How do you clean your MTB drivetrain?

chronyx

I took my bike across Chobham Common last night resulting in a nicely gritted chain. Took it off, put it in a Coke bottle with paraffin and shook hard.

This did make a noticeable difference but that chain still has that gritty feeling, although it is better.

The derailers etc seem clean enough, but for future reference, what is the best way to thoroughly remove dirt from the deraillers?

allthegearnoidea

i run my chain through the chain cleaner every ride filled with all purpose cleaner (cheap version of Muc off!) and that does the job on mine! the cassette is scrubbed with all purpose too and a alloy wheel brush then rinsed with water and dried,
crankset wise, more all purpose and a cloth to clean the rings etc.

i get a bit censored about keeping the chainset all nice and clean and lubed up ready for its next useage!

chronyx

Thanks I am a bit obsessive about that too just because it has so many moving parts and quite literally potential 'weak links'.

I wondered if those cleaners were a gimmick but if they are that good it's time to get the wallet out again

allthegearnoidea

haha! yeah there not cheap as such, if i remember correctly mine was £15-20 but comes with degreaser and dry lube (finish line), very much worth it though!
the all purpose cleaner i use you can get in tesco for 65p ish for 1.5L (10:1 dilutable!) and works a treat! also use it for cleaning the bike in general using one of the tesco pump sprayers from the garden dept!

omegas

The way you are cleaning it is the best way just add drop the chain in to a bottle of very hot water with a bit of muc off and shake up. The hot water expands all the links open and the censored comes out, if the water is clear you know it’s clean, the water evaporates off in seconds and its dry ready to lube.

The clip on chain cleaners are ok for a quick clean , if you twist the chain though after using one you find it is still full of grit. Makes the chain look clean but the important part of lubricating a chain is you need next to nothing of lube on the outside of the chain, if its lubed on the inside the links and rollers don’t drag over the sprockets but turn with the roll of the chain.

newbiketime

Little and often is the best way of doing it. Your best never to let it get to bad. Use a thin chain lubricant such as white lightning (not the wax). Apply liberally and then wipe (push all the dirt off) well with a clean cloth. Wipe everything clean of oil not just the chain. Then lightly reapply a small amount. This way your bake should never have enough excess oil to attacked dirt and what dirt is on there should just be wiped away. if it ever does get really bad you are best to just pull the block off and give it a good scrub and same goes for the chain. Its easy enough to do but really you should never let your chain get that bad.

If your bikes get muddy use a bucket of water or a low pressure hose and a bush and just scrub away. Though you will have to oil everything after doing so. also after just a wet ride oil everything. But again wipe well after. Avoid using any pressure washer or if you must never aim it at wheel bearing, shox, bb, headset, brakes, pods or anything like that. If you do get your bike wet its best if you can leave it in a warm dry place to dry out. In side the house works well.

Things such as Mucoff are very harsh. In may ways there totally the wrong thing to use on bikes. I would never recommend any one using such things for the most part as its more trouble than its worth. We get countless bikes basically destroyed by the stuff. If you ever do use it never aim it at anything that grease or lubricant that you can not swap out after. Things such as forks, bb, hubs, free hub and the like are all a absolute no no. If you do use it you must rinse well after and then oil everything. Yes even tubes on the frame and bolt heads. I say this as these agents will literally get in every where even the smallest scratch on your pain and start eating away at the aluminium. Its something similar to the winter damage road salt can do left caking your bike. But its even more aggressive than salt.

Paul Sh

A small bowl, parafin, and a paint brush, once done hold a rag in your hand and drag the chain through the rag a few times, done this since i was about 14 i'm now 41, never had any adverse effect's that i know of.

lordmerchant

I use a bottle of white spirits with a spray gun give it a bit of a soak, then hose it off, same with the cassette then give it a going over with a brush, looks great

Mancunianfightingcat

I use fs1 diluted after most rides and occassionaly take the chain off and bath it in petrol. This removes all the grease and dirt but does leave the chain very dry. It then needs a right good lube bath to get oil inside the links. In the past I have boiled the chain in grease, but it stinks the whole house out so I don't do it often, maybe that's one for the bbq!

bluechair84

I've fitted a Sram power link so it's dead easy to take off the chian, drop it in a try, cover with white spirit and leave to soak then rinse in boiling water.
Derailuer? Toothbrush the sprokets, you could of course dental floss the knuckles and cover in milk. This all works for teeth aparently...

chronyx

bluechair84 wrote:

you could of course dental floss the knuckles and cover in milk. This all works for teeth aparently...

BDUM TISH

Thanks everyone!

chronyx

omegas wrote:

The way you are cleaning it is the best way just add drop the chain in to a bottle of very hot water with a bit of muc off and shake up. The hot water expands all the links open and the censored comes out, if the water is clear you know it’s clean, the water evaporates off in seconds and its dry ready to lube.

Worked like a charm. I used some motorbike cleaner but I'm sure it's similar stuff. Ally safe etc.

I will definitely do it this way from now on, the chain is as new!

Gotta do the deraillers tomorrow... :?