garethzbarker

so any tricks or tips for cleaning crank gears without removing the darn crank from the BB? I've been trying to keep my road bike clean. I can handle each part of the bike easily enough but my hands simply won't fit nor can i get any rags in the crank area; do I need to buy a brush or something? I gave up on keeping the triple on my MTB clean a long time ago but I'd really like to keep my vanity bike shiny.

thanks

JanMM

Can you remove the rings? That would make it easier.

CNY James

use a cleaning brush and a degreasing agent.

jputnam

Why not pull the crank? It's fast and easy with the right tool.

stapfam

This is the only way to get it spotless. I wouldn't bother unless it was for an annual strip down of the bike though.

Plenty of degreaser and a stiff 1" paintbrush will work well enough normally. Wash off well with soapy water and then spray with WDF40 to get rid of the water.

Pat

I spray it with a little WD-40 to get the greasy parts soluble and remove that mess with degreaser and get rid of the degreaser with water. You also need to use a brush that can get between the gears. You want to be careful not to use too much because you don't want to get the solvents into the interior parts of the hubs.

garethzbarker

thanks guys

CB HI

https://www.parktool.com/products/det...8&item=GSC%2D1

ARider2

^^^^ The brush with a little non-toxic citrus based cleaner (like Pedro's Orange Peelz, or the Park version) works well. Spin the crank and hold the brush against the chainring with the cleaner, then use a rag to periodically clean the brush as it will get dirty quickly if the chainring is real dirty. Either remove the chain, or shift the chain away from the chainring you wish to clean. Repeat using the brush and cleaning the brush with the rag until the chainring is reasonably clean. The only way to get it completely clean is to remove the crank, but the brush and cleaner way works well enough. Of course, lube the chain and chainrings when cleaning is completed.

garethzbarker

that's what i'm talking about! i don't mind pulling the rings once and a while but not every cleaning session. this looks perfect for the job. should be able to use it on the rear cassette too. thanks.

ARider2

Yes, the brush is great for cleaning cogs on cassettes and freewheels. I use the hard non-brush side to loosen up the gunk and remove debris that gets between the cogs, and once done cleaning between the cogs I use the brush side to clean the cogs. This can also be done with the cassette or freewheel on the bike by just shifting the chain to one side of the cogset to give clear access to cleaning the other side.

CB HI

It was actually designed for cleaning cogs but does work well on chainrings and derailers.

Velo Dog

Toothbrush, little skinny strips of cloth used like dental floss, cotton twine used the same way.
Or adopt the sensible cyclist's attitude: Clean enough is clean enough. It's a piece of outdoor equipment; it doesn't have to glisten.