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I've spent this afternoon bimbling in the garage fitting new chain and sprockets to the F650 (note to self change the supplied split link when the shops open on Tuesday.... I just don't like it)

As per usual with chain drive bikes (well one used as a winter commuter)it's hugely messy and my hands and forearms were covered in that black gritty glue that inhabits the corners of a chains run.

I know from past experience that Swarfega is to be honest a bit useless at real deep cleaning, but many years ago my Mum told me of a method cleaning my paws that was fantastic, and given my previous catering career at times vital to combine off duty spannering with on duty hygiene.
.... the secret to clean paws is a spoon full of granulated sugar and a spoonful or so of vegetable or olive oil.

The oils in the grime get drawn into the veg oil and the sugar acts as a mild abrasive lifting the grime out. Give it a good few minutes rubbing and wash off with soap and water, the other thing is it makes your hands all smooth

The finished result would be passed by the most strict head chef or surgeon.

So take the Swarfega et al off the shopping list and raid the kitchen

oh and ... whilst removing the old chain off my F650 I asked my neighbour if he had a grinder I could use for a few minutes. No probs says he, and pops round with one, saying he's realised he has two and I can have this one as a gift .... cool

slparry wrote:.
.... the secret to clean paws is a spoon full of granulated sugar and a spoonful or so of vegetable or olive oil.

)

Presumably extra virgin?

eyore wrote:

slparry wrote:.
.... the secret to clean paws is a spoon full of granulated sugar and a spoonful or so of vegetable or olive oil.

)

Presumably extra virgin?

nope the cheap stuff will do

Washing up liquid and salt for me if out on the road and you need clean hands orange peel works well if you can find a grocer

slparry wrote:
nope the cheap stuff will do

I'd heard that rumour

Washing-up liquid with Washing powder mixed in.......

Just make sure you have no cuts in your hands

Al

trouble with washing up liquid and salt etc is it'll dry your hands out causing cracking, which will exacerbate the problem next time guys I've used it in the past and it works but nowhere near as well.

Try the veg oil and sugar you'll be surprised

The secret to clean hands is not to get them dirty in the first place...
Try the latex gloves, most garage mec.s use them, saves loads of time, and a huge swarfega bill.

Once throughly cleaned, before you lube your chain once a month or what ever, clean off with parafin, then dry with rag, keeps the crap down to a minimum.

I got a small bottle of some stuff called really good stuff by car plan. It's an orangey soap with little granules in and seems to have got everything off my hands so far.

we have some stuff at work called Solopol made by Evonik Industries in Krefeld - seems to work very well but I thinkj maybe it dries the hands too but cheap aldi handcream sorts that out

I found that Aeriel hand wash (i.e. for hand washing clothes) works really well.

slparry wrote:I've spent this afternoon bimbling in the garage fitting new chain and sprockets to the F650 (note to self change the supplied split link when the shops open on Tuesday.... I just don't like it)

)

The only bike I've owned (so far) that broke a chain... Did you use a rivet link or an actual split link ? One of the pins on the split link broke ( the spring clip was still attached)
And as above , latex/vinyl gloves , save hours in cleaning.