Changed my tune on ultrasonic cleaners after a shop visit

I always thought those ultrasonic cleaners were overkill for bike parts. Figured a good scrub with degreaser and a brush was plenty. Then I was at a shop last month and the mechanic showed me a cassette that came out of their cleaner looking brand new. He said it gets into the nooks where the chain pins sit. Finally tried one on an old worn drivetrain I had sitting around and now I get it. Has anyone else had a similar experience with one?

2 comments

2 Comments

elizabeth_ramirez23d ago

I'm glad it worked for you, but I'm still not convinced it's that serious for most people. I've cleaned plenty of old cassettes and chains with a good soak in kerosene and a stiff brush, and they come out looking near new after a few minutes of elbow grease. @nathan193, your shifter example is interesting, but I wonder how much of that was just the solvent breaking down old grease versus the ultrasonic vibrations doing something special. For the price of a decent cleaner, I could buy a lot of degreaser and a few new brushes. I just don't see it as a must-have for anyone who isn't trying to restore a dozen crusty parts every weekend.

nathan19323d ago

I picked up a used ultrasonic cleaner off Craigslist for 40 bucks last year and it sat in my garage for months because I figured it was a gimmick. The first thing I threw in there was a grimy chain that I'd already scrubbed twice with a brush and degreaser. After 10 minutes in the cleaner, the water was black and the chain looked almost factory new, like the grime in those tiny roller gaps just melted out. The biggest difference I noticed was on an old shifter I had that was all sticky inside from dried lube. I dropped it in the cleaner and after two cycles it shifted smooth again without me taking it apart at all. I'm not saying you need one for basic maintenance but for bringing old, crusty stuff back to life it's hard to beat.