Cleaning the bike !

Stewart Devereux said:

OK, so I've had my Dawes hydrid for 6 months now, plenty of black
oily stuff ! around the chain and gears etc- how should I approach
the cleaning ? best to blast it off with a power jet of water ?,
Should I buy some de-greaser and use some 'elbow' grease, or WD40 it
,clean off with a cloth and re-oil ? Thanks

Take the chain off, put it in some petrol or similar, shake, let all the
crud settle, put it back on the bike and oil.

Clean the cogs with an old toothbrush and car engine degreaser.

doki said:

Stewart Devereux said:

OK, so I've had my Dawes hydrid for 6 months now, plenty of black
oily stuff ! around the chain and gears etc- how should I approach
the cleaning ? best to blast it off with a power jet of water ?,
Should I buy some de-greaser and use some 'elbow' grease, or WD40 it
,clean off with a cloth and re-oil ? Thanks

Take the chain off, put it in some petrol or similar, shake, let all the
crud settle, put it back on the bike and oil.

Really, don't use petrol unless you are fond of taking unnecessary risks
with very flammable liquids. White spirit (or paraffin) is less
flammable (though still to be treated with respect) and works perfectly
well.

If you have solvent in an old plastic soft drink bottle you can put the
chain in with it, put the cap back on, then give it a good shake. Later,
when the crud settles, the solvent can be decanted and reused.

It's all well described on Sheldon Brown's site, but for some reason I
cannot get a working link to the relevant pages.

--
Joe * If I cannot be free I'll be cheap

Following on from doki's message. . .

Quoted message said:

Take the chain off, put it in some petrol or similar, shake, let all the
crud settle, put it back on the bike and oil.

/oil/?

Many people have discovered chain wax or spray can general purpose
lubricants. Say good bye to black crud misery! Get the chain-ring of
confidence. You too can keep your chain looking as young as mine.

PS If drenching in petrol (paraffin preferred) this can (a) take all
lube from inside the rollers and possibly (b) add water 'cos there can
be water in paraffin. So after drying in the sun you have to work out
how to lubricate inside the chain rollers (they were lubricated in the
factory but you've just removed that). - Another good reason for
sticking to the hassle free non-oil alternatives.

IMHO - Get a new chain fitted by your LBS and throw the oil can away.

--
PETER FOX Not the same since the submarine business went under
[email hidden]
2 Tees Close, Witham, Essex.
Gravity beer in Essex <http://www.eminent.demon.co.uk>

Stewart Devereux said:

OK, so I've had my Dawes hydrid for 6 months now, plenty of black oily stuff
! around the chain and gears etc- how should I approach the cleaning ? best
to blast it off with a power jet of water ?, Should I buy some de-greaser
and use some 'elbow' grease, or WD40 it ,clean off with a cloth and re-oil ?

Car shampoo is surprisingly good at removing oily grime even at normal
dilution. I'm amazed how it gets crud off chainrings.

JLB said:

doki said:

Stewart Devereux said:

OK, so I've had my Dawes hydrid for 6 months now, plenty of black
oily stuff ! around the chain and gears etc- how should I approach
the cleaning ? best to blast it off with a power jet of water ?,
Should I buy some de-greaser and use some 'elbow' grease, or WD40 it
,clean off with a cloth and re-oil ? Thanks

Take the chain off, put it in some petrol or similar, shake, let all
the crud settle, put it back on the bike and oil.

Really, don't use petrol unless you are fond of taking unnecessary
risks with very flammable liquids.

All adds to the fun!

in message <[email hidden]>, Stewart

Devereux (') said:

OK, so I've had my Dawes hydrid for 6 months now, plenty of black oily
stuff ! around the chain and gears etc- how should I approach the
cleaning ? best to blast it off with a power jet of water ?,

No, you'll knacker the bearings.

Quoted message said:

Should I
buy some de-greaser and use some 'elbow' grease, or WD40 it ,clean off
with a cloth and re-oil ? Thanks

Take the chain off (if you can easily) and clean it by dropping it into
a bottle of solvent and shaking vigorously. If you can't easily take
the chain off you can use one of the on-bike cleaning baths, but in my
experience these are a nuisance. Either way dry fully before
re-lubricating. Do not over-lubricate! After the lubricant has had time
to soak into the inner crevices of the chain, wipe off any excess with
a cloth or kitchen towels.

Dismantle the rear deraileur cage and drop the bits into a bath of
solvent, after carefully observing how they go back together. Clean
with an old toothbrush and dry fully. Reassemble with a smidgin of
grease.

Wash everything else with warm water, car shampoo and a soft cloth. Use
an old toothbrush to get into awkward corners.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other
;; languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and riffle their
;; pockets for new vocabulary -- James D. Nicoll

In article <[email hidden]>,

Stewart Devereux said:

OK, so I've had my Dawes hydrid for 6 months now, plenty of black
oily stuff ! around the chain and gears etc- how should I approach
the cleaning ? best to blast it off with a power jet of water ?,
Should I buy some de-greaser and use some 'elbow' grease, or WD40
it ,clean off with a cloth and re-oil ?

In no particular order -

Check for looseness in the front and rear wheel bearings, bottom
bracket and headset. Adjust/lubricate/replace as necessary

Clean the frame and rims with warm soapy water.

Clean the chain with Jizer or similar.

Clean the gears and sprockets with aerosol Gunk.

Do NOT use a power washer - it forces muck into places which are
otherwise safe

After the bike is squeaky clean - relube everything which moves.

Brake and gear cables with a thin oil - 3 in 1 is still OK.

Chain and cartridge with GT85.

Brake posts and seat post with anything penetrative.

After all that clean the braking surfaces of the rims with acetone or
similar on a clean cloth or tissue.

Check the tyre pressures

It's actually easier to do it than it is to describe it but I hope
that this helps.

--
A T (Sandy) Morton
on the Bicycle Island
In the Global Village
http://www.millport.net

"doki" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

JLB said:

doki said:

Stewart Devereux wrote:

> OK, so I've had my Dawes hydrid for 6 months now, plenty of black
> oily stuff ! around the chain and gears etc- how should I approach
> the cleaning ? best to blast it off with a power jet of water ?,
> Should I buy some de-greaser and use some 'elbow' grease, or WD40 it
> ,clean off with a cloth and re-oil ? Thanks

Take the chain off, put it in some petrol or similar, shake, let all
the crud settle, put it back on the bike and oil.

Really, don't use petrol unless you are fond of taking unnecessary
risks with very flammable liquids.

All adds to the fun!

I know someone who was seriously burnt because he used petrol for cleaning.
DON'T use petrol!!!!!

Stewart Devereux said:

OK, so I've had my Dawes hydrid for 6 months now, plenty of black oily stuff
! around the chain and gears etc- how should I approach the cleaning ? best
to blast it off with a power jet of water ?, Should I buy some de-greaser
and use some 'elbow' grease, or WD40 it ,clean off with a cloth and re-oil ?
Thanks

You can get a chain cleaner kit from Halfords, which has rotating
brushes and clips on the chain. This saves taking the chain off and
messing about with inflammables. To clean the gears use a toothbrush
and a special bike cleaning liquid like 'Muc-Off', from bike shops.

Doug.

Zog The Undeniable said:

Stewart Devereux said:

OK, so I've had my Dawes hydrid for 6 months now, plenty of black oily
stuff
! around the chain and gears etc- how should I approach the cleaning ?
best
to blast it off with a power jet of water ?, Should I buy some de-greaser
and use some 'elbow' grease, or WD40 it ,clean off with a cloth and
re-oil ?

Car shampoo is surprisingly good at removing oily grime even at normal
dilution. I'm amazed how it gets crud off chainrings.

and if you wash the bike frequently enough to stop a large build up of
crud, then washing the chain with the same solution works very well
indeed. I can keep a chain and the rest of the transmission running
with this method for a good number of years (5+) and I do a lot of
miles. Just lightly oil afterwards, once dry

Stewart Devereux said:

OK, so I've had my Dawes hydrid for 6 months now, plenty of black oily stuff
! around the chain and gears etc- how should I approach the cleaning ? best
to blast it off with a power jet of water ?, Should I buy some de-greaser
and use some 'elbow' grease, or WD40 it ,clean off with a cloth and re-oil ?
Thanks

One word, powerlink.

Peter Fox said:

Following on from doki's message. . .

Quoted message said:

Take the chain off, put it in some petrol or similar, shake, let all
the crud settle, put it back on the bike and oil.

/oil/?

Many people have discovered chain wax or spray can general purpose
lubricants. Say good bye to black crud misery! Get the chain-ring of
confidence. You too can keep your chain looking as young as mine.

Yes, oil. Wax disappears pretty much as soon as you hit the first muddy
puddle, nevermind hanging around long enough to be there when half the
drivetrain's submerged.

Quoted message said:

PS If drenching in petrol (paraffin preferred) this can (a) take all
lube from inside the rollers and possibly (b) add water 'cos there can
be water in paraffin. So after drying in the sun you have to work out
how to lubricate inside the chain rollers (they were lubricated in the
factory but you've just removed that). - Another good reason for
sticking to the hassle free non-oil alternatives.

IMHO - Get a new chain fitted by your LBS and throw the oil can away.

How did this oil magically get in and out of the rollers in such a way that
I can't get more back in?

Quoted message said:

Stewart Devereux said:

OK, so I've had my Dawes hydrid for 6 months now, plenty of black
oily stuff ! around the chain and gears etc- how should I approach
the cleaning ? best to blast it off with a power jet of water ?,
Should I buy some de-greaser and use some 'elbow' grease, or WD40 it
,clean off with a cloth and re-oil ? Thanks

You can get a chain cleaner kit from Halfords, which has rotating
brushes and clips on the chain. This saves taking the chain off and
messing about with inflammables. To clean the gears use a toothbrush
and a special bike cleaning liquid like 'Muc-Off', from bike shops.

Fenwicks bike cleaner is a lot cheaper than muc off and works well IME and
according to the comics (I've not used muc off).

Following on from doki's message. . .

Quoted message said:

Peter Fox said:

Following on from doki's message. . .

Quoted message said:

Take the chain off, put it in some petrol or similar, shake, let all
the crud settle, put it back on the bike and oil.

/oil/?

Many people have discovered chain wax or spray can general purpose
lubricants. Say good bye to black crud misery! Get the chain-ring of
confidence. You too can keep your chain looking as young as mine.

Yes, oil. Wax disappears pretty much as soon as you hit the first muddy
puddle, nevermind hanging around long enough to be there when half the
drivetrain's submerged.

The OP has a hybrid so the conditions you mention are should not be
applicable. And I dispute the truth of the statements anyway.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

PS If drenching in petrol (paraffin preferred) this can (a) take all
lube from inside the rollers and possibly (b) add water 'cos there can
be water in paraffin. So after drying in the sun you have to work out
how to lubricate inside the chain rollers (they were lubricated in the
factory but you've just removed that). - Another good reason for
sticking to the hassle free non-oil alternatives.

IMHO - Get a new chain fitted by your LBS and throw the oil can away.

How did this oil magically get in and out of the rollers in such a way that
I can't get more back in?

I didn't say it was impossible. - However I bet you make a poorer job of
it than the factory.

--
PETER FOX Not the same since the exam marking business failed
[email hidden]
www.eminent.demon.co.uk - Lots for cyclists

Peter Fox said:

Following on from doki's message. . .

Quoted message said:

Peter Fox said:

Following on from doki's message. . .
> Take the chain off, put it in some petrol or similar, shake, let
> all the crud settle, put it back on the bike and oil.

/oil/?

Many people have discovered chain wax or spray can general purpose
lubricants. Say good bye to black crud misery! Get the chain-ring
of confidence. You too can keep your chain looking as young as
mine.

Yes, oil. Wax disappears pretty much as soon as you hit the first
muddy puddle, nevermind hanging around long enough to be there when
half the drivetrain's submerged.

The OP has a hybrid so the conditions you mention are should not be
applicable. And I dispute the truth of the statements anyway.

I thought hybrids were meant to be more capable on road, whilst still being
moderately capable off road? I've been off roading on shopper bikes before,
so any hybrid should be able to hack it.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

PS If drenching in petrol (paraffin preferred) this can (a) take
all lube from inside the rollers and possibly (b) add water 'cos
there can be water in paraffin. So after drying in the sun you
have to work out how to lubricate inside the chain rollers (they
were lubricated in the factory but you've just removed that). -
Another good reason for sticking to the hassle free non-oil
alternatives.

IMHO - Get a new chain fitted by your LBS and throw the oil can
away.

How did this oil magically get in and out of the rollers in such a
way that I can't get more back in?

I didn't say it was impossible. - However I bet you make a poorer job
of it than the factory.

Evidence?