How to clean your bike components.

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Any advice on how to go about regular cleaning of the bike components? Does it need to be dismantled in order to clean it properly? So far iv'e just been degreasing the chain with a cloth and degreaser spray but the main trouble is cleaning the cassette and front cogs. How do ya get in between the spaces of the cassette and in to them hard to reach areas of the front cogs? What should regular maintenance involve.., how often should it be done, how much lubrication is necessary to keep the chain from wearing? After cleaning, the chain and cogs have a very metal on metal sound to it, like rubbing, noisy and unpleasant. It should sound more silent than that i'm sure.. Any bits of general advice on this topic welcome..

Thanks ....

kincsem

I would not use degreaser on my chains. I just rub the chain hard with a clean cotton cloth, then I relube it.

You could buy this. I have never used mine.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=13229

Mycroft H

Steps for chain cleaning.

1. Remove chain. Powerlinks are great for this.
2. Place chain in container filled with a degreaser (I use kerosene)
3. Let chain sit in degreaser for at least 15 minutes (This loosens and removes a lot of the grime and dirt that decreases your chains lifespan)
4. Remove from degreaser and dry off with clean rag.
5. Oil each individual link with 3in1 oil. Just a small bit on each bushing.
6. Refit chain on bike.

While my chain is degreasing I can clean the cassette/freewheel by using an old paintbrush with kerosene and then cleaning with dry rag. Same procedure for the chainrings.

If they are really manky you can remove the cassette/freewheel and the chain rings easily enough to improve access and make them easier to clean.

Raam

I use a chain cleaner tool once every one or two weeks. To clean the cogs I put a bit of cleaner fluid (either the one that came with the cleaner or this) on a fine haired paint brush and hold it against the cassette as I spin the cranks backwards. This clears out the crap. If there is loadsa gunk in there, pick it out with a thin stick or the tool from that link. I might also paint a bit of the degreaser on the chainrings and in around all the awkward bits cos sometimes gunk builds up on them. Hose it down, dry it off and then lube it up. That's just my way of doing it. If I'm not farting about I can do it in 10 minutes.

I usually follow most of these steps when cleaning...

1. Hose down the bike.
2. Using either hot soapy water or this and a sponge, I will clean the frame and wheels.
3. Hose down and check my reflection in the window.
4. Clean the cogs as described earlier.
5. Use the chain cleaner.
6. Clean out the awkward bits as described earlier.
7. Hose down the chainset and any areas which got a bit grubby again.
8. Dry it all off.
9. Lube her up and clean off the excess. I like spray lube for parts other than the chain. E.g. jockey wheels.

Not everyone will agree with all those steps and I've probably left out some bits that I do.

Bonus step: spend the rest of the evening with baby wipes getting all the bits that you missed.

Beasty

Raam wrote: »

check my reflection in the window.

Why does that not surprise me ...

fat bloke

The only person I want to hear from on this thread is Astramonti. I want step by step instructions on how to get a white bike as clean as he does. I'm not interested in anyone else's opinions.

I had the good sense to buy bikes with non-white nether regions, but I've also taken upon myself (in lieu of hoovering and such like) the responsibility of cleaning "our" bikes, which means having to tackle my wife's white Cervelo. It is the most unsatisfactory job because no matter how long I stay at it, I still see bits that I've missed when I go to hang it up in the garage.

Easiest solution would be to spray the fcuker black. But before I resort to that, perhaps our resident planet x'er could show me how he passes the Michael Jackson one white glove test

J Madone

I use morgan blue bike wash in warm water. Wheels off and use a morgan blue chain keeper to keep the chain in place. You can spin the chain with this in place and use their chain cleaner as well,
It's the best brand I have used. Simply the biz
There are a half dozen pro teams who endorse this brand. Top stuff

AstraMonti

No magic tricks here I am afraid. The no1 rule is don't get it too dirty These 3in1 oils most of you guys use are sh1te in attracting dirt and the whole drivetrain becomes full of gunk in no time and splash the whole frame when it's wet/rainy. Frequent wash also helps things a lot. To keep the bar tape white I am using CIF and to keep the bike clean after the wash I am using Pedros Bike Lust. Other than that I am using the same method as Raam. Most important bit is this: " Hose down and check my reflection in the window."

petethedrummer

To clean between the cogs on the cassette I take the wheel off and slide a rag in between the cogs. Pull the cloth tight and move it left and right and the cassette will work its way round by the ratchet mechanism.