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#1
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Cleaning the bike !
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 -- Regards, Stu Devereux. Fax no. 08701339568 (Outside UK fax 448701339568) E-mail. |
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#2
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Cleaning the bike !
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. Clean the cogs with an old toothbrush and car engine degreaser. |
#3
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Cleaning the bike !
doki wrote:
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. 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 |
#4
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Cleaning the bike !
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. 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 2 Tees Close, Witham, Essex. Gravity beer in Essex http://www.eminent.demon.co.uk |
#5
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Cleaning the bike !
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 ? Car shampoo is surprisingly good at removing oily grime even at normal dilution. I'm amazed how it gets crud off chainrings. |
#6
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Cleaning the bike !
JLB wrote: doki wrote: 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! |
#7
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Cleaning the bike !
in message , 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 ?, No, you'll knacker the bearings. 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. -- (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 |
#8
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Cleaning the bike !
In article ,
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 ? 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 |
#9
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Cleaning the bike !
"doki" wrote in message
... JLB wrote: doki wrote: 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!!!!! |
#10
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Cleaning the bike !
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 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. |
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