Winter drivetrain cleaning
Moderator: robbosmans
Hi
Perhaps its been discussed ad nauseum but quickly: its winter here in ny and i gave my bike a cleaning the other day after some long rides in the wet/slush/salt/debris/dirt/sand that seems to be all over our roads. Degreased chain and relubed, same for pulley wheels and rear d, did not take off cranks/bb shells. I notice a distinctly horrible "crunchy" sound as i backpedal the cranks and chain, like particles of dirt or sand trapped somewhere in the drivetrain.
What to do?
Best practices/advice much appreciated.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk
Perhaps its been discussed ad nauseum but quickly: its winter here in ny and i gave my bike a cleaning the other day after some long rides in the wet/slush/salt/debris/dirt/sand that seems to be all over our roads. Degreased chain and relubed, same for pulley wheels and rear d, did not take off cranks/bb shells. I notice a distinctly horrible "crunchy" sound as i backpedal the cranks and chain, like particles of dirt or sand trapped somewhere in the drivetrain.
What to do?
Best practices/advice much appreciated.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk
My wallet is the lightest thing on my bike.
Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓ Broad Selection ✓ Worldwide Delivery ✓
www.starbike.com
Hi
Thanks yes thats what i feared..unfortunately i only have 1 bike right now and its def not 105.
I was using silca chain lube its great but gets rreally thick and gummy even cleaning weekly. Im most converned about crunchy sandy sound/feel when i spin cranks...vuma quad fwiw...
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk
Thanks yes thats what i feared..unfortunately i only have 1 bike right now and its def not 105.
I was using silca chain lube its great but gets rreally thick and gummy even cleaning weekly. Im most converned about crunchy sandy sound/feel when i spin cranks...vuma quad fwiw...
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk
My wallet is the lightest thing on my bike.
Tomstr wrote:Morgan Blue cleaner works as well.
+1
gitsome wrote:I was using silca chain lube its great but gets rreally thick and gummy even cleaning weekly. Im most converned about crunchy sandy sound/feel when i spin cranks...vuma quad fwiw...
Maybe try applying more sparingly although it can be difficult to get the balance between too much and too little.
I use Muc Off Wet lube in the winter. You don't need much on the chain but it will keep the chain lubricated even after a few hours on UK wet salty roads that can strip a chains lube in under an hour!
Set your bike in a stand and examine what parts are sounding gritty.
How difficult can it be ?. . . . .
Also have a look to this recent topic>
what are you using for cleaning bike from winter road salt?
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=137452
How difficult can it be ?. . . . .
Also have a look to this recent topic>
what are you using for cleaning bike from winter road salt?
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=137452
I did i thought i was very thorough i didnt expect the crunchy sound. No visible dirt in the chain or on the pulleys thats why im afraid it might be in cranks...thats why i posted my question
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk
My wallet is the lightest thing on my bike.
Cleaning weekly?
On a bike with no proper guards, I'd be cleaning every wet ride.
The gritty crunchy sound could well be crap inside the chain. Between plates, rollers and pins. You'll also grind the mating/rubbing surfaces down, that'll make noise too.
TBH the one and only winter I did without a training bike cost me almost the cost of a reasonable training bike in parts. And I'm sure it hastened the death of my washing machine.
On a bike with no proper guards, I'd be cleaning every wet ride.
The gritty crunchy sound could well be crap inside the chain. Between plates, rollers and pins. You'll also grind the mating/rubbing surfaces down, that'll make noise too.
TBH the one and only winter I did without a training bike cost me almost the cost of a reasonable training bike in parts. And I'm sure it hastened the death of my washing machine.
-
- Posts: 230
- Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2011 10:10 pm
Get sora drivetrain, rings, even RD. And of course wheels. Destroying nice grouppo over winter costs you a nice winterbike, actually.
-
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2016 1:52 am
gitsome wrote:I was using silca chain lube its great but gets rreally thick and gummy even cleaning weekly. Im most converned about crunchy sandy sound/feel when i spin cranks...vuma quad fwiw...
That Silca NFS lube is fairly thick. Unless the chain is _completely_ degreased, you don't want to start with the one-drop-per-link technique. Wipe the chain down thoroughly after applying very sparingly. 20 drops while spinning the cranks seems sufficient.
Take the chain off the chainring and spin the cranks. If it sounds crunchy, you have a BB problem. If not, your chain just isn't clean. It is more likely that the chain is just dirty. You need to rinse thoroughly when the chain gets really dirty.
Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓ Broad Selection ✓ Worldwide Delivery ✓
www.starbike.com