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Get rid of winter dirt! The quick care guide

BIKE Magazin

 · 31.10.2008

Get rid of winter dirt! The quick care guidePhoto: Daniel Simon
Get rid of winter dirt! The quick care guide
It grinds in the drivetrain, half the trail sticks to the chain and cassette. We show you how to restore the lustre of tarnished precious metal. Because clean gears are easy on your nerves and your wallet.


WHAT YOU NEEDto clean your mountain bike drivetrain properly: lubricant, degreaser, cloths, water, brushes and some tools.

The drivetrain is a fragile system: the chain, sprockets, chainrings and derailleur pulleys must work together perfectly. Correct adjustment is paramount - but only clean shifting components work optimally. For perfect cleaning, you need a Degreaserwhich can remove lubricant residues from the chain and sprocket. With the Chain whip and the Cassette puller Remove the sprocket set to clean the freewheel. One Plastic brush and a Wire brush (for extreme soiling) is required everywhere on the drive. After brushing, clean with Rags and Flap strips (for the cassette interiors). The Allen key (size five and two) are needed for the rear derailleur. With Water and Sponge remove any remaining dirt. Finally, oil with Chain oil.

1st cassette: filigree plaster work

Degreasing: Special degreasers make cleaning easier. They dissolve dried grease and oil. Do not skimp on spraying. The more you spray, the easier it is to clean.Photo: Daniel Simon Degreasing: Special degreasers make cleaning easier. They dissolve dried grease and oil. Do not skimp on spraying. The more you spray, the easier it is to clean. Spaces: Remove the coarse dirt with a brush. Then the dental floss: Pull a strip of cloth (one centimetre wide) through the sprocket until the inner spaces are shiny.Photo: Daniel Simon Spaces: Remove the coarse dirt with a brush. Then the dental floss: Pull a strip of cloth (one centimetre wide) through the sprocket until the inner spaces are shiny. Remove the cassette: Loosen the sprocket. Press the removal tools down to the six o'clock position. The chain whip secures the sprocket. Turn the puller anti-clockwise.Photo: Daniel Simon Remove the cassette: Loosen the sprocket. Press the removal tools down to the six o'clock position. The chain whip secures the sprocket. Turn the puller anti-clockwise. Clean the freewheel body: Spray the freewheel with degreaser and remove dirt with a cloth. Then apply a thin layer of grease to the freewheel body again - this will make it easier to remove the next time.Photo: Daniel Simon Clean the freewheel body: Spray the freewheel with degreaser and remove dirt with a cloth. Then apply a thin layer of grease to the freewheel body again - this will make it easier to remove the next time.

2. clean & oil the chain: less is more

Pull through: As with the sprocket set, carefully spray the chain with degreaser. Then place the chain between the brush and cleaning cloth and turn the crank at idle speed. Add variation to the chain sandwich: first place the cloth on top of the chain, then on the bottom.Photo: Daniel Simon Pull through: As with the sprocket set, carefully spray the chain with degreaser. Then place the chain between the brush and cleaning cloth and turn the crank at idle speed. Add variation to the chain sandwich: first place the cloth on top of the chain, then on the bottom. Last oiling: You have carefully removed the last of the dirt with the cloth - now you should re-oil the chain. Only drip the lubricant into the individual links - not onto the chain side. Important: Remove excess oil with a cloth.Photo: Daniel Simon Last oiling: You have carefully removed the last of the dirt with the cloth - now you should re-oil the chain. Only drip the lubricant into the individual links - not onto the chain side. Important: Remove excess oil with a cloth.


TIP
Lubricate the chain sparingly. The more lubricant there is on the links, the easier it is for the drive to sand up. This looks ugly and is expensive - the dirt acts like sandpaper on the drive. As a preventative measure, you can use products to protect the chain against dirt infestation. For example: Lube Extreme from Holmenkol.

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3. gearstick and crank: bobbing and laying

Release the derailleur: Detach the rear derailleur from the derailleur hanger using the five-way Allen key and unscrew the derailleur pulleys (two-way Allen key). Your rear derailleur will remain attached to the cable - this saves you having to readjust it.Photo: Daniel Simon Release the derailleur: Detach the rear derailleur from the derailleur hanger using the five-way Allen key and unscrew the derailleur pulleys (two-way Allen key). Your rear derailleur will remain attached to the cable - this saves you having to readjust it. Remove dirt: Dirt sticks to the shifting rollers in particular. Scrape this off with a small Allen key or screwdriver. Then use the degreaser. Clean the cage and pulleys with the cloth.Photo: Daniel Simon Remove dirt: Dirt sticks to the shifting rollers in particular. Scrape this off with a small Allen key or screwdriver. Then use the degreaser. Clean the cage and pulleys with the cloth. Once you have dismantled the rear derailleur and removed the guide rollers, you can also simply clean the rest with a cloth.Photo: Daniel Simon Once you have dismantled the rear derailleur and removed the guide rollers, you can also simply clean the rest with a cloth. Discard: To clean the cranks, shift the derailleur to the small chainring and remove the chain from the chainring. Spray degreaser onto the chainrings and brush off the coarse dirt.Photo: Daniel Simon Discard: To clean the cranks, shift the derailleur to the small chainring and remove the chain from the chainring. Spray degreaser onto the chainrings and brush off the coarse dirt. Water march: After you have wiped the chainrings with a cloth, remove the last impurities with water and a sponge. Finally, you should dry everything off.Photo: Daniel Simon Water march: After you have wiped the chainrings with a cloth, remove the last impurities with water and a sponge. Finally, you should dry everything off.

Downloads:

Cleaning the drive parts (pdf)

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