Chain cleaners - Park tool vs Finishline

[Panza]

This is not specific to retro-bikes but interesting non the less.
I have had a Park tool chain cleaner for about 2 years. Similar to this: http://www.parktool.com/product/cyclone ... ubber-CM-5

This summer the plastic on the end where the latch is broke. Abuse or too much exposure to diesel I suppose is the reason. So I thought I'd try a different one this time so I bought the Finishline cleaner like this: http://www.finishlineusa.com/products/chain-cleaner.htm

Cleaning efficiency:
Park wins hands down. The big rotating brush that scrubs the sides of the chain cleans much better than the mechanism in the Finishline one. I would say the park one is almost twice as good.

Operation:
The Finishline creates much more drag on the chain, so that it is difficult to keep the bike steady if you don't have it in a repair stand.
The only good thing about the Finishline cleaner is that the latching mechanism is easier to use than the Park one, but that is really marginal.

My recommendation is: Stay away from the Finishline cleaner and buy the Park one.

I have no connection to either of the manufacturers.

 

[latman]

I bought one(no idea on brand) but found it so messy , I just take the chains off with a masterlink (9spd+) and drop it in a jar of petrol now .

 

[1duck]

I bought one(no idea on brand) but found it so messy , I just take the chains off with a masterlink (9spd+) and drop it in a jar of petrol now .

+1 to that, most of the time i just give it a wipe down with a rag to get the worst crud off..but when it comes to cleaning time i just chuck it in a jar of petrol/diesel.

 

[orbeas]

chain cleaner

Always clean my chain in petrol let it dry, give it a brush, refit and lube..

 

[RichT]

This is not specific to retro-bikes but interesting non the less.
I have had a Park tool chain cleaner for about 2 years. Similar to this: http://www.parktool.com/product/cyclone ... ubber-CM-5

This summer the plastic on the end where the latch is broke. Abuse or too much exposure to diesel

I had one as well, mine just 'disformed' (to the point of the lid not fitting & brushes refusing to rotate!) due to the red-diesel that I use for the chains on all my bikes

Now, I just use a 1/2" paint-brush, it's stiff enough to penetrate the links, & get all the crud off