[stosh]

How do you guys do it?

I have an old tomatoe sauce jar with some chain cleaner in it I dip what parts I can fit in there and then the parts that I can't I clean with some cleaner on a tooth brush but I have trouble getting all the little crevises and what not clean.

What are your tips and trick and what do you use?

 

[BikeGeek]

I'm supposed to clean them?

 

[Westy]

I have a can of WD-40 I use to degrease parts, I usually then clean them with a toothbrush and soap and water. If I am feeling particularly lazy I will just throw them in the dishwasher.

 

[arcteryx33]

Spray everything and use a toothbrush. Its safe on everything.

 

[Serial Midget]

Carburator cleaner.

 

[binary visions]

Originally posted by arcteryx33
Spray everything and use a toothbrush. Its safe on everything.

 

[Tenchiro]

I like to ride through puddles as fast as possible.

 

[bomberz1qr20]

Simple Green.

Spray full strength on the drivetrain, wait 5 minutes, then wash whole bike with 4:1 dilution in water.

In a pinch: Dawn dishwashing liquid.

 

[Westy]

Use bacon grease to lube everything. When it gets dirty, let your dog lick it clean.

 

[ohio]

Originally posted by Serial Midget
Carburator cleaner.

That's some nasty stuff. Why get it all over yourself and your environment when Simple Green will do the trick, is a lot cheaper, and won't kill all the cute and fuzzy animals.

 

[Silver]

Originally posted by ohio
That's some nasty stuff. Why get it all over yourself and your environment when Simple Green will do the trick, is a lot cheaper, and won't kill all the cute and fuzzy animals.

Because you can't put Simple Green into a paper bag and huff it. Believe me, I've tried....

 

[Serial Midget]

Originally posted by ohio
That's some nasty stuff. Why get it all over yourself and your environment when Simple Green will do the trick, is a lot cheaper, and won't kill all the cute and fuzzy animals.

Yeah but it's not as much fun. On the plus side it does not waste water resources - spray it and you're done. Anyhow it's just ether; no less biodegradable than simple green. Crap - the whole world will biodegrade eventually.

 

[Misfitslacker]

the hose...then relube

 

[gorgechris]

My mechanic buddy would employ diesel fuel on occasion. It works great, is not flammable like other solvents, and is pretty damn cheap. I'm thinking of building up a parts cleaner tray with a large metal bucket, lid, and homemade screen in it. You place the metal parts in the screen, soak it in the diesel, then clean with a toothbrush. The particulate matter is captured in the screen, and can be dried, removed, and then disposed, leaving the diesel fuel available for nearly infinite re-use.

Recommendation: wear heavy-duty rubber gloves, safety glasses (face shield recommended), long sleeve shirt, pants, and work shoes when working with any solvents. Duh!

Usually, I just spray the drivetrain with Simple Green, remove the wheels (place the rear wheel cassette-side down, so it does not drip back into the hub), then give the whole bike a lotta' love with dish detergent and several specific brushes, and then rinse it with light water pressure.

 

[oldfart]

Simple green, a brush, scrub and wash the bike with a hose and carwashing brush. I never take the chain off to clean it because I don't use a crappy lube which gums things up. Pro Link keeps the drive train lubed and clean.

 

[johnbryanpeters]

A little Mr. Clean in a lot of water for general bike washing.

For really greasy parts, kerosene works ok, and I occasionally use Gunk. I got some Citrasolv and found that it doesn't really cut grease worth a damn, and if you really read the label, it's just as nasty as stuff that comes out of a refinery.

I would really like to have an automotive parts washer and a small vapor degreaser, but...

Oh, yeah, an ultrasonic cleaner for really small and finicky stuff.

For the crevasses, an assortment of brushes, pipe cleaners, and rags; old tee shirts are excellent.

Compressed air is real handy for blowing out dust and for blowing water out of the chain links after you have washed the bike.

J