Basic Bike Maintenance

philljp

Hi guys,

So I've just bought my first "proper" mountain bike, a GT Zaskar Comp. I want to make sure I get off to a good start with it, and keep it in good condition.

Could someone just give me a quick list of recommended products I should have as standard including the brand, to maintain my bike. Is there a recommended place to buy these, or dare I say is Halfords ok?

mak3m

try this

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/arti ... bike-18259

products are personal choice

i use mucoff to clean, gt85 to push out moisture, and finishline lubes

mak3m

ooooo and nice bike btw

cooldad

Soap, water,(for cleaning) oil (for lubing bits), chain lube (for the chain) . At some point degreaser for the chain. Brands generally unimportant. Halfords is fine.
Don't use WD40.
Squirt is the best chain lube.
IMHO.

philljp

Cheers guys that is awesome!

Beardface

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help

^^ save that as a favourite too for when you want to keep it running as nice as it will look... that amount of times I've referred to Park tools is unreal

philljp

A few quick tips ive pickup up from those links is to use Pledge to polish the frame to keep off the dirt, and also use Helicopter tape in hard wearing areas. My only concern would be whether that tape would remove the paint when you take it off it looks so strong! Anyone here have experiences of it?

felix.london

re Chain lube - good to try a few different types & brands to find something that works well for you

i.e. I have found Finish Line Ceramic Wax Lube is really good for the conditions I ride in - pretty dry & dusty

Also if you don't have SRAM Power Link Connectors (or similar) on your chain maybe buy a chain cleaning kit like this one;

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=5783

I do have Power Links but still use this cleaning kit about once a month - chain comes out like new

philljp

I don't actually know how to remove a chain! :oops: I dont think I have Power Links (Shimano HG53). Do I need a special tool to remove the chain?

felix.london

If you get chain cleaner I linked above you don't need to remove the chain

cooldad

Don't waste your money on a chain cleaner. Get a decent chaintool, you will need it. Get a few powerlinks anyway.
Take the chain off now and again and soak it in a degreaser or kerosene.
Excellent little chain tool - tough and tiny enough to carry with you:
http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/park-ct5 ... 14154.html

philljp

ok cool sounds good. So that tool is used on a standard chain, which I can then fit a Powerlink to get it off easier next time? If so, where do I get a powerlink?

felix.london

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... odelID=871

blablablacksheep

^^ i use a chain cleaning device and found it saves me so much time and problems compared to cleaning by hand so for me chain cleaning device was really worth while.

powerlinks are useally sold with all SRAM chains(gold colour) that break into two seperate peices very easy by hand.

but you can buy them seperate from pretty much anywhere cheap.

personally id recommend getting some decent lube wet+dry(finish line allways good i find compared to halfords cheap stuff) and also some decent grease, again the big brands like PARK and finish do good grease.

that pretty much it, lube and grease.

felix.london

I agree - chain cleaning tool is a lot easier and quicker

cooldad wrote:

Take the chain off now and again and soak it in a degreaser or kerosenel

btw - what do you guys do with all this dirty paraffin afterwards?

cooldad

I use a proprietary degreaser, supposed to be biodegradable, only need a little bit in the bottom of a jug. I flush it down the toilet, not sure if that's the right thing to do but...

philljp

Yeah one thing seems true everyone has their own little ways of cleaning for what suits them best

So I'll get some lube, degreaser and grease. So are there some rules about where to put the lube and where to put the grease?

cooldad

You only need grease if you are servicing something that needs grease - hub, BB etc, so not that often.
Oil on lever pivots, jockey wheel axles etc if they need it, again not that often. Anything that pivots or spins basically.
Mainly give it a clean, keep the chain lubed.
I keep the fork stanchions very clean (and shock shaft) and smear a bit of Float Fluid on them.
Keep anything except water away from the brakes.
No spray on lubes.

cooldad

And I only use wax lube on the chain. Stops oily gunky sandy gritty build up. Just apply it more often in wet weather.
Big Squirt fan.
http://www.in2dust.co.uk/
Not just my opinion
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... ube-32098/
http://reviews.mtbr.com/squirt-lube-wha ... ubrication
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/squirt-lube
Even roadies
http://road.cc/content/review/12803-squirt-lube

mak3m

might give that a try actually been holding off switching back to wet lube, cant be chewed with the return of the grey toothpaste

philljp

Ok, so we've said chain lube for the chain and oil for things that pivot and move. Do you mean something like 3-in-1 for this or can I just use the chain lube?

cooldad

I use 3 in 1 type stuff. (Bike oil from CRC was cheaper though)

philljp

Cool, well i've looked and read around and WD40 (as a degreaser) seems to be like Marmite. Some people love it, some hate it!

cooldad

WD40 should be kept away from bikes IMO. No need for it, and causes more problems than anything else.

philljp

cooldad wrote:

WD40 should be kept away from bikes IMO. No need for it, and causes more problems than anything else.

I've also heard its one of the best things you can use on bikes Do you happen to have a link that says why it's bad?

cooldad

It is a water dispersant, not a lubricant, hence the 'WD'.
Do you have a link that says it's wonderful?

philljp

cooldad wrote:

It is a water dispersant, not a lubricant, hence the 'WD'.
Do you have a link that says it's wonderful?

That's what i'm saying though. They say its awesome for degreasing and cleaning before lubing. I was hoping I could present them with some evidence that says otherwise, lol

cooldad

Generally bearings that need lubing.
If they are cartridge, you can't really lube them, but WD40 will happily get inside and strip out what is there.
Open bearings are normally easier to take out and clean balls and races separately, then replace and grease.
Not just randomly spray WD40 on them.
Chains are best removed and degreased, or use a wax lube which makes it unnecessary.

cooldad

You could spritz some on your mech, chances are you'll lube the brakes as well.

Holyzeus

cooldad wrote:

WD40 should be kept away from bikes IMO. No need for it, and causes more problems than anything else.

+1
Its for rusty screws and squeaky gates.....