpful to a new biker like me. It thought me how to clean my bike chains. Thank you!
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[lashlarue]

Great video. I think hitting the chain with 1. Solvent degreaser, 2. Soapy water w/Oxyclean, then 3. 70% Rubbing Alcohol, drying completely, then lubing with the correct wet/dry lube is the way to go. Emphasis on wiping off all the excess lube! Too much lube is possibly worse than not enough, due to the dirt it can collect.

[amido]

Had your video playing in the background while degreasing my chain today for the first time! Thanks for the easy instructions

[dirichan]

Great vid. Super helpful. My bike chain is now so silent and smooth again!!!

[mikeprytherch]

OMG - I've never noticed the 2 holes on the top to fill the tool, what an idiot I am

[GNX]

He wipes the chain off way too soon. Instead, backpedal for at least 1-2 minutes. As the rollers pass over the cogs and jockey wheels, they'll rotate slightly within the chain and that will help draw the new lube into where it needs to be inside the roller. Wipe off then repeat a few hours later on a freshly cleaned chain.

[IoanMoise]

TIP : If you want to make cleaning more efficient 1.apply solvent on the chain. Clean the dirt, then loose the chain from all the rotors, clean the rotors first then the chain.

[flyingtiger]

i literally wipe my drivetrain down after every ride, using fresh dry lube (the "carrier" for the teflon fluoropolymer also acts as a cleaning agent) a clean rag and two toothbrushes duct taped together, takes about 15 minutes to do the cassette, chain, jocky wheels, and chainring... my drive train stays as new ... saves a lot of wear and tear as well as a nasty greasy mess

[sevenrats]

I just got one of those chain cleaner tools and I can't believe how stupid I was doing it without one. Money well spent.

[cujoedaman]

Been getting into some 'amateur' bike repair this summer and I can't tell you how annoying it is finding a bike that someone gobbed up with a heavy weight automotive grease. You get dirtier from a single touch of the chain than anything else you repair on the bike. Found that brake cleaner works best to cut through that sort of grease buildup.

[gavinward]

Tool works very well. Really noticed the difference in the chain. Good as new.

[zauron]

Hello, good to see your videos subtitled in Spanish, keep it that way. Greetings from Peru

[ApriliaGuy]

The CM 5.2 is a cracking bit of kit! 10/10