Grinding Gears (How to clean)

[tjdixon911]

After a ride out through Thetford Forest at the weekend and getting a bit muddy I can't seem to get my gears to stop grinding, whats the best way to clean these? The last few times I have just cleaned the bike in my normal way and it has stopped the grinding, but I think the extra rain etc has left a bit more grit in the chain.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks

Tom

[pdV6]

Wash off the worst of the muck with a low pressure hose (i.e. run from a tap).
Bit of degreaser / MuckOff or similar in the cassette and chain.
Hose off again.
Leave it to dry for a bit or squirt in a bit of water displacer such as WD40 and then re-lube. This time of year, use a wet lube rather than a dry one.

[tjdixon911]

pdV6 said:

Wash off the worst of the muck with a low pressure hose (i.e. run from a tap).
Bit of degreaser / MuckOff or similar in the cassette and chain.
Hose off again.
Leave it to dry for a bit or squirt in a bit of water displacer such as WD40 and then re-lube. This time of year, use a wet lube rather than a dry one.

Thanks, that what I normally do, maybe I'll give it another go concentrating on the gears a little more....

Thanks

[pdV6]

Maybe get an old toothbrush or a "proper" chain brush to get into the cassette and chain links.

[sjg]

Take chain off. Into an old jamjar with some degreaser (petrol if you have nothing else handy). Shake, leave to soak, shake again. Maybe repeat if it's really bad. Hose off with water and leave to dry, then put back on the bike and re-lube.

If you use a SRAM Powerlink or similar it's a really easy job with no tools needed, and beats all the faffing about with chain cleaning devices.

The cassette itself, just lots of degreaser and a brush will get all the gunk and grit out.