How to Clean and Lubricate a Rear Derailleur

This is a video on how to clean and lubricate the rear derailleur of a bike. In the process, it also demonstrates how to use products from Finish Line Technologies, Inc., including the Brush Set, Speed Clean Speed Degreaser, Teflon Dry Lube, and Extreme Fluoro Grease. The video consists of four parts, how to clean derailleur pulleys, how to brush off a derailleur, how to spray it down and dry it off, and how to apply lube to it. For more repair tips, go to www.finishlineusa.com and www.maintainthatride.blogspot.com. A version of this video with a printable guide can be found at www.howcast.com/users/caeasura.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• bike repair
• bike maintenance
• bike cleaning
• bicycle maintenance
• bicycle cleaning
• how to clean a bike
• how to clean a bicycle
• how to clean a chain
• bike cleaner
• bike lube
• Finish Line
• Brush Set
• Speed Clean
• Extreme Fluoro

[davidbosh]

If I saw any of my mechanics dump half a can of degreaser or dry lube on one derailleur they would get a serious talking to. I realize that you are promoting Finish Line products but you gain nothing by overusing either. Please "green up" your videos by using only what you need to get the job done.

[caeasura]

Thanks for your honesty. Please remember that I need to emphasize certain aspects of the method I'm using so that they're clear to less practiced viewers. In particular, I use a very dirty derailleur, and spend time on every lubrication point, even when it's not absolutely necessary. Also note that I do try to remove as much grime as possible with a screwdriver and brushes to limit the use of degreaser. Please send me an email. I'd love to talk more, maybe offer support for shop clinics...

[kitkohler]

I love that you showed this how-to on the oldest, grimiest derailer ever. ;) points for added realism. :D

[caeasura]

I swear it's not a gimmick....given the relatively low quality of the video camera I'm using, I find that the parts I'm cleaning have to be really dirty for me to see the effect of cleaning them in the video. In fact, I've been riding in the worst conditions I can find just to make everything filthy. It's killing my bike, but I do it for the love....

[bbytew]

A good helpful video, not just an advertisement! Thank you!

[caeasura]

Thanks for the response. I talk about Finish Line products a lot, but I try to make it so that you can use products from other companies as necessary. I also try to make sure that the info is more about the bike than the products. I'm posting another set of videos in a couple of minutes, really basic ones about chain cleaning, but hopefully next week I'll be posting more technical ones about cassettes and freewheel cleaning, and freehub and freewheel lubrication.

[christo930]

Can you use carburetor cleaner as a degreaser? Is dry teflon spray a good lube for the chain?

[oxyiscool]

Excellent video and thanks for using a dirty part to demonstrate.



[mogoliapowah]

i just use WD-40 on everything... even when i brush my teeth.

[ZekeMoffat1]

Douse that Rascal Daddio, Fuck the tree huggers.

[glowdingo]

holyyyy shit how many kinds of lube do i need to clean. good vid though

[jcbluefunk]

i am surprised that he uses grease to lube the pivot points. i always thought that light machine oil was best because it works itself deep into the pivots easier plus these specialty products are expensive.

[davidbosh]

@caeasura OK, so I was a bit harsh in my assessment of your video and I appreciate your stating that you mechanically remove as much grime as you can before using solvents. As background, the one night of the season that I could not oversee my bike co-op, I had a volunteer unload an entire new can of DW-40 on one repair. You might be overly-sensitive after that as well. As to the recent comment directed towards me, I believe you meant to tell me not to be "anal" not anul. Thanks.

[johnfox3]

@davidbosh don't get anul about it...

[stevburke]

Is that a coswell cog or spacley sprockets

[c0wz]

wish this video wasn't so quiet