Cleaning chainrings on the crank

[Veloo]

Anyone have a trick for getting the chainrings nice and clean without removing them from the crank or the crank from the bike? The small chainring around the bolts is especially tricky to get clean.

[ultraman6970]

With some mineral spirits and a brush.

[Dead Man]

WD40, toothbrushes, and rags... all I use to do 100% of my bike cleaning. And compressed air... but not everyone has the luxury.

[Louis]

How clean does a chain ring have to be?

I wipe them down with paper towels when I lube the chain, focusing on the area near the teeth. The rest can wait until my occasional "major cleaning" when I try to do a bit more, but again, just paper towels and Simple Green.

[cd_davis]

Simple Green sells a Aircraft and Precision Cleaner:

http://industrial.simplegreen.com/in...e.phpdegreaser.

It works great on bike drive trains, is non-toxic and will not harm plastic, rubber or other bright surfaces like on derailleurs, etc. It is available through industrial supply houses.

Just spray it on after wetting the bike, let it soak in, and use brushes to clean the chain, front chain rings, cassette, etc. A good rinse follows and all done. Two applications may be required for really dirty parts.

[Seramount]

tools required:
old t-shirt, old toothbrush

procedure:
wipe rings with shirt.

look for any residual gunk, remove with toothbrush.

wipe again.

[rustychisel]

Originally Posted by Seramount

tools required:
old t-shirt, old toothbrush

procedure:
wipe rings with shirt.

look for any residual gunk, remove with toothbrush.

wipe again.

sorta like this with some WD 40 for those stubborn areas. Rags should always be lint free, old t shirts are best.

[Tony T]

I use Pedro's Orange Peelz and a Park GearClean Brush

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by Veloo

Anyone have a trick for getting the chainrings nice and clean without removing them from the crank or the crank from the bike? The small chainring around the bolts is especially tricky to get clean.

About once a month I take off chain, chainrings, cogs, pulleys on rear der..clean all...pretty tough to get 'nice and clean' on the crank. It can be done with toothbrushes and q-tips but it's as easy to just take the stuff off, IMHO.

[shovelhd]

I do major cleanings a dozen times a year but in between I will clean on the bike. For the chainrings I use orange cleaner on a rag for the big ring. On the little ring I use the same rag on the inside. In between rings I use the Park cassette brush.

[Black Dog]

Veloo, go to MEC and get a bottle of Bio-Cycle Degreaser. Environmentally friendly and works like a charm with a soaked rag to clean those rings and it will get any grease stain out of your clothes!

[Wesley37]

Originally Posted by Black Dog

Vela, go to MEC and get a bottle of Bio-Cycle Degreaser. Environmentally friendly and works like a charm with a soaked rag to clean those rings and it will get any grease stain out of your clothes!

FWIW, the degreaser is biodegradable, but after you wash it off it is filled with particulate from your bike that is not biodegradable.

[Black Dog]

Originally Posted by Wesley37

FWIW, the degreaser is biodegradable, but after you wash it off it is filled with particulate from your bike that is not biodegradable.

That particulate is there no matter what you do. If it matters then biodegradable lubes are the answer.

[Saint Vitus]

Originally Posted by Veloo

Anyone have a trick for getting the chainrings nice and clean without removing them from the crank or the crank from the bike? The small chainring around the bolts is especially tricky to get clean.

I find that by not riding works the best...

[Fatty]

Originally Posted by Saint Vitus

I find that by not riding works the best...

You beat me to it.
A good stand, old tee shirts and towels, after you do your chain lube routine, clean up any excess lube.