Cleaning grungy derailer

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Vincent M
Forgive the newbie questions 🙂

I've been in the process of upgrading a bike I built at the
local Bike Collective, and I'd like to switch out my real
derailer (forgive the no-french spelling)... They have a
nice looking Dura Ace that I'd like to grab ($3) but it's
kinda grimey. Lotsa(tm) black buildup. WOuld I be right in
assuming that I could give it a soaking in degreaser without
damaging the pulleys, etc ?

VIncent

Check out the instructions for cleaning and overhauling at the Park Tool site:

<http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/howfix_deroh.shtml>

The bearings in the pulley wheels (especially DA) should be
sealed. WHat I
do (Ihave two bike shops locally I do a lot of biz with,
which is a great reason to use LBSes rather than
online catalogs and stuff) is I go into the back, put
on the gloves, and use the parts washer, and clean the
hell out of
dp. I don't "soak it" as in put it in a jar of solvent, but
the parts washers are stiff bristled brushes with
solvent flowing through them into the part. About 5-
10mins of really poking in there with the stuff
bristled brushes can turn a really crusty part into
like new. Then dry thoroughly with a rag, making sure
to rub the pulley wheels well to get off any lingering
grit. Then, lay it out in the sun for an hour or two to
really dry out the solvent.

Then get a good heavy oil (I use Phil Wood's Tenacious Oil)
and drip a little into the pully wheel axles, and pivot
points, and wipe quickly. do that once or twice. Then spray
a good light lube like GT85 in there into the spring, swing
arm etc and wipe it down.

Costs next to nothing to do (if you can get a bike shop to
let you use the washer; they should not charge too much if
they won't let you use it and they do it themselves), and
you get like a brand new der out of it.

So... Look at the cosmetics of it, and see about the spring
action, and see if it is just dirty, or really old and
worn. Just dirty? Clean it and go for it. If it's pretty
good, and only $3 and you don't wanna bother? Tell me, and
I'll buy it ;-)

"Vincent M" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:rOOzc.192$WI2.69@lakeread05...

Quoted message said:

Forgive the newbie questions 🙂

I've been in the process of upgrading a bike I built at
the local Bike Collective, and I'd like to switch out my
real derailer (forgive the no-french spelling)... They
have a nice looking Dura Ace that I'd like to grab ($3)
but it's kinda grimey. Lotsa(tm) black buildup. WOuld I be
right in assuming that I could give it a soaking in
degreaser without damaging the pulleys, etc ?

VIncent

"Vincent M" wrote ...

Quoted message said:

I've been in the process of upgrading a bike I built at
the local Bike Collective, and I'd like to switch out my
real derailer (forgive the no-french spelling)...

On behalf of Sheldon please accept my commendation for your
sensible spelling of derailer.

They have a nice looking Dura Ace that I'd like

Quoted message said:

to grab ($3) but it's kinda grimey. Lotsa(tm) black
buildup. WOuld I be right in assuming that I could give it
a soaking in degreaser without damaging the pulleys, etc ?

Go ahead and give it a soaking. Just don't walk away and
forget about it. I soaked a set of Campy brake callipers in
Simple Green for two weeks once and they work fine, they
just lost their finish.

JF

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Jim Flom
"Vincent M" wrote ...

Quoted message said:

I've been in the process of upgrading a bike I built at
the local Bike Collective, and I'd like to switch out my
real derailer (forgive the no-french spelling)...

On behalf of Sheldon please accept my commendation for your
sensible spelling of derailer.

They have a nice looking Dura Ace that I'd like

Quoted message said:

to grab ($3) but it's kinda grimey. Lotsa(tm) black
buildup. WOuld I be right in assuming that I could give it
a soaking in degreaser without damaging the pulleys, etc ?

Go ahead and give it a soaking. Just don't walk away and
forget about it. I soaked a set of Campy brake callipers in
Simple Green for two weeks once and they work fine, they
just lost their finish.

JF

Low odor paint thinner is a much better solvent than Simple
Green for cleaning lod, forgotten bicycle components. Simple Green can attack alunminum where paint thinner (or kerosene) will not.

Its best to take the jockey wheels out of the cages, noting which goes where. This makes cleaning very easy.