An easy way for lazy folks (like me) to keep their chains clean.
Written: Nov 01 '04 (Updated Jan 14 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy chain cleaning, long-lasting brushes, wastes very little cleaning fluid.
Cons: Marginally less effective than diligent hand-cleaning, removes all excuses to NOT clean your chain.
The Bottom Line: If you like clean and quiet chains, the Cyclone helps you keep yours that way. Fast and easy, with Park's Cyclone there isn't any reason to continue scrubbing by hand.
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| openroad's Full Review: Park Cyclone Chain Scrubber CM-5 |
----- Introduction -----
Mountain bike drive chains are the most overlooked component for most owners, both in cleaning and lubrication. The chain should be inspected every 2 or 3 rides for dirt accumulation and lubrication. There's a good chance your chain is dry if you hear a steady squeaking or chirping sound only while pedaling. When a chain is dry and has no lubrication, the metal plates begin to wear on each other and will eventually cause premature chain failure. Dust, dirt, mud, and other debris only speed up the damaging effects of a dry chain, and you'll be needing a replacement long before you should. The worst part of this accident waiting to happen is the random nature of a chain failure. You never know when or where it will happen, if it will strand you as darkness falls, or how far from your vehicle you will be.
What does this have to do with the Park Tool CM-5 Cyclone Chain Scrubber? Without a clean chain any lubrication you add will be ineffective, and only coats the chain with slippery dirt. There are two basic ways to clean your bike chain, the first way is to coat the chain with degreaser and let it soak a couple minutes, scrub it with a toothbrush or other small brush, wipe it down and let it dry. This works fine, but is time consuming and leaves your bike quite dirty. Your second option is to use a chain cleaning tool such as the Park CM-5 Cyclone Scrubber. This tool is easy to use, does a great job of cleaning, and makes less of a mess than manually scrubbing with a brush.
----- CM-5 Details -----
The CM-5 Cyclone is a three-piece unit with replaceable internal brushes. The three main pieces are the main housing, lid assembly, and stabilizing handle. The handle snaps on the body and locks in place, and the lid assembly is secured with two quick-release snaps. To clean your chain you only follow five steps as outlined below:
#1 Fill Cyclone with cleaner, Park Tool Citrus ChainBrite Cleaner works best.
#2 Shift chain to smallest rear cog, remove the lid from main housing and place the chain in the brush-channel of the main housing.
#3 Install lid and secure it with snaps.
#4 Rotate chain backwards through at least ten complete revolutions.
#5 Remove lid and chain from main housing, let chain dry completely then lubricate.
For cleaning solution I strongly recommend Park Tool Citrus ChainBrite chain cleaner, which is formulated specially for the Cyclone Chain Scrubber. I don’t recommend using mineral spirits or an automotive specific degreaser as your solution of choice since it takes much longer to dry, will damage paint and rubber/plastic components, and can inhibit future chain lubrication. I wouldn't ever put mineral spirits in the Cyclone, however there is a way to compromise and save a little money in the process. Since Park Chain Brite fluid is $8-$9 a bottle, it gets expensive to use in large quantities. If you have a completely filthy chain that requires using a large amount of Chain Brite to soak, remove the chain from your bike and use a tub or bowl of mineral spirits to soak the chain for awhile.
Scrub the chain in the tub using mineral spirits and a stiff brush, then let the chain hang and drip into the bucket for awhile. After it has shed most of the mineral spirits, you can re-thread the chain back into your drivetrain and do a final cleaning with the Cyclone and Chain Brite fluid. This allows you to dirty the mineral oil and leave most of the mud-n-crud in the plastic tub instead of the Cyclone.
Cleaning your Cyclone is a little tricky, but it comes naturally after a few tries. Pop the brushes out of their grooves, remove the fluid-recovery foam plug, and wipe out the dirt trapped at the bottom of the fluid reservoir. There is a magnet located at the very bottom of the reservoir to trap small metal fragments. These fragments can be potentially damaging to your chain, and it's amazing after a few cleanings how much sticks to that magnet. I usually get in several chain scrubbing sessions before I clean the Cyclone, but it all depends on how dirty the chain is each time.
----- Good buy or gimmick? -----
I listened to several differing opinions from local bike shops before buying my Cylclone scrubber, and finally decided to give it a try myself. I've been very satisfied with the quality and simplicity of the Park Tool Cyclone. It's easy enough to use that I'll clean my chain more often than I ever would if I was stuck with the old spray-n-scrub method. If you aren't a very hands-on person or don't like doing your own bike maintenance this cleaner isn't for you. It's not as messy as other methods, but it still leaves your hands dirty and a small stain on the floor. I've taken to laying a small strip of paper bag or cardboard under the chain area while scrubbing, this makes cleanup very simple.
For the low price Park charges, this is a must buy for most biking enthusiasts or amateur racers. It also works fine for road bikes, but road chains tend to stay MUCH cleaner than mountain bike chains. When you eventually wear out your cleaning brushes, Park sells the RBS-5 rebuild kit for the Cyclone. Pop in new parts and it's just like a new unit. From my experience this tool has saved me time and money, which is why we buy tools in the first place. You may feel differently about chain cleaning, but for me Park's Cyclone is a home run 'outa the park.
Related Links:
Pedro’s Syn Lube
Pedro's Extra Dry Lube
Pedro's Bio Cleaner
Pedro's Bike Lust Polish
Park Tool Citrus ChainBrite Cleaner
Pedro’s Pro Cog Wrench
SRAM PC-69 Chain
Park Tool FR-5G Lockring Tool
Park Tool GSC-1 GearClean Brush
Park Tool AWS-1 Allen Head Tri Wrench
Park Tool PRS-5 Folding Race Stand
Thanks for reading, and feel free to comment!
Openroad
Recommended:
Yes
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