Cleaning?

[Crawf]

Hiya,

I have done a search and it pretty much came up with nothing in The Shed.

I'm after some info on what liquids to use for cleaning the cassette & derailleurs along with any tools to help make the job easier? Also, whats best to wash the frame without damaging the paint?

Are there any 'how to' articles around at all?

Thanks

[Birdman]

There is a thread i called electronic manuals which you can get maintenance books from.

Mainly you would just use an aerosol citrus degreaser, an old rag, and maybe a toothbrush. But you can get dedicated cleaners for doing the cogs. Then again you can get dedicated chain cleaners also.

I would suggest a citrus degreaser. From your LBS, Auto centre or Bunnings, etc. Just make sure you don't leave any moving parts oil/lube free for too long as they will have no protection.

Hope this helps.

Mitch.

[stryker84]

I've always found good ol kero, an old toothbrush and a rag works, only downside is kero stinks and is annoying to get rid of when you're done.

[europa]

I'm not a fan of the citrus degreasers because they leave the parts vulnerable to corrosion and so those parts must then be protected with oil. Kero (real kero) has the interesting property that while it dregreases effectively, it leaves an oily film. You still have to lubricate the parts properly, but the kero adds a safety buffer.

One should also note that I'm happy to live with that dreadful stink and that I believe that mechanical parts look better when (slightly) oily than when stripped dead clean (there's a difference between 'oily' and 'dirty') - others disagree with both these views and so use things like the citrus degreasers.

The citrus degreasers do seem to be the pick of the alternatives to kero - cheap, non-stinky, available and biodegradable.

I use kero, paint brush, tooth brush, one of those skinny brushes for getting between cassettes and a chain cleaner. The last two are used because I bought them to see what they were like and haven't broken them yet - they have their place but I probably won't buy replacements. I also use an old baking tray which sits underneath what I'm cleaning and this does a good job of collecting the dripping kero, thus reducing the mess.

I have done a search and it pretty much came up with nothing in The Shed.

You won't in the Shed because it's a relatively new forum. This subject has been done to death before but in other forums so I suggest you widen your search and do it again. A lot has been said and a lot offered in the past, and I suspect much of it won't be said again (because it's been done to death). To get the full story, do a search of the whole forum. Having said that, I'm glad you raised it again because although there are a few of us who aren't going to change our opinions, with our constant flow of new members and new cyclists, this is a topic that can be redone from time to time ... just don't be shocked if someone accuses you of trying to start a war (it's one of the 'religious' topics )

Richard

[Crawf]

Kero, lube, rags and a brush should be just fine! Thanks.

[Andrew Grace]

As above, Kero, cheap and very effective.
I've been using kero on my motorbike chains and sprockets for years.

[inaminit]

I've found kero does the best job by far, but stinks.

I've tried a few different citrus degreasers and found they didnt work anywhere near as well.

[toolonglegs]

Hot water and dishwashing liquid and only ever use white lightning...i spent so many years smelling of petrol that I cant stand the thought of using kero.I prefer citrus if I really need some kick.

[rustychisel]

Some say dishwashing liquids contain too many salts which will corrode alloy parts, but I say 'if you use it full strength you might have a problem, but who's that stupid?'. On the other hand I'm with Europa in preferring kerosene for general cleaning because of the slightly oily film which is a wonderful beading agent and protector of anodising and paintwork. On carbon fibre components I use Mr Sheen furniture polish after thorough cleaning.

[Mulger bill]

Kero on the drivetrain, after a while you won't notice the smell.

When I do get around to the frame, a bit of WD40 on a rag works well, just don't spray it around.

Shaun

[Mulger bill]

Oh yeah, various salts are used in many commercial cleaners as a thickening agent, I'd never use dishwasing liquid on a steelie.

Shaun

[uncle arthur]

I've taken to using my non-acid mag wheel cleaner when the bike needs a REALLY good clean, and a car spray detailer (both Meguiars) in between for the quick wipeovers.

If I'm going to look after my car, I may as well look after my bike just as well.

[silverlight]

after you have cleaned the bike, use brasso on the frame, it highlights the frame lustre and give a brilliant finish. Ive seen the pros mechanics use the same thing.

[laterstarter]

Mainly you would just use an aerosol citrus degreaser, an old rag, and maybe a toothbrush. But you can get dedicated cleaners for doing the cogs. Then again you can get dedicated chain cleaners also.

I would suggest a citrus degreaser. From your LBS, Auto centre or Bunnings, etc. Just make sure you don't leave any moving parts oil/lube free for too long as they will have no protection.

Hope this helps.

Mitch.

I was recommended and have tried the spray on degreasers from Super Cheap Auto. Like citrus degreasers which I now tend to use citrus degreasers with a good rinse and lube after. Alll seem to work OK but I have no idea how any of them may affect the bling bits or the paint on frame in the longer term.

[silverlight]

opssss i meant Mr Sheen furniture polish like rustychiesel suggested not brasso, i use it on my frame and comes up beautiful.

[Hawkeye]

I found the kero worked quite well on my chain and the rest of the bike as a degreaser. However, I need to be very careful to use it not just in an open space but also when there's wind otherwise the fumes make me feel quite ill.

A change in chain manufacturer on the commuter has meant that it's better to leave it on the bike so I "invested" in a Pedro's chain machine. The degreaser that comes with it is something else. Combined with the chain machine it gets the chain cleaner than my old method with the full rinse and spin cycle in kero, and it's water soluble. Other citrus cleaners I've tried have been pretty ordinary.

After rinsing the degreaser off with the hose (good excuse to water the lawn) and drying with a rag, a drop of White Lightning on each chain roller, a quick backwards spin for a minute to work it in, followed by spinning it back through a rag to wipe off the excess, and I'm ready to go.

For the cassette I just stretch a rag between my hands and wipe back and forwards between the sprockets with the wheel off the bike. I have one of those cassette brushes that is quite useful and a general bike cleaning brush I got off T7 that between them are good for getting dried crud off just about all the bike.

If you have discs be very careful to keep degreaser and lubricants well away.

[Mulger bill]

If you have discs be very careful to keep degreaser and lubricants well away.

Damn important point that, If it happens metho should fix the rotors.

Shaun

[peter]

So where can I buy this wonderful kerosene? Camping supplies?

[Bnej]

So where can I buy this wonderful kerosene? Camping supplies?

K-Mart near the paint, you'll find all the kerosene, methylated spirits, turpentine, etc. Camping supplies or hardware stores will probably stock it too.

I used kerosene to clean a chain once but it smells so bad I doubt I'll do it that way again. Don't bring it indoors without the cap on!

[sogood]

I found my bottle of kero at Coles supermarket, near all the other cleaning products as you'd expect. No, I haven't used it once yet. Citrus degreaser is still my mainstay.

[stryker84]

...mentholated spirits...

That's methylated spirits, btw. i.e., spirits (ethanol) with methanol added to denature it (make it toxic therefore undrinkable).

Mentholated spirits would be spirit with menthol , which is commonly used as a mint-flavouring agent, as well as in various therapeutic products.

It's a very common misspelling. Even the Victorian WorkCover site has it misspelled in the summary of this article.

Stryker
resident pedant

[Bnej]

...mentholated spirits...

That's methylated spirits, btw. i.e., spirits (ethanol) with methanol added to denature it (make it toxic therefore undrinkable).

Mentholated spirits would be spirit with menthol , which is commonly used as a mint-flavouring agent, as well as in various therapeutic products.

It's a very common misspelling...

I meant to type it correctly, but spell check fixed it for me! Didn't look at what it got changed to.

[Birdman]

Good old methylated spirits aye.

My inlaws and parents both have stills to make their own alcohol and there is some sort of biproduct of it is metho so i think i can get plenty of that.

Mitch.

[stryker84]

Good old methylated spirits aye.

My inlaws and parents both have stills to make their own alcohol and there is some sort of biproduct of it is metho so i think i can get plenty of that.

Mitch.

Um, should you really be sharing this info with everyone?

[s-s-a]

I use citrus degreaser (bought in bulk from marine supplies shop) diluted to whatever strength required (ie strong for drive train and diluted to washing-up water quantities for the frame). Hose the lot off then dry well.

Kero would be ok for the roadie as I use Triflow lube but on the mtb the film of oil left behind is a dust magnet (oil+dust=grinding paste) and I need everything clean to apply Pedros extra-dry lube.

I agree with Mr Sheen for the frame duco - we don't use that junk on furniture here it's kept in the shed for bikes. And some leather cream for the saddle (back before I moved in with my other half I used vaseline on my saddles).

Steph