(upbeat music)
- Keeping your drivetrain clean is essential
to prolong the life of it, not only that though,
it will make sure that you will get crisp
shifting every single time.
The first thing that you've probably spotted is,
the fact, that my bike is filthy.
So, before we get into this mechanical,
I'm gonna take it outside and give it a good wash.
(upbeat music)
So, you can see now that the bike is
actually a lot cleaner.
I've gone over the drivetrain just with some bike cleaner,
however, it's not quite cleaned up 100%.
So, what I am going to use now is a little bit
of drivetrain cleaner and some smaller brushes.
Really, to work in that formula into the cassette,
the chain, into the jockey wheels.
If you are using a spray lube right here,
just be very careful where you spray that.
You don't want to get it onto the disc brakes.
You would worry about contaminating it and
your brakes just won't be as strong as they're meant to be.
Okay, so the main areas, I am just really focusing
on getting these smaller detailed brushes in.
Is like the cassette, getting right in there and
making sure all the dirt and the grime is right out.
And, then the chain.
And, the easiest way I found to do this,
is to take your brush and just back pedal.
You'll probably have to add more cleaner on, as you go.
And, then just keep working it in until the chain
starts to look a lot cleaner.
Switch it around so you are getting the sides,
back side and then onto the top.
Then you can get onto the chain ring.
Scrubbing away.
You'd be surprise all these little teeth,
just really catching the dirt and the grime.
Can really build up and if you're running
one of these narrow, wide chain rings,
you'll actually find that that dirt build-up
just won't allow the chain to sit and it could
actually jump off.
Make sure you give it a really good clean.
Again, if you're using a strong degreaser that's
not bike specific, just be careful where you're
puttin' that, you don't want to get it into
the bottom bracket or into the hub, the free hub,
etcetera, 'cause it's gonna wear away where
the grease is actually meant to be.
Okay, so I think we are just about done.
One last place.
And that's the jockey wheels.
Just give them a bit of a clean up.
We're lookin' not too bad.
Okay, with all cleaned up, it's really important
actually to rinse that degreaser off.
Make sure none of it gets stuck in there, otherwise,
when it comes to lubing it back up, well,
the chain oil is not actually going to stick on to it.
Just be really thorough.
And, just ensure, at this point, you could be checking
to make sure that it is cleaned up well.
And even though I've got that dirt and grime
still stuck in there.
I've got say, it's lookin' pretty good.
Well, I think I'm pretty happy with that.
It's time to take it back up into the workshop
and get on to the next stage.
Okay, so just by looking at that drivetrain
I can see that it's pretty immaculate.
I am impressed with my own cleaning skills,
I've got to say.
We're just going to take this dry rag to it now,
clean up the jockey wheels, the chain, the chain ring,
and dab down the cassette to make sure there is
no excess degreaser.
And the lube, when it comes to relubing is gonna
stick to the chain and do what it's meant to do.
(upbeat music)
Okay, so the drivetrain is all cleaned up.
If your chain was particularly black, you might
have to do this whole process all over again
to get it spotless, looking, kind of similar to this.
Or you could alternatively use one
of those chain baths.
Where you actually clip it onto the chain itself,
you fill it with degreaser and it runs
it back and forth.
This is quite a messy job but it is definitely
the most effective way if your chain is filthy.
Now, it's time to get onto lubing it back up, tho.
Okay, so I've got a wet lube and a dry lube.
Now, these vary depending on your conditions.
It's winter right here where we are, so I'm gonna
use some wet lube.
If it's dryer conditions, then you definitely
want to go for that dry lube.
I don't want to get too much into the details.
But that dry lube just won't pick up dust and dirt
so it can contaminate the whole chain.
Where if you are using wet lube in those dryer
conditions, we actually find it's gonna create, eventually
a black, grimy paste just because it picks up the dirt.
It sits in the chain a little bit more
to give it extra protection.
So, just think about what lube you're using
depending on your conditions.
I am going to apply some of this wet lube now,
and I've got three places I like to apply it to.
Apply it onto the chain, of course, then onto all
these pivot's and the rear mech and then just onto
the bearing's of the jockey wheels.
Just to keep everything running smooth.
So, finally I'm just gonna get rid of
that excess lube.
Cleaning off the chain, jockey wheels and also,
around the rear mech.
And, that is it.
Job done and, I'm ready to get back out and hit the trails.
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