Dutchy

On the weekend I stripped my bike of it's 2004 LX crank, chainrings, bottom bracket etc for its' yearly clean and rebuild. It is the first time I have done this since this groupset went on the bike last year. As per my normal routine that I use for my other bikes I placed all the components (not the bb) in a degreaser bath and let them soak. I cleaned the small chainrings with a toothbrush and they came up like new, I cleaned the crank arms, also like new, I then picked up the large chainring and noticed that the blue/grey anodising had started to dissolve! Just touching the chainring was enough to make the paint fall off. I figured the only thing to do was to brush the rest the remaining paint off and settle for an aluminium finish on the chainring. I have been servicing bikes for years in the same way. I can't believe that the chainring paint is so fragile that it came off so easily. I have sprayed degreaser on all sorts of bikes over the years and have never had a problem like this before.

I just thought I'd mention it so anyone else that owns the 2004 LX blue/grey groupset can avoid this problem.

CHEERS.

Mark

BostonFixed

What degreaser were you using? Simple green?

Rowan

Dutchy is from Australia. You know, a place outside America? Simple Green is not marketed here.

seely

Most of the degreasers are corrosive to aluminum, so I am not surprised. The same thing used to happen when I was detailing Porsches and Benz's with older aluminum wheels... the clearcoat would peel if we used our wheel cleaner on it.

ImprezaDrvr

Forgive him for trying to be helpful and having the audacity to mention a product that's not available down under. But, you do realize that many products are actually sold in more than one country, right?

Bike_13

Yeah, but we can't get Simple Green in Oz.

The best alternative (but hideously expensive) is Finish Line Ctirus Degreaser.

BostonFixed

Can't you use citrus degeaser from the supermarket, or do you not have supermarkets in Australia?
I have found that cheap citrus degreaser sold in the supermarket in the cleaning section works well as degreaser, not quite as well a simple green, but still well nevertheless.
Also, degreasing dish soap works great too, as long as you dry the steel parts fairly quickly so that they don't rust.
I've also used gas, works well, but don't use it indoors!
I'm sure that there are many other alternatives sold for degreasing auto parts, you just have to look, and there will be many alterantives!
FYI- Most 'bike specific' degreasers, wax, grease,etc. is just repackaged as stuff for the bike market, and marked up hideously!

Rowan

No, obviously we aren't enlightened enough for supermarkets. What are they? An American invention?

BostonFixed

Unfortunately, yes.

Raiyn

Great attitude there.

ImprezaDrvr

Well, you in particular don't come off as being very enlightened, but you must get a kick out of our responses to you. I suppose, however, that an Aussie invented the internet or, at least, internet trolls?

Rowan

The original comment wasn't aimed at you, it was at bostonfixed who has "history" with me. Butt out of it.

BostonFixed

I have a history with you? I knew knew that...??? It must have been that one time when I was really drunk...., no wait that was someone else.
WTF are you talking about, rowan?

Rowan

https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/82955-month-new-zealand-presta-schrader.html

Of course, it seems a bit meaningless now that your last, blunt and obscene post has been deleted.

Anyway, I've had my fun. On with business.

miamijim

I'm more impressed with the Aussie comments. Regardless, as a lesson to all, be very careful with citrus degreasers on aluminum. It will dis-color it.