Bicycle Tutor

I've taken the derailleurs, shifters and brakes off my bike in an attempt to get everything cleaned and lubed from the ground up. After ten years of service, and no maintenance, it needs to be done thoroughly. My plan is to soak them in some kind of liquid and blowing it all clean with high pressure air, followed by wiping and relubricating.
My question is: What do I use to dissolve the old dirt, oil and grease?

I use simple green mixed at 5:1 ratio and that works just fine. You can usually find that at Autozone or one of those auto parts chain stores. Pick some of that orange hand cleaner while your there. You'll thank me.

I live in Norway so we don't have the same brands as you guys If you can tell me what it's based on I can find a similar product over here. I hesitate to mix with water because of rust.

Agiell,

As mentioned on another post, I use petrol to clean seized parts. I will probably get slated, but I do dispose of it after use, in an environmentally sensible way – surely much better than the burnt stuff I consume when cycling on roads (I do drive too)!

I know there are many green grease cleaners available now, but petrol works. Take care when handling and dispose of environmentally…

well it's just a degreaser, i'm sure if you went to any local auto parts store they would have a number of different degreasers available.

Simple Green is a non-toxic, biodegradeable cleaner, unlike a lot of other petrol-based auto cleaners. Here's the website: http://www.simplegreen.com/

Agjell, a lot of bike parts/tool companies make citrus-based degreasers that can do the jobs you need to do. I don't know if Park, Pedros, or Finish Line are sold in Europe, but you should be able to find something similar.
It will probably take some scrubbing (buy a small auto detailing brush or reuse an old toothbrush) as well. So let them soak in the degreaser for 30 to 60 minutes, scrub them, rinse them with water, and then let them dry.

ADD: I just looked up Finish Line's website, and they list a Norwegian distributor:
NORWAY
Bjarne Egedeso A/S
Tarupvej 63-65.
DK-5210 Odense NV, Danmark
Tel: +47 976 66158
E-Mail: td@bikersbest.no
Website: http://www.bikersbest.no

Finish Line (US): http://www.finishlineusa.com/products/degreaser.htm

Sorry folks, but petrol is the best de-greaser I know (and it’s cheap for the quantity required). Soak for 30 mins, clean with a toothbrush, repeat as long as it takes, replacing the solvent with each bath, for the part to come out squeaky clean (I’ve soaked badly seized front derailleurs for over a day, never seems to happen to the rear though). Re-grease, re-oil, re-fit…

Please bear in mind you need to protect your skin (rubber gloves, surgical gloves, Marigolds, whatever you have), of course, you’ll need to dispose of the residue in an environmentally friendly way (I dispose of it at work which has the required facilities )…

Moreover, what happens to all the hard toxic residue that is removed by ‘Green’ citrus de-greasers? Does one simply wash it down the sink/drain? Hardly ‘Green’ is it (if disposed in this way)?

Just a thought…

How about using brake cleaner. It works good on all types of grease, but I have never tried it on my bike yet.

Simple green can etch aluminum, you do not want to leave it on for any length of time with aluminum parts. I use kerosene, or mineral spirits and wd40 as a cleaner not a lube.

I could not resist from adding this JOKE .... (Some of you already know the outcome but)



http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html

(Jul 17, 2009 04:17 AM)bike4fun Wrote:  How about using brake cleaner. It works good on all types of grease, but I have never tried it on my bike yet.

Brake cleaner is a good degreaser but keep it away from any painted surfaces--it will dull many finishes. Carb cleaner will melt everything, keep it away from your bike! Purple cleaners oxidize aluminum leaving a haze behind. I don't keep any on my bench anymore.
...j

(Dec 8, 2009 08:43 PM)Bill Wrote:  I could not resist from adding this JOKE .... (Some of you already know the outcome but)



http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html

Bill! No chance!! It would be cheaper to buy a replacement chain!!!

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ps: only just realised the joke!

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That Sheldon's got a lot to answer for!

(Dec 8, 2009 05:13 PM)dr1445 Wrote:  Simple green can etch aluminum, you do not want to leave it on for any length of time with aluminum parts. I use kerosene, or mineral spirits and wd40 as a cleaner not a lube.

I also use kerosene to clean up parts with and I use good gloves too.Then take it to a recycle center.My next step is to get my self a good part cleaner machine they don't cost that much in the long run and you can use them for all kinds of stuff.

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(Dec 8, 2009 08:43 PM)Bill Wrote:  I could not resist from adding this JOKE .... (Some of you already know the outcome but)



http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html

Well Bill you know thats one way of making sure you get it real clean lol. that was funny.