Drivetrain cleaning

[Glenn]

I decided to clean the bike since i've been putting a lot of miles on it. Wiping the frame was easy but the drivetrain is the problem. I wiped down the chain, chain ring and cassette and applied fresh lube. I used a Park brush to clean the cassette but noticed it was still a bit dirty.

So, how anal should I be? Do I need to remove the cassette and soak it along with the chain on a regular basis or is it just a once a year winter project.

[Glenn]

Anyone???

Does the club run and meetings where general repairs and maint are taught?

[BarbK]

Bicycle Planet posted this on Facebook

The Bicycle Planet
Next bike maintenance clinic: Join us at the shop Sunday May 20th at 5pm for some bike tips from our awesome mechanics!


Also, REI has classes...
Actually they have one tonight. Here is a link to their store events in Carle Place
http://www.rei.com/stores/138

We occasionally will have someone at a meeting but haven't done one in a while.

[Glenn]

Thanks for posting those date. I was hoping for some hands on in small groups.

My VW club has "Tech Sessions" where we help members work on their cars. It's hands on and everyone gets dirty. That way everyone walks away able to do simple tasks like oil changes and tuneups.

It would be great if we could get a small group to me at someone's house and service a few bikes so everyone there can do it themselves.

[Pall]

Hey Glenn, Barb

I dont usually look down this far on the forum. I check whats going on with the AA's and I'm out. I'll try to glance this way more often.

The only time my cassette or chain get removed is when they wear out. I ride between four to five thousand miles a year and this is what I do to clean the Drivetrain.

I buy Finish Line, EcoTech 2, Multi Gegreaser (Brands or any Bike shop). Spreay the cassette, derailer and two geared wheels back their, the chain and the the two chain rings on the crank. Spray them heavy. I then take the same park Brush you have and brush everything you sprayed. Now this is important: You must hose off the drivetrain( everything you sprayed with degreaser) with water.

Use a water hose and adjust nozzole to a medium mist. and rinse off all the degreaser and grease off the drivetrain. Do not use a hard stream of water. Use a Medium mist. Drivechain should look like new at this point. Take a dry rag and dry the chain, hold it with rag and spin crank. Should have very little transfer of dirt. You should be able to eat off it. Spin rear wheel to get excess water off cassett. Dry Derailer and everything back their with rag. I like terry towels. Dry chainrings on crank. Let bike sit and dry for half a hour and then lube.

Make sure you lube all the piviting areas on derailer, and lube the two wheels on derailer, and chain. Im goung to say you know how to lube a drivetrain. So I wont go into detail.

How often: Depends on how much you ride... For me I degrease the drive train once a month and always keep the chain lubed as needed. Remember I ride all year round when possible. Now if I have a riding event like the Gran Fondo on May 20 or Tour The Hamptons or am riding a century I will degrease the drivtrain before the event.

Good luck Glenn.


Paul LS

[Glenn]

Thanks Paul.

I've watched a few videos on Youtube and think I have a handle on it. i've only have my bike since the Fall and figure i have over 1000 on it already. I purchased a tool to remove the cassette and might just do that since I rather not hose the bike off (i know carbon doesn't rust). The chain is a SRAM and has a "power lock" master so its easy to take off and put back on.

I restore old Volkswagens as a hobby so i'm a bit anal about doing maintenance and not afraid to take it apart from time to time.