This is an unusual repair. Usually, you would not do this on your own bike. You can clean a chain fairly well just using bicycle lube and a rag. But sometimes your chain is just too dirty, rusty, or grimy to clean it using this method.

Let’s say you find a bike in the trash. It’s beat up, but it works fine. This is called a beater–a beat up bike that you use when you don’t want to get your good bike dirty. It’s nice to have if you know you have a short ride or if you know you will have to leave it outside all day in bad weather.

This beater, though, has a gross chain. It’s like it has a coating of black filth on it. Chain lube and a rag can get off the stuff on the outside, but it just isn’t enough to get off the grime between the chain links. You are too cheap to spend $15 bucks on a new one.

What do you do?

You get a chain tool, a bucket, some dish detergent, and you hope for the best.

1. Select a bike with a chain.
2. Check for a quick release chain link. It will look different than the other links.
3. Get the chain tool.
4. Move your chain to the smallest gears on the front and the back of the bike.
5. Using the chain tool CORRECTLY, push one of the pins out, BUT DO NOT PUSH IT ALL THE WAY OUT! THAT WILL BREAK THE CHAIN FOREVER!
6. Put your dirty chain into a bucket with dishwasher detergent in it. Push it around, scrub it with the gear brush, etc. Let it soak for at least a minute.
7. DRY your chain thoroughly.
8. Feed your chain through the gears and the derailleur. Make sure it is correct by looking at a working bike for guidance. The derailleur is tricky, so check twice. Also, put the chain back on the smallest gears.

9. Using the chain tool, push the pin back in to the correct position.
10. Check the link that you just messed with. If it moves, your done. If it does not, use the other slot on the chain tool to loosen the link. Push the pin in SLIGHTLY, and it should move again.
11. Lube your chain.

Cleaning and Lubing Bike Chains

Remember: DO NOT USE WD-40 as a bicycle lubricant. Keep it away from your bike!!

Follow the video links below depending on what type of brakes you have.

1. V-Brakes: The type on most of the
mountain bikes.

2. Cantilever Brakes: Looks like v-brakes, but has a u-shaped cable that connects to the brake cable.

3. Caliper Brakes: On most road bikes, has a cable that connects to the side of the brakes that can be adjusted with a fourth-hand tool.

4. Lubricating Brake Cables: This video is relevant to all types of brakes.

For all of these repairs, you might need:
–Allen Wrenches
–8, 9, 10, or 11 mm wrenches
–Fourth-hand tool, aka cable puller
–Third-hand tool, which we don’t have. A patient friend works as a good substitute.
–Some string. Trust me, it’s handy to have around.
–Some pictures of how everything fits together is not a bad idea, either.