Maintenance/cleaning

[Tomtomato]

Hi,

When my bike is very muddy, I rinse it first with water, then spray muc-off (pink), leave it for a few minutes and then rince again/remove with a sponge (BTW, that Muc Off stuff is very good).

I spray a bit on the cassette and chain, so when rinced and dry, I use some dry lube on the chain (each link) and change the gears several times.

Am I supposed to put some dry lube directly on the cassette too? Also, some people mention the wheel bearings, but I assume those would be sealed, and therefore the muc-off wouldn't have much impact.

What about the front sprocket and bearings?

I would be interested in knowing what people do after cleaning their bike with such product.

Thanks,
T.

 

[RobF]

No need to lube the cassette, or anything else apart from the chain.

The bearings are sealed sufficiently for a hand spray of Muc Off and a hand rinse.

What they are not sealed sufficiently for is a pressure washer.

 

[Croxden]

While I was waiting at the Monsal bike hire place, a lad put each returned hire bike onto a stand and jetted any dirt off. It was collected rain water from the shed roof, the jet washer was a low powered machine and not used close to but done every time.

Their bikes are all in good order & used regularly by different folk so it's not doing any harm for them.

Not that I recommend doing it. Keeping things from getting to dirty is the key, little & often.

 

[EddiePJ]

Well, I'd rather follow the advice from the people...who are actually manufacturing the chains. I can assume they know what they are talking about, in term of not using those cleaning devices.

Hi,

When my bike is very muddy, I rinse it first with water, then spray muc-off (pink), leave it for a few minutes and then rince again/remove with a sponge (BTW, that Muc Off stuff is very good).

I spray a bit on the cassette and chain, so when rinced and dry, I use some dry lube on the chain (each link) and change the gears several times.

So it's okay to use muc Off on the chain, but it's not okay to use a chain bath. You have me confused about the difference, especially if Muc Off is used within the chain bath.

Dry lube is also only any good for dry riding conditions, not wet riding conditions where the bike will become muddy. Use dry lube in muddy conditions, and you will be lucky to get about five miles out a of the chain before it requires doing again.

Ref the cleaning. http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/cleaning-detailing.19455/


Example below.

During ride.

After ride.

And after nothing more than a quick and careful wash down.

.

 

[RobF]

So it's okay to use muc Off on the chain, but it's not okay to use a chain bath. You have me confused about the difference, especially if Muc Off is used within the chain bath.

Dry lube is also only any good for dry riding conditions, not wet riding conditions where the bike will become muddy. Use dry lube in muddy conditions, and you will be lucky to get ten miles of the chain before it requires doing again.

Ref the cleaning. http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/cleaning-detailing.19455/


.

KMC say don't use a chain bath in combination with a solvent.

I think the bit about solvent is crucial, and suspect Muc Off would not be classed as a solvent for this purpose.

Rather it's a detergent.

• NEVER EVER use a so-called ‘chain washing machine’ in combination with solvent. This is the one and only sure way to instantly ruin your chain.

http://www.kmcchain.eu/maintenance

 

[EddiePJ]

I can accept the solvent comment Rob, although grit is going to do far more damage, and any factory lubricant is going to be long gone after just the first wet muddy ride. TT was talking about the use of chain baths as whole, which are a superb cleaning device, and one that no one who rides off road, should be without. My point was really that if you are going to ask how people clean and prep their bike, don't start by basically slating their choice of cleaning method, without first thinking about why they do it.

On the subject of chain cleaning, I keep meaning to get myself a cheapo ultra sonic cleaner. I currently give my chains to a cousin to take to work and put through their commercial unit. If anyone has a recommendation for a cheap unit, I'd be interested to hear about it.

edit. Lumos has previously mentioned a very good point about wet lubes, and how nothing looks, or is worse than the black paste mess that is so often seen after a ride. By memory he was suggesting using a good quality ceramic lube, but I can't sadly recall more than that. The only time that I have had the horrible black gunge, is if I have over applied the lube. I do need to look into ceramic lube though.

 

[JohnCade]

So it's okay to use muc Off on the chain, but it's not okay to use a chain bath. You have me confused about the difference, especially if Muc Off is used within the chain bath.

Dry lube is also only any good for dry riding conditions, not wet riding conditions where the bike will become muddy. Use dry lube in muddy conditions, and you will be lucky to get about five miles out a of the chain before it requires doing again.

Ref the cleaning. http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/cleaning-detailing.19455/


Example below.

During ride.

After ride.

And after nothing more than a quick and careful wash down.

.

I didn’t see that in his post. He did edit it an hour or so later though. If he edited it out it’s a bit unfair to take him to task over it.

 

[Tomtomato]

So it's okay to use muc Off on the chain, but it's not okay to use a chain bath. You have me confused about the difference, especially if Muc Off is used within the chain bath.
.

I think you are referring to a separate thread about chain maintenance. When did I talk about not being OK to use Muc Off as a chain bath? I mentioned chain cleaning devices, not advised by chain manufacturers. Also, I believe a chain bath in any type of cleaning fluid will remove all original lube, so I wouldn't do it.

I wipe my chain after each ride, and just use Muc Off spray once in a while for cleaning the chain and the rest. I use the small brush on the chain, and it seems to be a good maintenance regime.