Customers' Reviews:
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 Chain Cleaning Convenience, March 5, 2009
By Scott Pope (Chicago, IL)
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After years of manually cleaning my bicycle chains, often too infrequently, I made a worthwhile investment in a Park Tool chain cleaner. As a year round bicycle commuter in Chicago, I am often braving the elements leading to concerns over corrosion that could weaken a chain. In years past, I have snapped multiple chains, causing dangerous instability, a loss of balance, and on more than one occasion, a wipeout. Frequent oiling is one approach to mitigating the corrosion. Yet, this leads to a build-up of gunk that can increase the overall resistance. So, for me, finding an efficient routine cleaning method was extremely important, making this product a very valuable item.
When I was younger and had more free time, I would remove a bicycle chain and soak it in a coffee can full of gasoline. This was cheap, environmentally unfriendly and potentially dangerous. Now that I live in a high-rise apartment with beige carpeting, I try to keep the mess and disassembly to a minimum. The Park Tool chain cleaner is excellent for this situation as there is minimal scattering of the cleaning solution. Yet, the cleaning process isn't entirely compatible with carpeting as the cleaning fluid clings to the chain and drips off around the entire path of chain travel. So indoor chain cleaning still requires newspapers or rags to protect the carpeting.
The Park Tool chain cleaner is both fast and effective. The rotary brushes do an excellent job at removing tightly adhering grime. This somewhat surprised me because the bristles are nylon and not metal. From my unscientific observations, the results are as good or better than hand cleaning with wire brush. More importantly, it is definitely much faster. In addition to the main apparatus, Park Tool was nice enough to include a very narrow hand brush with the kit that allow for easy cleaning in between the rear cogs. With this brush and the main tool, the user can perform an end-to-end drive chain cleaning in less than 15 minutes.
One of the advantages of a chain cleaning tool like this is that it contains a reservoir that puts the cleaning solution precisely where it is needed. It is so efficient in this regard that a significant amount sediment builds up at the bottom of the relatively small sized reservoir, requiring that the fluid be changed at least twice during a single cleaning. While it only uses about four ounces per fill, the Park Tool cleaning solution is 20 times as expensive as kerosene or gasoline so there is no cost saving on the consumables front. I suspect that citrus cleaning fluids at hardware or automotive stores would work just as well for much less.
For $28, this product is definitely worth the expense from the time savings alone. While I am not a bicycle mechanic, I do own other Park Tools. In all cases, I have been rather satisfied with their quality. The prices, however, are generally out of line with conventional tools, which may be a result of high dealer markup for niche products with limited markets. In this case, the price is a bargain but I suspect that Park tries to make its profit on the cleaning solution whose expense can probably be avoided by purchasing commonly available alternatives. In total, I would highly recommend this product for both its value and effectiveness.
Pros
Very effective
Saves times
Contains mess
Inexpensive upfront cost
Cons
Expensive cleaning solution
Excessive sediment formation in small reservoir
116 of 116 people found this review helpful
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This cleaner works!, May 27, 2008
By R. Ruiz Jr. (Austin, TX)
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I have two bikes: a road bike and city bike. The city bike chain was really not that dirty, I cleaned it first - not really impressed. Then I cleaned the road bike, which was really dirty. "One" word my friends: holy-moly. The chain looked just like new, I didn't think it was going to be that clean. The chain scrub and gear brush really do help in cleaning the cog, they get the gunk in-between the gears. Also, I probably will be making my own cleaner once the 8oz bottle of CB-2 Citrus Chain Brite is finished. You can find a wide variety of cleaners for less nowadays. Anyway, I'm very glad I bought this product. 100% worth the price!
54 of 55 people found this review helpful
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Amazing, March 20, 2008
By Candy L. Craig (Willoughby, Ohio)
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I used it yesterday and it is cool. The chain looks real clean, almost new and it is two years old. The product was easy to use and just got easier as the job went on. Within ten minutes I was a chain cleaning expert. The directions are simple. I highly recommend this unit.
33 of 33 people found this review helpful
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Great Gear, January 3, 2008
By Jason C. Keller (Pendleton, IN USA)
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I bought this Park Tool chain cleaning system years ago (probably 10 years) and it still works exactly as it did when I bought it. This is a great tool for any cycling enthusiast and works perfectly.
16 of 17 people found this review helpful
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Actually works!, April 9, 2008
By B. Shell (Sacramento, CA United States)
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I tend to be skeptical of cleaning tools like this, but it looked so much easier than taking the chain off to soak and scrub that I thought I'd give it a try. I'm very impressed with the results. My chain was covered with grit, but in just a minute with this cleaning tool my chain looks as clean as new. I should have bought this years ago.
15 of 16 people found this review helpful
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 This is fun!, July 14, 2009
By Joe Merengues (Abilene Texas)
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Since this cleaning system has there different products (which can be bought separately), let me comment on each product:
CM-5 Cyclone Chain Cleaner: This is great! It is very easy to set up, use, and clean. After cleaning my chain with this (two minutes), the chain looked like new.
GSC-1 GearCleanŽ Brush: This is ok. It is a little bit thin, but it does the job.
8oz bottle of CB-2 Citrus Chain Brite: This worked very well. However, there is not much in the bottle. I calculate it has enough fro 3 to 5 applications. I have three bikes, so this will not last long. Note that the CM-5 Cyclone Chain Cleaner instructions indicate that water with dish soap is a good substitute for this.
12 of 12 people found this review helpful
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 One, big chain cleaning mess..., May 21, 2011
By AdventureMyster (Piscataway, NJ USA)
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I bought this chain cleaner as it had good reviews and looked like it does a good job to quickly and easily clean the chain.
After performing the first cleaning my chain was nice and shinny, although getting to that point wasn't so much fun. In following the directions, "Fill the reservoir to the line" was the first mistake. In this case if you mistakenly move the cleaner too quickly to the left, cleaning fluid will pour out the left chain port and drip all over the place. The other issue is if you spin the pedals too fast the sponge inside the cleaner won't totally remove the cleaner before exiting the right chain port. This results in cleaning fluid dripping from the chain and from the front chain ring.
Overall it does a good job, but they could easily include more information on the instructions about taking it slow and easy when using this chain cleaner.
Lessons learned:
1) Fill the reservoir only until it slightly touches the main cleaning wheel (about 1/4"), not to the fill line
2) Go slow, this will allow the fluid to get picked up by the sponge and prevent spillage
3) Have plenty of rags available to pick up excess cleaning fluid.
In summary it goes a good job, I'd give it 4 stars. But due to the mess potential I'm giving it 3 stars.
12 of 13 people found this review helpful
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Works well, but get the chain cleaner by itself instead, August 25, 2010
By Matt (TN, USA)
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The chain cleaner is great. You *can* use a water and dishwashing detergent solution, but bike-specific degreasers are much more effective at breaking down the gunk, and, if your not careful in throughly drying and re-lubricating the chain, lingering water will cause your chain to rust. Aside from the normal operating instructions, there are two additional steps that I've found make the cleaner work its best:
1. Before running your chain through the cleaner, get a rag and wipe the sides and top/bottom of the entire length of the chain.
2. The reservior needs to be cleaned out on occasion, obviously, but make sure that you throughly rinse out the foam insert after every few chain cleanings. It make the difference between getting your chain "clean" and getting your chain shiny again.
At the time of this review, it is a better deal to buy this: Park Tool CM-5 Cyclone Chain Cleaner and this: Bike Cleaner - Park Tool - Park CB-2 Citrus Chain-Brite Cleaner. That's twice the amount of solution (16 fl. oz. vs 8 fl. oz.), but no brush. However, I don't understand what the included brush is supposed to do. I've used it on my cassette. It didn't do anything. If you need to clean between the cogs on your cassette, get a rag, pull it taught, and drag the edge between the cogs.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
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Buy this if you care about your bike (with tips on using it), July 25, 2009
By Bart Codd
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This product does a fantastic job cleaning dirt, grit, gunk, and old lube off your chain, without having to remove the chain from the bike. Every so often, depending on how obsessive you are about your bike, use this to get the chain sparkly clean. (After a scrub with the cleaning fluid, I like to follow up with a scrub using warm water and liquid dish detergent; OK, I'm pretty dang obsessive!) While you're at it, squirt some of the cleaning fluid onto the included gear cleaning brush and use it like a toothbrush to de-gunk the gears (front and back), and wipe the gears with a thin strip of cloth, dental floss style. Dry everything off with a rag, and apply a good bike chain lube like White Lightning or Purple Extreme. (Don't use household oil products like 3-in-1; it's a gunk magnet and really hard to clean off!) Do all this (even just a couple of times a year if you don't ride a lot), and you'll be rewarded with a smoother, faster, squeak-free ride and less wear and tear on gears and chain!
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
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What a time saver!, January 6, 2009
By TerryK (Mobile, AL)
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This little chain cleaning kit is worth every penny. I now have five family bikes that I maintain and is this ever a time saver. The very simple process takes about 3-4 minutes per bike and the chain comes out absolutely clean and ready for re-lubing. The tool really does all the dirty work.
The chain tool and the scrubber brush are very sturdy. Don't let the picture fool you into thinking this is some fragile brittle toy. It is made of a high quality and very tough plastic, somewhat like a rigid Tupperware, the construction inspires confidence in the item. I can see it lasting for many years to come. The brush that is included works perfectly to get down in between the gears and get all the little stubborn nasty bits dislodged.
If you're still trying to clean your chain by hand or you have multiple bikes to deal with, please do yourself a favor and get one of these. You will thank yourself.
P.s. Read the instructions before the first use, it will save you some spilled cleaner the first time you use it. :) Enjoy.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
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Great product, messy process, January 22, 2010
By David Gould (Jacksonville, FL)
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PRODUCT: great product. park tool has always been very reliable when it comes to bike tools. the quality is high, its well made, and does not feel flimsy. all products included were as advertised.
USE: the trickiest part of setup, if you dont have a bike repair stand, is finding a good position for your bike while still being able to crank the chain. once i found a good position i snapped the product onto my chain with ease, filled it up with the cleaning fluid, and started cranking... first, be careful how you position the tool or you could knock the chain off the chainring, happened a couple times and made quite a mess considering i had to reposition the bike and eventially remove the product so i could re-route my chain. it does require a few refills of the cleaning fluid (depending how dirty your chain is) my chain was moderately dirty, so i ended up using 3/4 of the cleaner in the 3 refils i made. when you stop cranking the cleaning fluid will drip quite a bit so you want to do this in a designated service area (i.e. not on your wifes favorite rug). after you remove it i suggest wiping the excess fluid from effected areas and running your chain through a rag to soak up the excess. i also suggest spraying the product out with a hose after use as much sediment and gunk builds up in the resevoir and on the brushes.
OVERALL: satisfied. it got my chain cleaner than i could without it. after a long time of cleaning my chain without the proper tools its great to finally be able to get into the nooks and cranies of my chain. this product has made my maintenance routine easier and is a great invention for keeping your drive train clean.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
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Leaves the chain sparkling, October 16, 2008
By M. J Lane (USA)
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I find this unit to be easy to use and very effective. I took off a star because if you use it as directed you'd go through virtually the entire bottle of cleaning solution with the first use. It would be helpful if they included a much larger bottle (maybe 3x the size).
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
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Works like a charm, September 4, 2007
By Orbea rider (Ames, IA USA)
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Finally a product that does what it claims it will, and at a reasonable price. It is easy to find additional cleaning fluid. Even your most stupid friend can figure this one out (and I have proved that a few times in the first week of owning it).
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
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Pretty good for it's price, August 20, 2007
By Mushegh Malkhasyan
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The product as suggested does the job. I am not rating it with 5 * as the handle is a little flimsy and the cover doesn't close as airtight as one would hope.
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
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Easy to use - better than most, May 18, 2010
By me="R328EZ3FX10UIP">
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
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Easy to use, simple instructions. Uses a great deal of fluid, especially if you run the chain through twice like it recommends. Used half the provided bottle on the first chain. No matter what, some fluid drips out, so use newspaper under the chain. Makes a really messy job a bit easier, more likely to do it. Pros: Definitely made well, much more rugged than Performance or others, good metal clips. Cons: Bristles come out easier than i thought, 1st use 20 or more bristles caught in various bits of the chain or dumped out with used fluid.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
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Solid Unit Cleans Chain Fast With Little Mess, January 10, 2009
By Adjusting Fine (Tustin, CA)
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I got this chain cleaner as a gift. I used a different, smaller, unit in the past that was so so. As with most Park tools, the build quality is solid and looks like it will last a long time. I loaded it up with the citrus degreaser, and the chain was clean in 30 spins of the crank, just like the instructions said.
The body of the unit is made from thick plastic. The brushes are big and should stand up to use for a while.
I like that the instructions said I could use dishwashing soap and water instead of the probably more expensive citrus product this package comes with.
It looks like you could rinse this and put it in the dishwasher for cleanup.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
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Cleans very well - bike now smoother and faster, June 28, 2008
By phwang
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Neglected my mountain bike for about 5 years. Cleaned it with this nifty chain cleaner and brush and then oiled it. The chain is nice and clean and the bike is easier to pedal.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
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No more Newbie Tattoos!, February 23, 2010
By J. Twining
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Being a newbie cyclist, it seemed that I was the only one on my pace line getting the tell tale tattoo (greasy black line on my inner right calf and on bad days, greasy smears all over my very cool cycling clothes (rendering them immediately UNCOOL). A gentle soul from farther up in the pace line put me on to the park tool chain gang chain cleaning system so I ordered it from Amazon as they had the best price. i followed the very easy directions to a t and in less than 10 minutes...viola! NO MORE NEWBIE TATtOOS! My chain, cogs and rings glistened. Coolness, restored.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
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beat expectations, April 7, 2011
By William Winslow (chicago, IL United States)
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I live in Chicago and ride year round. My drive train gets pretty dirty and historically I've cleaned my chains by hand. I maintain my chains by wiping them down and lubricating every 80-100 miles.My methods are suboptimal at best. I purchased the CG-2 intending on using it on my commuter and my tour/road bike. Both chains are about two years old and the commuter chain was the dirtier of the two. That being said the commuter chain has seen some rough weather and some slushy/salty roads. Assembly and application of the tool is straight forward and I was surprised of the 'quality' of the CG-2 (I know Park builds nice steel tools but never expected so much from 10.oz's of plastic). It did a great job of cleaning my commuter chain and truly did a better job than I've ever been able to do by hand. The degreaser most definitely improved the cleaning however the application by the CG-2 gets to places on the chain you can't get to by soaking or wiping down. My tour/road bike cleaned up like it was a new chain and can now read the embossed 'SRAM' on the chain. I would suggest anybody concerned about keeping their chains clean purchase this.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Does what it says, February 27, 2011
By J. Ward
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I have a bicycle that is 7 years old. I have never cleaned the chain. I used to spray WD-40 on it to lubricate it and keep the rust off. The bike hasn't been ridden in years. Stored in the desert (both inside and outside). I ran the chain through this thing one time after pre-cleaning it with more WD-40 and a wire brush and the thing came out looking great. I also used the teflon lubricant that Amazon recommended alongside this product instead of re-soaking the chain in WD-40 again. Definitely smoother and quieter operation now.
I'd give it 5 stars but it's a bit pricey for what you get. Maybe if they included two bottles of the solvent with it instead of just one. But don't worry. The instructions say you can use dish soap instead of the solvent but I'm sure their stuff works better. I'll probably switch back and forth to make their stuff last as long as possible.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Easy chain cleaning, August 29, 2010
By WASH (Cornelius, NC United States)
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It was only after a derailleur mishap where it somehow got tangled in the chain, wrapping around my cogs, and slicing into the carbon-fiber seat-stay did I realize the importance of getting all the "gunk" off my drivetrain components. I used to remove the freewheel, take of the chainrings, and scrub each tooth with an old toothbrush and some Simple Green. It is a HUGE time-saver and gets the job done just as well by filling up the chain cleaner and rotating the pedals.
My only complaint is with the price of the Park chain cleaner solution. My advice here is to go out and get one of those big bottles of SimpleGreen. It does the same thing for a fraction of the price.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Great way to clean your chain, June 23, 2009
By J. Silva (Los Angeles,CA)
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Cleaning your chain is always a pain in the [...]. Thank God for this product. I've had people tell me the best way to clean your chain is to break it put it in a solution and then put a new link in again...that sounds like quite a chore.
The park tool product is a great alternaitive to breaking your chain just to clean it. i have an xtracycle cargo bike ([...]) and the chain is literally the size of two chains. This tool makes it much easier to keep clean. I like the teeth on the brush to get the rear cog cleaned too. well worth the [...] or whatever it costs.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Great Simple System, May 5, 2009
By KES (Springfield, OR)
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Had never cleaned a bike chain before. I read some other reviews online saying how easy this was and the others were right. The system is simple (follow the directions), fast and made little mess (although do put down papers or do it outside). The results were great! Then used the Park Tool lube after cleaning. There is enough cleaning solution for about 2 separate cleanings. Also like that it is an citrus-based cleaner. Would definitely recommend this.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Just Great !, December 14, 2008
By Mohammed jidia
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i use this chain cleaner yesterday to clean my chain in mountain bike and after finishing i said : WAW !
the chain become new like first time i bought the bike !
the cleaner is very good quality also
buy one of this !
Realy you will need it
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Works well - Go ahead and buy, June 20, 2009
By R. Mimbs
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Product cleans chain really well. Two things:
1.) Place an old sheet or something underneath or you're going to spill nasty looking liquid all over.
2.) Although the cleaner bottle that comes with will get you through a few cleanings, know that this product does not use cleaner sparingly. Expect to buy an economy sized bottle of citrus cleaner next.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
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 Contraption, August 10, 2011
By DC (New York)
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I have met a contraption, and it is the Park Tool CG-2 kit. I ended up laughing at the situation I created with this artifact. I followed the instructions and filled the gadget to the line with the cleaning solution, then proceeded to insert the lower half of the chain loop and rotate the crankset backwards. I realized too late that pedals and tool would effectively engage in a tug-of-war: The chain derailed from the crankset and got stuck between the large ring and the front derailleur. As I tried to manage the situation, the container kept dripping cleaning solution all over. A few tricky minutes later, the chain was back in place, and I resumed the (chain) cleaning process. The internal brushes rotated happily as the chain went in, however at the output the chain would constantly take along bristles that would get caught in the links. Meanwhile, at the upper end of the chain loop, dirty cleaning solution kept dripping onto the bike frame. Another few minutes later, however, the chain was indeed clean as new. I proceeded to oil it and then clean up all the mess I had made.
I was going to write that the best part of the whole kit is the cleaning solution, which I even used to clean the frame itself. But I couldn't help read the note in the instructions which advises that soapy water should be good as well.
Not sure I will ever use this again. But it was fun.
4 of 7 people found this review helpful
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Good and bad, but mostly goood, August 4, 2011
By N. Anderson (Washington, DC)
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The actual chain cleaning machine here works really well. I love it, and use it at least once a week on my bikes. I've used a few of the competing products, and this is the best constructed one of them. The citrus brite is also excellent, doing its job well.
One complaint is that the freewheel brush is worthless. The bristles are poorly attached the handle, and if you actually use it, you'll be using another brush to clean the gunk AND detached bristles out of your sprockets.
The second complaint is that the chain cleaner is a very deep well, and requires a lot of the chain cleaner to be used each time. One big bottle will last you about ten cleanings, give or take a few.
Overall though, I'm pleased with the purchase, and will continue to use Park Tool products.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Easy to Clean, July 27, 2011
By ThomasN (Houston, TX)
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Makes cleaning the chain so much easier. I bought the ZEP Heavy Duty Citrus Degreaser, 128 oz at Home Depot for about $11 once the bottle that it came with ran out. It's basically the same cleaner.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Chain Gang Chain cleaning System, January 8, 2011
By CxAgent (Texas)
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The system works well and appears to be well built. The first couple of times I've used it the chain took several 'refills' to be cleaned, but the chain was pretty dirty. More recent cleanings only required one filling with solution. The only complaint is pretty minor. It takes a fair amount of cleaning solution per cleaning, which can get expensive. But any other cleaning method would probably require as much or more cleaning solution so that's not a complaint against the system as much as a complaint against the cost of maintenance.
Overall, I happy with it and would buy it again.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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 Falling apart during first use, April 3, 2010
By Chris
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The cleaning system would get stuck on the chain constantly and the bristles on the wheels would fall out and be stuck in my chain. I spent more time removing the bristles from my chain than anything else. By the time i was done half the bristles were laying on the floor. Very messy and solution spills everywhere!
Maybe i got a defective unit??
3 of 9 people found this review helpful
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Cleans well but a bit tricky to use, October 12, 2011
By pamelita (New York, NY)
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This is my first chain cleaning tool so I assume I'll get more adept at it with practice...it does a good job of cleaning my bike chain much more quickly than when I was doing it by hand with an old toothbrush, but I do find it a little difficult to use. First, the snaps that hold the top in place are really tight and not at all easy to close; second, the device itself is tight on my chain once snapped into place, and the first time I used it I knocked my chain off three times before I was finished cleaning. Subsequently, I stopped pushing my chain all the way down into the left-hand brush, and this seems to ease the tension enough so that my chain (usually) stays on as I turn the crank.
The whole process can be a little messy, like others have said, as the device leaks a bit (so definitely put down newspaper if you are cleaning indoors) but I don't find it as messy as cleaning by hand with toothbrushes and spray lube, so I prefer using the Park cleaning tool. For even a moderately dirty chain, however, I find I need to change the solution a few times before my chain is completely clean--the fluid becomes black in about 30 seconds! And the little bottle of cleaner that comes with the kit is finito after just a few cleanings. I have switched to a citrus-based degreaser (diluted) which I got in a hardware store for much less than the Park cleaning fluid costs and that's working just fine for me. I also use that same degreaser to clean my chainrings and cog set and derailleur pulleys, with rags and the scrub brush provided in this kit and that works well too. I clean my chain once a week (or after every hundred miles, whichever comes first) so this time-saving device has made the process a lot easier for me.
I don't think you can really expect no mess at all when cleaning a bike chain--it kind of goes with the territory....and I do think the Park chain cleaner gives one of the least messy as well as quickest options I've found to keeping my chain clean. While not perfect, I'd recommend it to the average bike rider who wants to keep their chain in good working order and prefers not to have stripes of grease all over their legs.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Great tool, not for wussies...., July 31, 2011
By D. Stephens
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I've never used a chain cleaning washer before, I always used to pull the chain off, soak it in kerosene in a pan and scrubbed with a toothbrush, old school style. Problem is that alot of grit gets left in the chain that way.
I didn't use the citrus cleaner, I really don't want water in my chain! I used kerosene in the tool and my God! this thing did a marvelous job of making the chain look new again. My chain hadn't been cleaned since the bike was new about 6 years ago. I haven't ridden a whole lot of miles though and used a wax based lube. Kerosene took it all out.
Now, if you're not mechanically oriented and don't want to get your hands dirty, forget it, you're going to spill cleaning fluid and have to deal with the black mess the tool will accumulate in the bottom of the cleaner, working on bikes is a dirty job any way you look at it. You must maintain your bike or you're going to have an accident or be stranded on the road; a clean chain is always a good idea, the more it wears the more your entire gearing system wears and when you get a new chain most likely you'll need a new freewheel cluster and chain rings, so keep it clean for longer life.
It does slosh a little out the ends, so what, it also cleans incredibly well, unbelievably well in fact. I ordered the extra sponges kit with extra parts and will use this thing often. Put plenty of newspaper down to catch the spills, watch some of the videos on YouTube how to use it effectively, its a GREAT tool....
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Great product, July 7, 2011
By flying_mistery
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This is truely a great product. Used it on 2 chains with my friends bikes (just bought myself a new Cube mountainbike). They rode a mountainbike marathon through lots of water and mud and their chains were screwed up. Lots of rust on their chains so I decided to help them and see if this product would help.
Couldn't believe my eyes. It wrenched off all the rust, chain looks like a new one.
Make sure not to throw away the dirty (rusted) water through your sink.
As almost everyone wrote here the bottle that comes with the package is only good for 4 times so make sure you buy some extra bottles when you purchase this product. You won't regret it.
Good luck !
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Cleaner, July 6, 2011
By The Situation
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Great item for cleaning your chain. does the job. kinda of messy, so its best to do it outdoors or get a box flat on the floor under the chain so it won't get on the floor.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Clean your bike chain with this, you won't regret it!, May 5, 2011
By Geocentricity
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Pros:
- Easy to set-up and use
- It cleans off everything that's on the chain
- Cleaning the unit is simple
Cons:
- The brush they provide isn't GREAT (no big deal)
- dirt and other impurities settle to the bottom of the unit and need to use something to loosen it before rinsing
- If you do not have your bike secured to a STURDY/STIFF position on a stand, the chain will tug at the unit as it goes through. This causes MAJOR spillage of the cleaning fluid and my first time using it I had to refill the unit.
Overall:
Great product for DIY chain cleaning. Albeit you get your hands dirty, but you won't mind if you love biking and your bike.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Awesome, April 6, 2011
By Grant440
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I have a road bike and have never cleaned the chain. I have always brought to the shop, but i'm wanting to save money and I want to learn how to work and fix my own bike! so i bought this Chain Gang and used it right out of the box and it performed AMAZING!!! I would highly recommend this tool to ANYONE...
WORKS JUST LIKE THEY SAY IT DOES!!!!
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Cleaning made easy, February 16, 2011
By Jaws
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This is a wonderful tool. Not only can you order parts once they wear out- which mine hasn't yet, but let's be real, metal vs foam and plastic is going to wear down eventually. It takes about 5 minutes for one run-through. The magnet on the bottom, to catch metallic particles? Genius. The spare brush? Genius. This thing makes cleaning chains much easier, and the best part is you can use ordinary dish soap and water as a cleaning solution, which means the cleaning fluid is cheap and affordable. The only thing the bottle that comes with it has is a nice citrus smell.
If you bike, you need one. Hands down.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Works like it says., November 3, 2010
By Ehren T. Gresehover (Brooklyn, NY)
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The process is a little messy, but less messy than I had feared. The bottom line, though, is that it works like a charm. My chain was clean in a few minutes, and once I oiled it up, everything is much smoother.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Cleans chains, however...., September 1, 2010
By Felix Book Reader (Saginaw Valley, Michigan, USA)
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I bought this to clean the chain on my, at least 20 year old, Specialized Hardrock bike I use for paved rail trail and road riding. It is a two hand job to use the chain cleaner, the easiest way to use it it to place a bike on a bike work stand. I don't have a bike work stand so my son held the bike while I used the chain cleaner. A person could also hang a bike off a garage ceiling joist if no one is available to hold the bike for you. If you have never used a chain cleaner on your chain you will have to use the cleaner till the fluid is dirty, clean the inside of the unit then repeat the sequence till the fluid and chain is clean. In my case I repeated the cleaning cycle 5 times and used the supplied Citrus cleaner the first application then used Pine-Sol cleaner 3 times and Citrus cleaner the last time . I have always lubricated my chain correctly but, I never cleaned it with a mechanical chain cleaner device. The magnet located on the outside bottom is a very clever and useful feature, I was very surprised at all the metal shaving the first time I used the cleaner. The brushes seem to be a little flimsy, the bristles pull out easily and become lodged into the chain links. There is a replacement kit available containing brushes and a sponge. The unit itself seems somewhat durable but, treat it with care, I think it would break easily if a person treats it roughly. The Citrus cleaner works very well but, it is quite expensive so I'm trying different cleaning products. Pine-sol doesn't work well so I will try something else in the future. UPDATE: 07/03/2011, Simple Green cleaner/degreaser works really well. For a few dollars more than the cost of a 16 ounce bottle of Park brand Chainbrite cleaner a person can buy a gallon (128 ounces) jug of Simple Green.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Good tool, November 7, 2009
By JP
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I've used this tool over the Spring, Summer and Fall and it has worked very well. You do need to be a bit gentle with the unit or you might damage the plastic - especially around the clips. Mine has some slight damage so I need to keep an eye on it as I rotate my chain so it doesn't pop open but it isn't a big deal. The chain comes out nice and shiny and I expect the tool to last for several more years.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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My Old Trek Really Benefitted, October 13, 2009
By Arkbiz 44 (East Coast USA)
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I have an old road bike. There was a little creaking sound w/ each revolution of the chain. I used this product to clean the chain, then lubed w/ their brand of Teflon chain oil. Now the creak is gone. The bike pedals so smoothly and quietly! Wow!
It's quick and easy, but it does make a mess, so use newspaper and wipe down the the chain w/ rags after cleaning and after your first ride (post-oiling).
Very impressive...
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Old bike, new chain!, October 5, 2009
By Jim Livingston (Columbia, SC)
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A very old bike patched together with many scraps and gummed up chain. One pass through your clean chamber and the chain shined! Being a 75 year old rider, I do not fancy having to take the chain off and soaking it as I did some 65 years ago.
Jim
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Worked as advertised, June 3, 2009
By IceDog (Hooksett, NH United States)
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This product did exactly what it was supposed to do. It took care of my grimy chain. It had 4 years of use and It was long overdue for a cleaning. I opened the product out of the box read the straight forward instructions and cleaned the chain with great results. My hands got a little dirty cleaning the product after the first and second use. However since the degreaser was mixed with the grease when I got the mixture on my hands while cleaning it came off pretty quickly. Now that I have this product I'll maintain my chain better, especially since I know it only takes about 15-20 minutes to clean the chain and clean the product and myself up afterwards.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Park Tool Chain Cleaning System, May 13, 2009
By Kevin Nguyen (Piedmont, CA)
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Great product. My first time cleaning the chain on my 15 yr old Bridgestone. Worked so well I ended up cleaning my wife's and kids' bikes. They all look great now. Easy and painless.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Easiest way to clean a bike chain, April 25, 2009
By a salmagundi of a man (Chicago, IL USA)
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Love this thing! My chain gets clean and I don't get dirty. The directions that come with it tell you how to use the cleaning system if you have a bike stand. I found that flipping the bike upside down and following the directions works just fine.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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You'll be amazed by how clean a chain can be, March 8, 2009
By David Jorgensen (Boulder, CO)
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I got this mainly for my commuter bike, which is a fixed gear single speed. I hadn't cleaned by chain more than rubbing it with towels once every month or so. I ride my bike through the winter too so it was filthy. After two rounds with the included cleaning solution the chain was silver colored again. I had forgot I didn't buy a black chain. It is super easy to use and as long as you don't spin your chain really fast there is no mess. It does an amazing job.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Cleaner, July 6, 2011
By Icebergtech
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Great item for cleaning your chain. does the job. kinda of messy, so its best to do it outdoors or get a box flat on the floor under the chain so it won't get on the floor.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Clean your bike chain with this, you won't regret it!, May 5, 2011
By Geocentricity
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Pros:
- Easy to set-up and use
- It cleans off everything that's on the chain
- Cleaning the unit is simple
Cons:
- The brush they provide isn't GREAT (no big deal)
- dirt and other impurities settle to the bottom of the unit and need to use something to loosen it before rinsing
- If you do not have your bike secured to a STURDY/STIFF position on a stand, the chain will tug at the unit as it goes through. This causes MAJOR spillage of the cleaning fluid and my first time using it I had to refill the unit.
Overall:
Great product for DIY chain cleaning. Albeit you get your hands dirty, but you won't mind if you love biking and your bike.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Good chain cleaner and kit, January 4, 2012
By Simon
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This is my first on-bike chain cleaner and after the first use, it seems to be good. The installation and removal from bike was pretty easy and there is not much on the cleaner itself to clean. Because of the brushes and foam, it can be pretty hard to move over the chain. It will be easier if the bike is upside down or on a bike stand since if it is just balanced on the wall, the bike can move around.
Keeping the cleaner upright is very important since some of the cleaner can spill out if its at an angle and the rollers are working. I used mineral spirits instead of the included degreaser the first time around but i have heard great things about the included degreaser/cleaner.
The cassette brush works great. The plastic handle can be used to fish out gunk from the cassette while the brush gets rid of the stuff on the sprockets. The particles will get on the floor but at this point it is mostly dry so you can sweep it up later.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Bike cleaning system, December 24, 2011
By stylus
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I bought this for easy use to clean my chain. It is easy to attach to my bike and all you have to do is rotate the pedals. It has easy moving parts and the cleaner works fast. It has a brush for hard to remove dirt parts. I looked around for a better price but this was the best. The clean up is easy so your don't have to get dirty.....
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Cleaned my Shimmano Chain, November 1, 2011
By Omer Mahmood
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This works great. I have old bike and I used this after adding about 700 miles.
Chain was cleaned in one go and bike sounds better also. After cleaning I am using while lighting wax.
However I think this should be around $10 - 15, not sure why they charge $30 for this.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Works as advertised!, October 30, 2011
By jdd
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What a wonderful product. Works well and is easy to use. The manufacturer even says you can substitute dishwasher soap for the liquid cleaner that comes with the system. All in all, "Works as advertised". What a concept.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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great, October 27, 2011
By huey20031
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Got the product. It worked well and my chain sounds great. I wish it came with more liquid cleaner though.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overpriced but does the job, October 17, 2011
By Victor
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I've had my road bike for about 8 or 9 months and I figured a chain cleaning was overdue. So, I bought this. Its fairly simple to use, and like other reviewers mentioned, take it slowly and fill the fluid a bit less than at the line and you'll be fine. You'll want to cover the ground with a rag or newspaper as well if you're doing this indoor. As I've never cleaned my chain by hand, I can't really say how this thing compares. But, it got my chain cleaned pretty quickly - although, I do think it's quite overpriced for what you get. If it was less expensive, I'd give it 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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It does the job well but is messy, October 10, 2011
By scorchedearth (USA)
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This cleaner cleaned my chain very well. I felt like the instructions called for too much of the degreasing fluid to be used because the little bottle didn't last too long. I intend to buy a different brand of citrus degreaser, dilute it, and clean the chain again to see if that works as well.
The downside is that the process is messy however it is easier than dealing with kerosene or leftover mineral solvents if you use a biodegradable degreaser.
A good product.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Easy to use, September 15, 2011
By kellykungfu
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Easy to use but one would need to change the cleaning fluid 2-4 times to get the bike chain very clean. The bottle that came with this product only lasted me the cleanings for three different bikes. I'll look into some other brand of cleaners that are non-toxic and cheaper than the Park brand.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Great tool, September 8, 2011
By TN Cyclist
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This chain cleaner is very effective for a deep clean of your chain. I'm not sure about using it twice a week though for serious riders because you would be going through the cleaner fluid pretty quick but for a good deep cleaning of the chain, this tool is a winner. You need some device to lift your bike up or its pretty hard to use solo.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Great Cleaning Tool from Park Tool, September 4, 2011
By SpencerY
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This package is a quick and easy way to clean the gunk and grime off of your bike chain. I had my chain cleaned in no time following the simple directions included with the product. I was amazed at what the cleaning system was able to remove.
As other reviewers have pointed out, make sure that you have towels or newspaper down around your work area as some cleaning solution is bound to come out of the cleaning tool while you are working.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Mediocre, but does the job, September 4, 2011
By Jared Rich
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I found this tool to be a pain to use at first. The majority of the solvent had spilled out before I got even a third of my chain cleaned. Eventually, I got the hang of it and it was able to keep the solvent from massively spilling out. However, I think the problem could be alleviated with a little more design effort on the part of the manufacturer. Also, the nylon bristles in the brushes were coming off at an alarming rate. I imagine after 20 uses there will be no bristles left. Plus, many of them were getting stuck in my chain. The tool did get my chain very clean, and with practice it can be a fairly simple process without too much spillage, but I'm disappointed that they didn't come up with a better design.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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works - simple as that, September 1, 2011
By G. kelley (glen allan, va United States)
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You can clean your chain and drivetrain yourself. But like any good tool, this makes it easier and faster. Take care of your bike and it will take care of you.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Great for cleaning a bike chain, August 15, 2011
By R. H. Powell IV (Virginia, USA)
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This works great for cleaning your bike chain. I would recommend it. My chain was shiny and silver after the first cleaning. The only cons I can think of are 1) you have to hold it carefully to avoid pulling your chain off the gears when cleaning (but you can get the hang of that in about 20 seconds) and 2) the fact that it only comes with enough citrus based de-greaser for 2-3 chain cleanings (but dish soap and warm water work, although not quite as well, or you can buy more de-greaser). It definitely works better than anything else I have yet seen for great chain maintenance.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Works as advertised, August 1, 2011
By J. Yun (Bothell, WA)
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Pretty straightforward and easy to use. Does clean the chain very well, but I recommend putting newspaper down or using in the grass, as the dirty solution can splatter and spill. I also recommend using gloves to keep your hands clean.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Super easy, super effective, July 18, 2011
By amazon man
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The Park Tool is a great product and if you like your bike it allows you to keep the chair clean with no hassle. Plus, they cost even less online than in your bike shot.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Chain cleaning system., July 8, 2011
By biker101
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The Chain cleaning tool is great and the brush is awesome too. Once I am done cleaning my chain with this thing, the chain comes out sparkly and looks like new. The only thing is that the cleaning liquid leaves behind a toxic mess that cannot be disposed of easily (if you follow EPA guidelines).
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Works as promised, June 27, 2011
By Sven (USA)
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Product was easy to use and cleaned the chain very well. I have tried using a degreaser with various brushes before but was never able to get it look like brand new. Only downside is that the cleaning solution is quite expensive: 1 bottle lasts about 2-3 times and costs $12.77.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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fantastic chain cleaner!, June 23, 2011
By Enrique
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This is exactly what i've been looking for. It is great and easy to use. I'm an avid cyclist and this product is very needed.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Great cleaner. Keeps on working. Makes chains and parts shiny clean., June 21, 2011
By Sydyne
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Used this on four chains/sprockets that have never been cleaned. Sprockets and chain gunked to the point of not being able to see between the sprockets. The chain cleaner works great. The enclosed brush/sprocket tool works great. Brushes have held up well, no noticeable flaying of the bristles. Made all chains clean ever turning cleaning fluid completely black. Cleanup is as easy as removing all pieces and spraying with hose. Sponge is not damaged after 4 chain cleanings. Inside brushed took no wear either. Well made.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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really cleans, June 14, 2011
By Registered Nurse (Delano, CA)
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it does its job in cleaning between the linking chains. the solution is so small tho, i think about 3-5 uses only. And i take care of 4 bikes! T_T
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Does a good job., May 29, 2011
By barefooter (Round Lake, IL)
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Product works as good as advertised. I like that it has replacable brushes and sponge. Only enough cleaner to clean your chain once or twice if you follow the directions. Will use less exspensive cleaner in future.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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park tool chain cleaning system, January 28, 2011
By nuckman
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very easy to use and really does a good job. can be used so quickly you won't put off a needed cleaning. manufacturer says dishwashing detergent can be used instead of their own cleaning fluid which is a great cost savings.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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It did a nice job, November 27, 2010
By Merrill Gay (New Britain, CT United States)
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It did what it was supposed to do and cleaned up my grubby chain. Only thing keeping it from getting 5 stars is that the bottle of cleaning solution is pretty small. I'm using it on a recumbent trike that has a chain about 3 times longer than a typical bike so I go through the solution pretty fast.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Chain Cleaner, July 19, 2010
By Cycle nut (Los Angeles)
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It does the job well but you need to run the chain through the cleaner a couple of times, emptying the container, flushing it and repeating for a real clean process.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Great tool and Made in U.S., May 15, 2010
By P. vanGemmeren
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This tool works great and is nice and sturdy. Best of all it was Made in U.S.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Great product. Glad I purchased it., December 22, 2009
By C. Eaker (Atlanta, GA United States)
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I think this is a wonderful product. It made cleaning my chain so much easier. It took a few minutes for me to get he hang of it, but once I did, it was a breeze to use. It cleaned my chain sparkling clean and then I lubed it up. It made a huge difference in the ride.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Park Chain Gang Chain Cleaning System, October 21, 2009
By Lawrence H. Gamble
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I'm pleased with how well the Chain Gang works. The citrus degreaser that came with the system also works really well. I've found that to really get the chain clean you may need to run it through the Chain Gang a couple of times with fresh cleaner. It's so easy to use, running the chain through a couple of times doesn't take long. It is easy to clean the Chain Gang when you're done cleaning the chain. A very good product!
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Great innovative product, September 14, 2009
By Jason (Ohio)
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Park Tool CG-2 Chain Gang Chain Cleaning System Link is to the reviewed product. This works great cleans the chain far better than even soaking in kerosene. It was a bit awkward at first and having a bike stand is a plus but, even alone it does a fantastic job. The included sproket brush is also very useful my entire drivetrain shines like new.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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great and easy!, September 6, 2009
By Grad Student 25 (Bloomington, IN, USA)
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I bought this for my commuter bike after reading the great reviews. I bike through a park, on sidewalks, and on roads, so there is a wide range of debris that I encounter. This was so easy to use and got my chain cleaner than even when I first got the bike. The only "con" is that the bottle of cleaner than comes with it will probably only last about 3 cleanings if you follow the instructions, but the instructions claim you can use dish soap and water. Anyway, this product was so easy to use and really cleaned my chain so I'd recommend it highly!
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Cleans Chains - Great! People - No!, September 6, 2009
By D. Cloud (Grand Haven, MI United States)
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I bought this at my local bike shop and it's an awesome product for what it does. It only took me a couple minutes to fill it and snap it on my chain and the hand crank makes it an ease to use. Be careful to fill the Chain Cleaner only to the fill line. Any more cleaner fluid and it will go all over the place. I know because it happened to me my first time using it - doh! Yes, it can be a bit messy, especially if your chain is really dirty (like mine was), but if you're careful it shouldn't be too big a deal. The cleaning fluid can be found at almost any bike shop so getting more isn't a problem. What I love about the Chain Cleaner is that you can take everything apart - the body, brushes, etc. - and clean it all under the faucet with some soap and water. With careful use and proper maintenance this product should last for quite a while. I mean, how often do you clean your chain? I used this to clean my brother and niece's bike chains, too. They thought it was slick.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Works easily, works well, March 31, 2009
By Jerry (Chicago, IL)
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If you want an easy and effective way to clean your bike chain, this tool will do the job. The instructions are basic but the drawings included with them make using the cleaner pretty simple. It works great and will get your chain looking like new and ready for a fresh coat of your favorite lube. The cleaning fluid is a bit pricey so I will explore other options in that regard.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Good item, March 13, 2009
By L. LE (San Diego, CA USA)
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Good item that works. Nice solid build and good quality too.
Only complaint is, am I using this thing wrong? There's too holes at the top and that part is splashing out tiny tiny drops of dirty liquid as you use it? Maybe i'm doing something wrong, either way, i give this item 5 stars still.
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Works well, but be prepared to clean up, February 6, 2009
By Dr. Matt (Dingmans Ferry, PA United States)
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This product by Park Tool is great for cleaning that grimey chain and gears...but be prepared to lay down the equivalent of a full newspaper to keep the grease from ruining the carpet or household items. I would use it outside. Also, be prepared to spend 3 times the amount of time cleaning the cleaning system then it took to clean the chain.
I would recommend because I had never seen my chain so clean, but be prepared to spend about 2 hours doing it.
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Poor product, August 27, 2011
By Andrew
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I bought this review based off of all the positive reviews. When it arrived I immediately used it to clean my chains bike. I was surprised that the tool was made of plastic and thought it would break easy...
The first 2-3 times I used the tool it worked decent. The snaps to hook it on the chain are really rough to snap. You are forced to put a lot of effort into snapping them into place which makes you spill some degreaser. Nevertheless, it worked and cleaned the chain. After using the tool, I cleaned it and put it on my bike tool shelf.
That being said, around the 4th time I used it, the handle did not want stay on the tool. It would become loose and would easily fall off of the tool. I had to be delicate so that the handle wouldn't fall off so that I could clean my chain. Then...the part that locks the handle broke. I did not drop it, I did not throw it, I did not force the handle into the spot, it just broke. The cheap plastic BROKE. My initial thoughts of the tool came true. The cheap plastic broke. This was after the 5-6th time I used it. I still use the tool but have rigged the handle to work and am very delicate with the tool.
Overall, this product is made of cheap plastic and is not worth the investment, especially if you ride often and want to use this tool every few weeks.
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Chain cleaner, June 15, 2011
By Jim (Racine, WI USA)
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Product is more messy than taking the chain off and cleaning in a Mason jar of solvent/cleaner. Skip the expense.
1 of 6 people found this review helpful
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Convenient and effective, February 11, 2012
By GL
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This unit hits its marks: it's reasonably priced, it couldn't be much easier to use, it's effective at what it does, it's easy to clean, and the wear items are replaceable.
That said, only four stars because my preferred chain cleaning solution is actually to unpin my quick-release chain, place the chain into reused plastic jars, and give it a long bath in detergents or solvents. I imagine that a lot people who are going to bother with chain upkeep are going to own chains with this kind of pin, and thus can also do the same remove-and-clean instead of using a machine.
For those who own bikes without such quick-link chains and are not going to buy those chains in the near future, this type of product is a great one to own.
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Chain Cleaner, February 7, 2012
By Adrian (Feenux, AZ)
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This tool is simple to use and it really works. Mountain bike coming back coated in dirt and the chain cleaner works in about a minute and the chain is totally clean. You should see how much gunk is sitting at the bottom of the fluid capture when done! Amazing and worth every penny!
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Does what it is suppose to do!, March 2, 2012
By Len Burroughs (JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, US)
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works great! I used this chain cleaner several times on some seriously nasty chains and it makes them look new!
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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No better option for quickly cleaning your chain, February 28, 2012
By BW (Spokane, WA)
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I purchased this after watching some friends in college use these on their mountain bikes after some muddy rides through all areas around Bozeman. I used a hose and a brush.
Since then I have purchased one of these kits and I am very happy. I was finding that I was not doing a good job of cleaning my chain rings and chains, and was getting premature wear on my bike. I recently upgraded my drive train, and decided I was going to take better care of it.
The first thing I recommend is to do this outside or in an area you can easily wash off the floor. It isn't something you can do without spilling some of the solution. To me this isn't a drawback. I am usually wiping down the bike or rinsing it off anyway. The whole system would be easier on a bike stand, but I lean it up against something and it works fine. Chains come out sparkly clean, and the chain ring cleaning brush works great to get out the grit and grim. I had gunk in there for years that I couldn't get out without this brush. The bottle of solution won't last long, and I recommend using Simple Green or a good orange cleaner from the hardware store. Either works great and produces similar results.
It is quick, easy, and works.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Easy and Effective, January 17, 2012
By ard
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The mess (or lack of) was great for me to do a quick clean in my apartment when it's 10 degrees outside. Easy set-up, execution, and clean up through the whole process.dis-accembles for easy clean. Magnet at the bottom is great catching metallic debris that can create havoc on the chain. This product is great for maintenance cleaning and re-lubing between full overhauls and soaking of the chain.
My only complaint was the amount of degreasing solution int he kit. Especially when it ask for 1-4 rounds depending on build up. I would think a concentrated formula would be more economical. I decided to go a different direction and start off with the recommended dish soap/water formula, on to the the degreaser solution, and finishing off with a warm water rinse and drying. I should be able to squeeze a few more cleans out of it. The tool is itself is perfect.
In the end, I'd use this product for maintenance and upkeep, but still invest routine soak cleanings and other tune ups.
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works great, August 10, 2010
By Von T (Florida)
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Does a very good job of cleaning the chain and is super easy to use.
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Park Tool CG-2 Chain Gang Chain Cleaning System, August 4, 2010
By David P
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This chain cleaning system works as specified. Easy to use...easy to clean. Recommend buying it!
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Easy to use - better than most, May 18, 2010
By me="R2YIG57CT4DHHX">
4.0 out of 5 stars
Easy to use - better than mo
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Easy to use, simple instructions. Uses a great deal of fluid, especially if you run the chain through twice like it recommends. Used half the provided bottle on the first chain. No matter what, some fluid drips out, so use newspaper under the chain. Makes a really messy job a bit easier, more likely to do it. Pros: Definitely made well, much more rugged than Performance or others, good metal clips. Cons: Bristles come out easier than i thought, 1st use 20 or more bristles caught in various bits of the chain or dumped out with used fluid.
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Study Chain Cleaner, May 5, 2010
By James Akin (Kingsland, GA)
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I took my old mountain bike out for a tune up. The chain had rust layers of dust and dirt collecting on the chain oil from the bike sitting. Two cleaning cycles and the chain was looking like new. Great purchase and cheaper than a new chain.
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Park tool, April 8, 2010
By James R. Loveland
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I have used it once. It works. Not much else to say. If you have a dirty chain get one.
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Park Tool CG-2 Chain Gang Cleaning System review, March 17, 2010
By bleh (Cali)
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Actually cleans the chain well...however, I would like the option of being able to mount the handle on either side.
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Good product, March 16, 2010
By LABenficista (LA, CA USA)
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Wow you wont believe how clean this gets your drive train. It works great, the solvent works like a charm. This is a must have if you are a mtb, XC or downhiller . This is a very good investment in your bike, it will give you a TON more time with your components.
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Very well thought out., January 4, 2010
By David Migl (College Station, TX)
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All the brushes are replaceable and come out easily for cleaning/drying. My chain is always sparkling clean after cleaning with the CG-2. It even has a magnet on the bottom to catch metal shavings that come off the chain.
You have to be careful to hold the cleaner just right so the chain doesn't come off your front cog. And the included citrus cleaner is good for filling up the chain cleaner about 3 times - or one chain cleaning. Just get some cheap cleaner from HEB or Walmart or somewhere.
Overall this is the best thing to ever happen to my chains. Superb.
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So easy, November 2, 2009
By Joe Parent
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Took minutes to hook up. I was amazed at how easy this was and it did a great job.
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chain cleaner, January 8, 2012
By mike
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i'm sure this chain cleaner works fine, but i havnt used it yet. pleas write at least 20 words describing your experience with this item. more words and stuff cuz it's required.
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
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buy a chain tool, December 26, 2011
By coody
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you are better off investing in a chain tool, removing the chain, and giving it a good cleaning. this thing is junk. its messy and doesnt clean the chain very well. buy a chain tool. forget all the gimiky all in one multi do everything from outer space garbage and go old school.
update, jan 8,2012: if you buy product and are not satisfied with it it cannot be returned because of the cleaning fluid. if you are absolutely sure you want this product go for it. if your not absolutely sure DONT BUY IT. I dont even know why they sell the cleaning fluid, even the intructions read you can use water and dish detergent. the brush is garbage. totaly worthless. you dont even realy need a brush to clean a bike chain unless it is filthy grimed up and needs to be scrubbed. and its alot easier scrubbing a chain if its off the bike. otherwise you will end up with dirty grimey fluid spattered every where. this item makes such a mess you will ne cleaning alot more than your chain. it slops dirty fluid on your chain rings, sprockets, derraileurs, floor, your wheel rims including the brake surfaces, spokes, and you will still have to clean your chain again because it only demoves some of dirt. the fluid will be black and your chain will be clean-er, but it will not be clean. if you wipe a clean white cloth along the chain and any grey or black residue remains the chain is not clean. any remaing grime will redistribute over your entire drive train. park tool makes some fine products, I have several park wrenches and they great tools. park make some fine products, this cleaning kit is not one of them.
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
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didn't, May 23, 2011
By Gregory C. Ward (Central Florida)
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order or need-an Amazon "glitch" -Have has similar bike too for years-a great tool to have & use though. Simple & effective.
0 of 8 people found this review helpful
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Its ok., January 31, 2012
By Christian
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The method of it seems ok, but it makes the chain come off when I do it... I am unsure if I am doing it wrong. When it does work, it really cleans the chain really nice.
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Not a complete chain care system, but an important part of one., January 30, 2012
By A. Gies
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I purchased this chain cleaning tool to clean the chain on a road bike which I (at the time) rode to and from work daily.
The bike was fairly new at the time, and I had never cleaned the chain before. It was starting to get a little noisy, so I figured it was about time to clean and re-lube it. The chain still had the original grease-type factory lubricant on it. I feel like the included chain cleaning solvent wasn't really up to the task of dissolving this. I ended up emptying about a full can of White Lightning Easy Clean (not available on Amazon as of this writing) onto the whole drivetrain to dissolve the worst of the gunk before running the chain through the cleaning tool to scrub it clean.
I live in an area which receives heavy snow and ice, so there tends to be a lot of grit left on the roads in the spring left over from sanding/salting of roads and driveways. This stuff will gunk up a chain pretty badly. The chain cleaner's rotating brushes did a fair job of cleaning grit out of the links.
The tool comprises a body which holds a few ounces of cleaner, a rotating brush assembly which scrubs the sides of the chain, two rotating brushes which clean the top and bottom of the chain, and a foam sponge which soaks up/squeegees off the better part of the fouled cleaner as the chain exits. I expected this sponge to be completely torn up and destroyed after a few cleanings, but so far it has held up. There is also a magnet attached to the outside of the bottom of the body, so that metal particulate is captured here. The top part of the tool snaps off to allow the chain to be inserted, and snaps back on with two metal clips. The chain is left on the bike during cleaning.
The included chain cleaner is citrus oil-based, so it's ostensibly pretty environmentally friendly. Still, you should take care to dispose of fouled cleaner properly, as it will probably end up black with road gunk and petroleum byproducts and other nasty stuff. The fouled cleaner will stain pavement black. The bottle is pretty much trial-sized and is good for maybe two cleanings, but most bike shops carry the exact same stuff.
You will want to let the chain dry completely before re-lubricating, as the cleaner will dissolve or displace most bike lube. I was in a hurry, so I washed off the remaining cleaner with another blast of Easy Clean spray solvent, which evaporates quickly.
The included brush is pretty much useless. I suppose you could use it to scrub your cogs, but you'd probably be better off using a spray solvent like Easy Clean.
I suppose the tool appears to be of somewhat durable construction, but I have two areas of concern: (1) The places where the metal clips hold the top and bottom of the body together are showing some cracking/stress after only a few times snapping and unsnapping the clips; and (2) I have doubts about the long-term durability of the foam rubber sponge -- I'm sure a chain could tear it up, and I think foam rubber reacts unfavorably to certain petroleum distillates that might be present in bike lube.
The cleaning tool and included cleaning solvent didn't really work any miracles for me -- the chain was still visibly darker than a brand new chain and I could see a few individual grains of grit between the links here and there -- but it left my chain satisfactorily clean, dry and lube-free. I re-lubricated with White Lightning Epic Ride and rode my normal 3-mile route to work with a smooth and silent chain.
Overall, this is a useful tool for moderately intensive chain cleaning without the hassle of removing the chain from the bicycle, but if you have a very heavily fouled chain (e.g. gummed up with old lube) or the rest of your drivetrain is dirty, it can't do much but spread the grime around and you will need to bring in some other tools and/or cleaners.
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