Keeping your drivetrain clean: Some time spent on the chain, gears and rear derailleur will have your bike performing at its best

by Barry Fraser

Cycling can be a dirty sport. Your best defence is a regimen of cleaning and maintenance that can save you time, effort and money.

When a bicycle chain gets dirty, its efficiency is reduced greatly: it will no longer shift properly and it will wear out prematurely. Keeping your drivetrain clean will increase its life, and allow your bike to work at optimum levels and decrease corrosion.

Proper chain lubrication is the best way to prevent excessive dirt buildup and minimize wear. Using the right lube for the conditions you face is essential. But if you refuse to let the weather dictate your ride schedule, even the most perfectly lubricated drivetrains will need regular cleaning.

A professional mechanic has a full set of appropriate tools: a solvent bath to soak and clean everything properly and the means to reassemble and tune a bicycle. Having a professional clean your drivetrain for you has its benefits, but will also potentially involve leaving your bike for several days at the shop. The clean, of course, will cost you. If you are like me and subscribe to a stubborn DIY lifestyle, there are ways to get the job done at home for minimal cost and downtime.

Before disassembling your ride, make sure you have the tools required to do it properly. Ask around at your local bike shop to find the best tools for your equipment and order the right stuff. Using the wrong tools can easily do more damage than good.

There are also many gadgets you can buy to clean your chain without disassembly. These can save time and money, but can also saturate your drivetrain in solvent, which can find its way into bearings and freehubs causing long-term damage to parts that are hard to maintain. I would use caution when using these chain-cleaning devices.

Keeping your Drivetrain Clean

Some time spent on the chain, gears and rear derailleur will have your bike performing at its best. Chain I recommend installing a master link on any new chain. Even if the component manufacturer doesn’t provide a master link, you can install an aftermarket one that will not affect performance if you use the correct size. (For example, use a 10-speed link on a 10-speed chain.) Although this advice may run counter to some manufacturers’ recommendations, I have been practising this for years and have never had a problem.

A master link will allow you to remove the chain with a bit of solvent and soap. Using gloves, a cleaning brush (my favourite: an old toothbrush) scrub each side of the chain. The bristles should get between the links as well, to remove buildup. Depending on how dirty things are, you may need to replace the solvent halfway through. Once clean, rinse the chain thoroughly with soapy water to remove leftover solvent as the residue can quickly compromise the new lubricant you will apply at the end. Let the chain dry if possible before reinstallation.

Gears

Removing the cassette is the best way to clean the gears, but this step requires a special set of tools and experience you might not have. A quick way to get between the cogs is with either a specific cleaning tool, or the budget option of a piece of corrugated cardboard. It will fit snugly between the cogs and drag out any dirt. I follow with a scrub with a mix of water, dish soap and a cleaner, such as Simple Green. Then rinse. If you are using a hose, always use a light rinse setting.

Derailleur

I never use solvents when cleaning the derailleur. Soapy water does a great job without harming the many pivots that have irreplaceable grease in them. To clean the gunk from the pulleys, use a small flathead screwdriver to scrape away the buildup. A surface clean should be sufficient in most cases.

Finishing touches

Install your chain onto your clean drivetrain. Lubricate it using one drop on the inside of each chain roller. Cycle the chain for a minute then use a rag to wipe any excess. The whole process does not take long, and the performance benefits are huge. A clean bike is a happy bike.