Bicycle Mechanics - Gear cleaning.

Guys, carrying on fom the chain cleaning thread, what do you do when you want to clean the chainrings and rear cogs? I suppose that a clean chain will look foul quite soon if it's running in the same crud as the gears will probably have on them. Do you bother stripping them down.

Putting this into perspective, the last time I stripped a gear setup was one of those old Sturmey-Archer 3-speed hubs! Remember them? Those were real bikes. None of that aluminum/titanium metal, just good old solid steel. Even acne was made of sterner stuff!

Running for cover.

Two pipe cleaners twisted together to form a longer length, dipped in a little degreaser work for me.

You didn't actually open up a SA 3sp did you ? I've cleaned up the outsides of an oil encrusted one but not been brave enough to open one up :)

I tried it once and it was a fluke that I reassembled it. The small linkage that runs into it snapped and had to be replaced. That was a long time ago, and I recall some strange pieces of metal inside that gave no clue why they were there or what their purpose was. Inevitably, after you've reassembled something you always end up with a number of 'spare' screws, washers, etc, and that convinces me the manufacturers always 'over-engineer' what they make. After all, if the bike runs with the pieces missing, it begs the queston, did it actually need them in the first place?

Originally posted by Bokkie
Inevitably, after you've reassembled something you always end up with a number of 'spare' screws, washers, etc, and that convinces me the manufacturers always 'over-engineer' what they make. After all, if the bike runs with the pieces missing, it begs the queston, did it actually need them in the first place?

:D

Park makes a brush and the opposite end has a curved jagged edge to get between the teeth. It gets all the heavy crude off and then I finish up with a folded rag, and solvent, between each set of gears to get the residue.

Have often thought that I'd like to try sand-blasting the gears but haven't gotten around to it yet. If I had another use for the sand-blaster, I'd be more likely to get one. Repainting bikes would be a good reason, but I rarely do that kind of work.

Sturmy Archer 3 speeds are really not that difficult. Messy! but not anything to avoid. The beauty of them is that they last almost forever with very little maintenance. I think the company is now owned by SunRace who closed the last MFG facility in England earlier this year. Too bad. The end of a tradition.

And SA's make that nice ticking noise as you cycled.

Boy do I want a Chopper again!

As to cleaning, I take the chain off and use old rags with a light spray of WD40 used as a de greaser.(Not a lubricant--I know!)

How about using an old tooth brush on the gears? I did it once while using Gum-Out and I thought it worked very well. Just remember to use the Gum-Out in a well ventilated area and not your dorm room. The Resident Assistants tend to frown on that.

A toothbrush and cleaning fluid (something like Muc-Off is good) works fairly well whilst the cassette is still on the wheel, although this is best if you dont have on of those plastic guard things between the cassette and spokes as you can get into the back.

For a more thorough clean, a brief soak in white spirit will shift or loosen most of the gunk and a rag 'n' toothbrush combo will remove the rest.

Pretty much do what you all do with the brush and solvent / a few times a year Ill pull the cassette off and soak it to clean gives a chance to inspect the free hub and clean and lub it too. Chain rings i clean with a brush
CF

Most any kind of brush and solvent will work, also the edge of rag, shop towel, etc. works too

Ride Clean
pat

I have one of the less expensive Chain cleaners, I clean the chain with it, (gee ok, that sounds dorky) I also run the rear derailer through the gears, this gets the chain cleaning stuff on the rear cogs...
After cleaning the chain i use a simple rubbermaid tile grout brush, the bristles are long enough to clean out the cogs!
and for $2.49 in stead of $14, you get the job done just as well!
:beer:

Today I tried to clean the rear gears and had the usual poor result, then I figured if I couldn't get them really clean at least they would be well oiled and sprayed them with "Duck Oil" and I couldn't believe my eyes as the muck just fell off and the gears look like brand new.

So give it a go you will not be disappointed.

What is "Duck oil"? Never heard of it.:confused:

Originally posted by Jean Beetham Smith
What is "Duck oil"? Never heard of it.:confused:

I was given it by the maintenance dept in work, so I didn't ask any questions I just gave a grateful thanks, but I did find this on the web

http://www.nzsoap.co.nz/factsheets/duck_oil.html

Though I have to be honest after reading the above I haven't noticed any improvement in my "Damp Start" capabilities.:)