Bike/Drivetrain cleaning ?
Decided that I need to get up to speed with better cleaning of my Chain/Cassette etc post-ride, & generally, so just wondered what you all use and whats best value out there ?
Assume I'll need some kind of brushes too to scrub the cassette etc, and to blather the chain to clean etc.....- again, any tips of what ?
Thx :-)
Assume I'll need some kind of brushes too to scrub the cassette etc, and to blather the chain to clean etc.....- again, any tips of what ?
Thx :-)
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Comments
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I'm doing a post-ride deep clean at this time of the year. It consists of spraying the chain & mech with GT85.0
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Get it really clean to start by using citrus degreaser, hot water and a brush.
Then just lightly lubricate the chain.
Post ride immediately hose the chain and cassette off, and wipe with a rag with GT85. Add a little oil before the next ride. It takes almost no work to keep it looking like new then.
If you get loads of mud and crud its just a case of more water, and a slightly stronger brush or spray.
When this process stops working its time to go back to the first step above. This time of the yesr, for me thats once every 12 hours or so of riding, so 3 or 4 rides for me, which is about once a week.
I still just use light oil, as it gets replenished often. I find the ceramic stuff and the special "wet weather" stuff just encourages you to leave it on longer until its very hard to get off.0 -
Fit chain with a quick link.
Save old plastic milk carton and foil tray.
Ride bike until chain is dirty.
Remove chain and place in old milk carton with degreaser and put lid on.
Shake to remove dirt.
Take chain out and wipe dry.
Place chain in foil tray.
Baste in 3in1 or other similar oil.
Drain and wipe, refit to bike.
Takes 10-15 ins amongst other parts of bike clean.
Old toothbrush on the sprocket and then wipe clean.
Repeat.0 -
Use a cheap stiff bristle 'chip brush' to knock the big lumps off the chain and gears.
Then use a dry paper towel on the chain, and other obvious areas.
After that, either just apply new lube, or use whatever cleaning products and lube that you prefer. Using dry methods for the initial cleaning avoids trouble that can happen if too much water or liquid cleaners are used and gets into where it shouldn't be.....
The goal is to remove dirt, and add fresh lube - too aggressive cleaning can remove lube from interior locations that can't easily be reached when applying new lube.
Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA0 -
take bucket of water with washing up liquid in it
take a sponge
wash bike and chain
dry bike and chain
relube chain
thats how omega pharm quickstep do it.0 -
For a really shiny chain, in my experience taking it off and putting it in a jam jar of your solvent or degreaser of choice is best; however for regular cleaning, just running it through a rag when you get home can really help. I like Green Oil Clean Chain as it's very easy to use - I tend to apply it, wash the rest of the bike, then flush it out; gets the chain reasonably clean.
It has to be said though that washing up liquid and baby wipes work very well, especially considering how much you can pay for dedicated products!0 -
BikingBud wrote:Fit chain with a quick link.
Save old plastic milk carton and foil tray.
Ride bike until chain is dirty.
Remove chain and place in old milk carton with degreaser and put lid on.
Shake to remove dirt.
Take chain out and wipe dry.
Place chain in foil tray.
Baste in 3in1 or other similar oil.
Drain and wipe, refit to bike.
Takes 10-15 ins amongst other parts of bike clean.
Old toothbrush on the sprocket and then wipe clean.
Repeat.
Just wondering if anyone has tried car motor oil for their 'baste'. Any issues with using that at all please?0 -
I got a Park Tools chain cleaner thingy for Christmas and I have to say it's amazing. Previously no matter what I did with degreasers, scrubbing brushes and the likes I could only get the chain looking mostly clean - grey like. With this thing it's a few seconds and the chain looks brand new.0
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DCI Gene Hunt wrote:take bucket of water with washing up liquid in it
take a sponge
wash bike and chain
dry bike and chain
relube chain
thats how omega pharm quickstep do it.
I did that once, after watching a GCN video. Pretty much knackered my bike. The gears wouldn't shift properly, the brakes would stick, the headset was getting stuck - nightmare. Took me ages to get it all working, never again.0 -
Thx all, I think I need to get myself a bike stand to do all this properly, ie take wheels out when cleaning to get into all those hard to reach frame places etc.
I did have some Muc-Off Degreaser spray on a shelf, and have just used it on the Chain & Cassette, brushing it in with a stiffer paint brush, and then washing & drying it off etc, before relubing.
Must admit, its done a pretty good job, - not shiny clean but a helluva lot better.0
