Cleaning Drivetrain – Tar Like Substance and Cause??
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Cleaning Drivetrain – Tar Like Substance and Cause??
I don’t know what’s caused it but my whole drivetrain has become caked in an almost tar like substance …. I wonder if maybe I didn’t wipe enough of the excess off last time I oiled it and it’s attracted a load of dirt but if anyone knows what may cause it ?? I’ve been using Muc-off wet lube in case it makes a difference although appreciate Dry may be better for this time of year.
Also how do you clean something that “sticky” off …. I used degreaser on the chain which has done an “OK” job but am very hesitant to put it near the jockey wheels and the smaller sprockets near the axle in case any spills over and gets inside the bearings and breaks down their lubrication.
Any help / comments much appreciated!!
Also how do you clean something that “sticky” off …. I used degreaser on the chain which has done an “OK” job but am very hesitant to put it near the jockey wheels and the smaller sprockets near the axle in case any spills over and gets inside the bearings and breaks down their lubrication.
Any help / comments much appreciated!!
Likes For Mulberry20:
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Cheers for that ... I also found a video after posting saying "layering" oil i.e. toping it up without a clean in between is a possible cuase as well, I think I've wrongly assumed that because the weather's been good and I've not been cycling in wet and mud it doesn't need cleaning so much.
#4
Senior Member
Cheers for that ... I also found a video after posting saying "layering" oil i.e. toping it up without a clean in between is a possible cuase as well, I think I've wrongly assumed that because the weather's been good and I've not been cycling in wet and mud it doesn't need cleaning so much.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: VA
Posts: 1,437
Bikes: SuperSix Evo | Revolt
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 733 Post(s)
Liked 815 Times
in
414 Posts
Muc Off wet lube does the same on my bike, I only use it for gravel rides where I know it's going to get nasty, and then anticipate the cleanup afterwards. I used their dry lube most of the time, much less gunk buildup.
#6
Senior Member
A dirty chain drives me crazy. My two favorites for a clean chain are Rock n Roll Gold but even better is Smoove.
Smoove is incredibly clean and quite. I highly recommend it.
Smoove is incredibly clean and quite. I highly recommend it.
#7
Occam's Rotor
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Mentioned: 61 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2366 Post(s)
Liked 2,331 Times
in
1,164 Posts
Or if you really get sick of the mess: wax.
Start with a new chain and degrease it first. Make sure the drivetrain components are pristine. It will be the last time you have to clean anything if you do that.
Start with a new chain and degrease it first. Make sure the drivetrain components are pristine. It will be the last time you have to clean anything if you do that.
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I've ordered som of their dry and will try that .... any idea how many miles you get before a top up's needed and if you have to clean teh chain everytime you do??
I also had a look at a couple of reviews of smoove .... certainly seems worth a try although I'm always a little cautious as to how "independant" some of the reviews are.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Indiana
Posts: 592
Bikes: 1984 Fuji Club, Suntour ARX; 2013 Lynskey Peloton, mostly 105 with Ultegra rear derailleur, Enve 2.0 fork; 2020 Masi Giramondo 700c, full Deore with TRP dual piston mech disk brakes
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 324 Post(s)
Liked 81 Times
in
71 Posts
That tar sounds like a chain that hasn't been cleaned in a long while. The best cleaner I've use has been the White Lightning Clean Streak, man it gets my chains cleaned fast, I don't know if it's the best but it works plenty well enough for me.
I'm just now experimenting with Dumonde Tech Lite so not sure how well it will work, I was using Rock N Roll Ultimate dry and it's a very good lube, but for touring I don't want to be cleaning the chain out on the road, and supposedly the Dumonde stuff all you do is wipe the chain off, and when the chain starts to make noise you reapply the lube, which means I won't have to carry cleaning solvents, seems like a lot of hype to me but I'm going to try it.
I'm just now experimenting with Dumonde Tech Lite so not sure how well it will work, I was using Rock N Roll Ultimate dry and it's a very good lube, but for touring I don't want to be cleaning the chain out on the road, and supposedly the Dumonde stuff all you do is wipe the chain off, and when the chain starts to make noise you reapply the lube, which means I won't have to carry cleaning solvents, seems like a lot of hype to me but I'm going to try it.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Mich
Posts: 7,408
Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 2,982 Times
in
1,921 Posts
If you have a bicycle stand & feel like giving it a try, you can take a large bar of soap & hold it against the rear cassette as you spin the crank. Remember to shift thru the cogs as you do this or you'll just be sudsing the one gear. It has worked decently well for me, but it is not a 100% solution.
__________________
-Oh Hey!
-Oh Hey!
#11
Senior Member
I take it off and put in a gallon plastic jug with a few ounces of Diesel. Like shampoo, rinse, and repeat. Comes out nice and clean