Elysium32

I have stared to properly clean my chain and oil it on a weekly basis. I'd like to know if people clean the back derailleur too? And put oil on it?

Mine is pretty dirty. The spring in it. Have a look at this image:

fietsbob

Why wouldn't you ,.. remove the rear wheel . (clean separately) take care of your bike and it will take care of you.. save old toothbrushes?

Andrew R Stewart 

I know wrenches that will only clean the outer surfaces of the repairs they do, and call the service a complete cleaning. I guess for those riders who can only see as far as their elbows it doesn't matter what the hands are doing

I do suggest that all details of your bike/parts get cleaned. besides making you and your bike feel better it will both make your understanding of how the bike works better and give you a greater chance to note any wear/issues before they become ones that prevent the function from flowing. A bottle of wet lube with a straw allows pin point application of lube after cleaning. Work the part through it's range of movement a few times then wipe off any lube left on the surfaces. Andy.

Gerryattrick

I do clean mine, but not often enough. Whenever I rebuild a bike using old parts I'll give them a thorough clean and oiling before fitting.

On my regular ride bikes I'll give the insides a brushing plus a blast with a jet of water a couple of times a year, then oil them. My bikes, including gears, cranks & brakes get a hose down with water and wipe dry after dusty or wet/muddy rides before putting them away.

LesterOfPuppets

I've done it before with Q-tips. But that was long ago and I doubt I'd bother again.

I wouldn't call that the inside spring, however. Many rear derailleurs also have one or two other springs you can't see.

JohnDThompson 

If it bothers you, remove the derailleur from the frame and drop it in an ultrasonic cleaner for a while.

TakingMyTime

The more a part can be disassembled the deeper I clean. I should mention that I do have a lot of free time on my hands.

3alarmer 

...this is how I do it, too. When I do it. Which is not all that often.

Drew Eckhardt 

No, but eventually the lower pivot gunks up so you don't have chain tension immediately after a shift.

lopek77

Is there a spring?

79pmooney

Yes, but we have to initiate the process. Take your derailleur apart, get out the toothbrush and your preferred solvent/cleaner and get to work. It is March and time for spring cleaning. (You can go after your brake pivots also. Pedals and cleats.)

Ben

lopek77

lol I know, I know I just never really clean that, other than quick spray of wd40, and some pressure rinse from a garden hose once or twice a year.
I think my pedals see more maintenance than my drivetrain. I just did overhaul of my Shimano spd pedals. Took me almost 2 hours while watching a pretty good movie. I don't think I ever spent that much time total on the derailer maintenance in the last 30 years
Spring in my derailers always look pretty clean. Riding in the rain, riding through streams, and dipping my bike in the lake to take a picture may be the reason for a clean drivetrain

RoadTire 

Yep, sandy and crusty: spray bottle dishsoap water to remove the grit. Deeper clean foamy spray lube, sometimes with brushes. Next take off the derailleur and disassemble, put new grease in the knuckles. (only did that a couple times) On bikes that haven't been maintained well I keep finding grease contaminated with metal particles so much they look ... like metallic silver paint. What's up with that?

bkaapcke

I spray a little solvent on it, let it sit for a bit and then blow it off with the compressor. Hold a shop towel behind it while using air and the dirt won't go all over the wheel. bk

jyl

The reality is that plenty of rear derailleurs are never cleaned, their insides become full of greasy, gritty schmutz, but they still move in and out, and outlast the bike.

Still, we should clean our bikes. A dirty bike is an unsavory calling card. Turns girls off, and all that.

Then again, there are better things to do than take q-tips to the innards of bike parts. So my rear derailleur is sort of clean, on the outside anyway, but you have to overlook the odd dust bunny that creeps inside between pressure washings .