Cleaning Gears

trek climber

Just noticed at weekend the back cassette was full of grime and needed to be cleaned. Ashamed to say that I didnt realise it was that bad. What is the best way to clean it - I can never seem to be able to get it completely clean especially betwwen the cogs. Would it be easier to take off the cassette to clean it and is that a difficult job.
What does everyone else do ?

opelmanta

took mine apart and cleaned them up good but can be tricky. another way would be some wd40 and them cotton bud thingys

Quigs Snr

Take it off is the best way. You will need a cassette removal tool and a chain whip but its worth making the investment. Once off, head into your local bike store and ask for degreaser, spray it on, rub it off and behold your magnificant new looking cassette ! Costs about 30 quid for the tools from BBB (Most bike shops do them), but worth the investment. Keep your drivetrain clean and it lasts an awful lot longer.

Raam

If you don't have the tools to remove it, you can take a cloth and grab it tightly at two ends and stretch it so that it can slip into the gap between the cogs. Then slide the cloth to the left and then to the right. If you are doing it correctly, the cloth should clean as you move to the right, and then when you slide it to the left, the freewheel should move so that a new part comes in contact with the cloth and then gets cleaned as you slide the cloth to the right again. This will get all the gunk out. It will also clean the cassette, but not as good as actually taking it apart.

trek climber

Quigs Snr wrote: »

Take it off is the best way. You will need a cassette removal tool and a chain whip but its worth making the investment. Once off, head into your local bike store and ask for degreaser, spray it on, rub it off and behold your magnificant new looking cassette ! Costs about 30 quid for the tools from BBB (Most bike shops do them), but worth the investment. Keep your drivetrain clean and it lasts an awful lot longer.

Just after being on the chainreaction website, I found a chain whip but not a cassette removal tool. Is it called something else by any chance.

Raam

I think a lock ring is what you want.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=7213
make sure to get one that suits your cassette

Raam

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=48
FYI, this shows you how to use the whip and lock ring. (Sounds kinda naughty)

It's very easy to do.

P

trek climber

Raam wrote: »

I think a lock ring is what you want.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=7213
make sure to get one that suits your cassette

I have a Trek road bike with a Shimano Ultegra cassette - will this lock ring fit or is it for a mountain bike.

Raam

trek climber wrote: »

I have a Trek road bike with a Shimano Ultegra cassette - will this lock ring fit or is it for a mountain bike.

It should fit OK: http://www.parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=4&item=FR-5

trek climber

Raam wrote: »

It should fit OK: http://www.parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=4&item=FR-5

Thanks for that

bushy...

A can of brake cleaner or carb cleaner or Jizer would be better than wd40 , should be able to get any of them from a motorfactors /halfords etc . The aerosols should be cheap they're just solvent in a can

http://www.autobarn.net/gunbrakclean.html

Hermy

I use GUNK. It's available from Halfords. Use a paint brush to apply it and then just hose it off with water. Result is a spotless cassette and I don't think it's absolutely necessary to remove the cassette to do this.

trek climber

Hermy wrote: »

I use GUNK. It's available from Halfords. Use a paint brush to apply it and then just hose it off with water. Result is a spotless cassette and I don't think it's absolutely necessary to remove the cassette to do this.

Herm,
Can you buy this online as I dont leave anywhere near Halfords I think. Where are they situated in dublin. What is the trade name of "gunk"

conor rowan

ive been using baby wipes with the back and forth technique-leaving the cassete on and removing the wheel. i use drop on lubrıcant afterwards.
will the baby wipes be doıng any damage does anyone know? cos theyre pretty good and cheap for gettıng grease off the bike and fingers

Wheelworx

conor rowan wrote: »

will the baby wipes be doıng any damage does anyone know?

Only if you use them on a baby afterwards........;)

blorg

I use one of these to clean the chain, which actually does work pretty well, you just attach it and spin the pedals backwards until the chain is clean. White Sprit in it has been effective- any drawbacks, or anything better?

I have one of these for getting gunk out of the cassette; a brush is also available. All dirt cheap too and PBK do free delivery to Ireland.

I do have an SRAM PowerLink on my chain so might give that a go chain-removal wise if I can figure it out, but the chain cleaner gizmo above really does work well. One thing I found is you will want to lube the chain back up immediately or you will get rust.

trek climber

Thanks for all the advice guys - appreciate it.
I think I have spent too long relying on a bike shop for these type of jobs, much better to be able to do it yourself.

blorg

In my experience there aren't many bike shops that tend to do cleaning in any case (IIRC there are a few "bike valet" options) - I try to give my bike a good clean before dropping it in for any adjustments; get a better result from the shop that way.

Raam

I asked Little Sport to give my drive train a clean when I had the bike in for service, and they did. The frame is easy to clean yourself, all you need is a rag and maybe a spot of degreaser for those really stubborn spots (I sound like that lad on those Flash ads now)

Hermy

This is a link to the GUNK website - www.gunk.eu
I also think you can order GUNK online from Halfords - www.halfords.com