Levo Gen 2 Chain cleaning, fastest procedure

[Grannyjones]

Seeing as this is a job that needs doing after every ride, current proceedures I'm using are taking too long.
As you can't back pedal the Levo it makes this job more tricky.
As mentioned in a previous thead you can back pedal with an allen key wedged in the chain ring but this turns the levo on and generates a motor error so back pedalling really is out of the question.
The park tool cyclone chain cleaner is designed for the bike to be pack pedalled.
Removal of chain and soaking in degreaser is time consuming, as is scrubbing the chain by hand while it is in the bike.

What is the quickest proceedure for this loathesome job that needs doing so often

 

[McInner1]

Once your chain was cleaned, the easiest way to keep the chain clean is to use wax instead of grease. You have to use it (nearly) before every ride, but your chain and cassette keep clean!

 

[Beekeeper]

Seeing as this is a job that needs doing after every ride, current proceedures I'm using are taking too long.
As you can't back pedal the Levo it makes this job more tricky.
As mentioned in a previous thead you can back pedal with an allen key wedged in the chain ring but this turns the levo on and generates a motor error so back pedalling really is out of the question.
The park tool cyclone chain cleaner is designed for the bike to be pack pedalled.
Removal of chain and soaking in degreaser is time consuming, as is scrubbing the chain by hand while it is in the bike.

What is the quickest proceedure for this loathesome job that needs doing so often

even worse for those with Gen 2 Bosch motors as there is not even a visible chainring to stick a piece of wood or Allen key into

 

[KennyB]

Fenwick's foaming chain cleaner and Fenwick's chain cleaning sponge.

 

[Beekeeper]

Anyone put a chain in the dishwasher as an experiment? I’ve put a variety of metal / mechanical objects in there and they all come out sparkling new

 

[Ted]

The latest Park Tool chain cleaner 5.3 allows the handle to be put on either side. That means you can turn the cranks forward and clean the chain properly on an E-bike. Just keep your hands out of the spinning wheel.

 

[steve_sordy]

I run the chain through an old towel. Squeezing the rollers first, then the sideplates. It gets the chain fairly clean and dry. Then I lube the chain. That takes only a few minutes.

Before riding I run the chain through the towel again, a clean part this time. Every now and then (usually a few times in the Winter) it gets a proper clean with degreaser and the Parktool cleaner. I ride a lot in a sandy place and I still get high mileage out of my 11-speed chain.

And once a year, when my wife is out, I put the towel through the washing machine.

 

[DreamensioN]

I cleaned my chain last night using the normal "BBB Chain Cleaner". You can't "back pedal" because moving the pedals backwards does nothing for the chain. However, I just lifted the back of the bike up and held it in my bike stand, and I spin the back wheel in reverse with my hand and that spins the chain backwards (effectively doing a back pedal on an analogue bike). That works for me.

....or am I doing something wrong and I shouldn't be doing that?

 

[iainc]

Reading with interest, I thought that popping an Allen key into the chainring and back pedalling the chain was the accepted way to do this ?

 

[Mikerb]

I use chain cleaner and a toothbrush followed by a wipe with a cloth. Then wet lube and wipe and finally dry lube.

 

[Grannyjones]

Reading with interest, I thought that popping an Allen key into the chainring and back pedalling the chain was the accepted way to do this ?

Doesn't work well at all on the Levo 2020. It creates a knock then the bike turns itself on and then it generates a motor error.

 

[Grannyjones]

Once your chain was cleaned, the easiest way to keep the chain clean is to use wax instead of grease. You have to use it (nearly) before every ride, but your chain and cassette keep clean!

Is that to replace the usual wet lube ?
Can you put it on at the end of every ride rather than at the start ?

 

[TheBikePilot]

Can you apply wax to a chain that has been conventionally lubed? I read somewhere once it's needs to be fully clear of all previous lube but that might have been the dubious wax bath people have mentioned.

 

[Grannyjones]

The latest Park Tool chain cleaner 5.3 allows the handle to be put on either side

I might have to sell my Park tool chain cleaner and get this one then

 

[James_C]

I just run it forward through the park tool cleaner and wiggle it about a bit. Does it matter that its going backwards?
judging by the black shite in the bowl afterwards, seems to be doing a good job.

I test my chain by twisting it with fingers. you can feel/hear grit before cleaning. Afterwards quiet and no grit

I probably do it weekly. Can't stand a dirty / gritty drivetrain.

 

[OldGoatMTB]

Seeing as this is a job that needs doing after every ride, current proceedures I'm using are taking too long.
As you can't back pedal the Levo it makes this job more tricky.
As mentioned in a previous thead you can back pedal with an allen key wedged in the chain ring but this turns the levo on and generates a motor error so back pedalling really is out of the question.
The park tool cyclone chain cleaner is designed for the bike to be pack pedalled.
Removal of chain and soaking in degreaser is time consuming, as is scrubbing the chain by hand while it is in the bike.

What is the quickest proceedure for this loathesome job that needs doing so often

I don't know that a motor error hurts the motor. Ask Spec. Personally I don't clean my chain that often, but I do like the Park chain cleaner. I use Simple Green with some water.

 

[cleoent]

I use the park tool cleaner, works very well.

 

[Jeffrey]

I'm cleaning my chain with a cheap ultrasonic cleaner (35€). Just put the dirty chain in the ultrasonic cleaner with warm water and dish soap then forget it for 10 minutes. After that the chain is like new.

I will never go back to other cleaning methods.

 

[Konanige]

Never use solvent cleaners myself, have learnt by many years of experience that doing so just washes all the lube out of the internals of the chain and you cant put it back, not with any lube. just hose it off to shift the grit, run it through a rag to dry then apply a good quality wax based lube such as white lightning Epic Ride, your chain will stay nice and clean and last ages.

 

[steve_sordy]

I have never had any luck with wax chains in the wet season, it is just not robust enough. Great when it's dry though. But in the UK, you can never tell whether it's going to be dry or wet; it might be dry today, but it was wet yesterday! Eventually, I decided to use wet lube all year round. I get good chain life so it seems to be working for me.

 

[Grannyjones]

Personally I don't clean my chain that often

I live in North West England and even right now despite it being the Peak of Summer the mud, rain and water is atrocious. The weather and mud is usually horrible by default all year round in north west England and a chain needs cleaning after every ride.

I've gone through a chain every month on the E Bike: Probably get 400 miles per chain. I've only been riding the E since the start of Summer as well!

 

[Grannyjones]

I have never had any luck with wax chains in the wet season, it is just not robust enough. Great when it's dry though. But in the UK, you can never tell whether it's going to be dry or wet; it might be dry today, but it was wet yesterday! Eventually, I decided to use wet lube all year round. I get good chain life so it seems to be working for me.

I've started using wet lube permenantly all year round now.
Even though there are a minority of rides where I could get away with dry lube, there's no way to predict when they will happen 90% of the time, as the bike is lubed at the end of every ride not at the start. (It has to be done at the end or it will usually go rusty)

 

[Grannyjones]

I'm cleaning my chain with a cheap ultrasonic cleaner (35€). Just put the dirty chain in the ultrasonic cleaner with warm water and dish soap then forget it for 10 minutes. After that the chain is like new.

I will never go back to other cleaning methods.

Sounds interesting - never heard of these before. Any ideas of any specifics that a cheap and get the job done ?

I know there's the time taken to take the chain on and off but from what I remember cleaning with the park tool wasn't exactly a quick process either to say the least.

 

[James_C]

why dont you set up an outdoor wash station so that you can just put the bike up on it, and clean the chain using the park tool straight away.
Just a big hook etc on an outside wall might do it. I've often thought about a hinged wooden arm that comes out from the wall or something. That way the wheels are free to rotate and the cleaning is kept outside.

At the moment I do it in the garage on a work stand which makes a mess.

 

[MrSimmo]

Which chain cleaner fluid does everyone use in the cleaning tool? - Muc Off, water+soap etc?

 

[cleoent]

Which chain cleaner fluid does everyone use in the cleaning tool? - Muc Off, water+soap etc?

I've been using wd40.

 

[steve_sordy]

I've been using wd40.

AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
WD40 is Satan's juice.
Never let it near your bike!

 

[Konanige]

I have never had any luck with wax chains in the wet season, it is just not robust enough. Great when it's dry though. But in the UK, you can never tell whether it's going to be dry or wet; it might be dry today, but it was wet yesterday! Eventually, I decided to use wet lube all year round. I get good chain life so it seems to be working for me.

White lightning Epic Ride is great all year round latest chain is 1500k and still ok

 

[Mcharza]

Guys, you're making it unnecessarily difficult. I myself wipe the chains clean with an old bath towel piece and add good chain oil. Such as Dry Finishline or Muc-Off Dry. Shift gears up and down a few times. Then wait a moment and wipe off any excess oils

Has done so for 30 years and the current chains have lasted more than 1000 km

 

[steve_sordy]

White lightning Epic Ride is great all year round latest chain is 1500k and still ok

I will investigate, thanks for the heads up.