How to clean Shimano derailleurs?

I've got a Shimano FD-4503 and an RD-M771 off my bike at the moment. They
have years of dirt, grease and generalized grime on them. What cleaning
methods are safe for these and what should I avoid? I will take the jockey
wheels off the rear derailleur, but in general, I'm not really keen on
taking things apart any more than that.

On Mon, 31 Dec 2018 06:46:57 +0000 (UTC), Ralph Barone
wrote:

I've got a Shimano FD-4503 and an RD-M771 off my bike at the moment. They
have years of dirt, grease and generalized grime on them. What cleaning
methods are safe for these and what should I avoid? I will take the jockey
wheels off the rear derailleur, but in general, I'm not really keen on
taking things apart any more than that.

I have always used a spray can of "engine cleaner" and a paintbrush.
Spray the cleaner on, let it soak for a while and then wash it off
with a hose. If there is a lot of really hard caked on stuff then
spray, soak and scrub with the paint brush and then wash.

I've also just tossed them in a bucket of cleaning solvent and let
them soak over night and then washed them again with some sort of
cleaner to get the solvent off. They are pretty much indestructible if
you don't let the bike fall on them (or hit them with a hammer :-)

I usually spray them with some sort of magic lubricating spray after
they are clean although the total movement during a 1 hour ride is
likely measured in inches.

The "jockey wheels" are a pain in the neck as there are various wheels
for various models of detailers and I usually pick the wrong one :-(

You can buy, although I never have, jockey wheels with some sort of
magic bearings that you just know will make you countless miles an
hour faster :-) And of course the price is what one would want to pay
for something that increased one's speed so dramatically :-)

cheers,

John B.

John B. Slocomb wrote:
On Mon, 31 Dec 2018 06:46:57 +0000 (UTC), Ralph Barone
wrote:

I've got a Shimano FD-4503 and an RD-M771 off my bike at the moment. They
have years of dirt, grease and generalized grime on them. What cleaning
methods are safe for these and what should I avoid? I will take the jockey
wheels off the rear derailleur, but in general, I'm not really keen on
taking things apart any more than that.

I have always used a spray can of "engine cleaner" and a paintbrush.
Spray the cleaner on, let it soak for a while and then wash it off
with a hose. If there is a lot of really hard caked on stuff then
spray, soak and scrub with the paint brush and then wash.

I've also just tossed them in a bucket of cleaning solvent and let
them soak over night and then washed them again with some sort of
cleaner to get the solvent off. They are pretty much indestructible if
you don't let the bike fall on them (or hit them with a hammer :-)

I usually spray them with some sort of magic lubricating spray after
they are clean although the total movement during a 1 hour ride is
likely measured in inches.

The "jockey wheels" are a pain in the neck as there are various wheels
for various models of detailers and I usually pick the wrong one :-(

You can buy, although I never have, jockey wheels with some sort of
magic bearings that you just know will make you countless miles an
hour faster :-) And of course the price is what one would want to pay
for something that increased one's speed so dramatically :-)

cheers,

John B.


As long as nothing dissolves in paint thinner or is ruined by soap and hot
water, I'm good. I just wasn't sure if there were hidden plastic parts
inside that might dissolve. Thanks.

On Mon, 31 Dec 2018 08:12:27 +0000 (UTC), Ralph Barone
wrote:

John B. Slocomb wrote:
On Mon, 31 Dec 2018 06:46:57 +0000 (UTC), Ralph Barone
wrote:

I've got a Shimano FD-4503 and an RD-M771 off my bike at the moment. They
have years of dirt, grease and generalized grime on them. What cleaning
methods are safe for these and what should I avoid? I will take the jockey
wheels off the rear derailleur, but in general, I'm not really keen on
taking things apart any more than that.

I have always used a spray can of "engine cleaner" and a paintbrush.
Spray the cleaner on, let it soak for a while and then wash it off
with a hose. If there is a lot of really hard caked on stuff then
spray, soak and scrub with the paint brush and then wash.

I've also just tossed them in a bucket of cleaning solvent and let
them soak over night and then washed them again with some sort of
cleaner to get the solvent off. They are pretty much indestructible if
you don't let the bike fall on them (or hit them with a hammer :-)

I usually spray them with some sort of magic lubricating spray after
they are clean although the total movement during a 1 hour ride is
likely measured in inches.

The "jockey wheels" are a pain in the neck as there are various wheels
for various models of detailers and I usually pick the wrong one :-(

You can buy, although I never have, jockey wheels with some sort of
magic bearings that you just know will make you countless miles an
hour faster :-) And of course the price is what one would want to pay
for something that increased one's speed so dramatically :-)

cheers,

John B.


As long as nothing dissolves in paint thinner or is ruined by soap and hot
water, I'm good. I just wasn't sure if there were hidden plastic parts
inside that might dissolve. Thanks.

"paint thinner" is a nebulas term. Methyl-
ethyl-ketone is sometimes used as a paint thinner and it is pretty
fierce stuff. I don't think I'd want to use it around a bicycle.

When I said "cleaning solvent" I was thinking of the kerosene like
stuff that is used as a paint thinner. "Mineral spirits" I think it is
called in the U.S.

cheers,

John B.

On Monday, December 31, 2018 at 7:47:01 AM UTC+1, Ralph Barone wrote:
I've got a Shimano FD-4503 and an RD-M771 off my bike at the moment. They
have years of dirt, grease and generalized grime on them. What cleaning
methods are safe for these and what should I avoid? I will take the jockey
wheels off the rear derailleur, but in general, I'm not really keen on
taking things apart any more than that.

I use brake cleaner. I assume that this is the same stuff John mentioned as engine cleaner. It proved to be safe for all bike parts/materials. Let is soak for a while and then use a high pressure cleaner to blast the dirt of even in the hidden corners. Yes, you can use a high pressure cleaner on derailleurs as long as you lube the pivots afterwards with a light oil. I use a syringe for that.


Lou

On Mon, 31 Dec 2018 00:44:35 -0800 (PST), wrote:

On Monday, December 31, 2018 at 7:47:01 AM UTC+1, Ralph Barone wrote:
I've got a Shimano FD-4503 and an RD-M771 off my bike at the moment. They
have years of dirt, grease and generalized grime on them. What cleaning
methods are safe for these and what should I avoid? I will take the jockey
wheels off the rear derailleur, but in general, I'm not really keen on
taking things apart any more than that.

I use brake cleaner. I assume that this is the same stuff John mentioned as engine
cleaner. It proved to be safe for all bike parts/materials. Let is
soak for a while and then use a high pressure cleaner to blast the
dirt of even in the hidden corners. Yes, you can use a high pressure
cleaner on derailleurs as long as you lube the pivots afterwards with
a light oil. I use a syringe for that.


Lou

I think that brake cleaner might be a bit stronger then engine cleaner
but I don't really know and someone here mentioned using it a few days
ago. Maybe Andrew?

cheers,

John B.

On 12/31/2018 12:46 AM, Ralph Barone wrote:
I've got a Shimano FD-4503 and an RD-M771 off my bike at the moment. They
have years of dirt, grease and generalized grime on them. What cleaning
methods are safe for these and what should I avoid? I will take the jockey
wheels off the rear derailleur, but in general, I'm not really keen on
taking things apart any more than that.


Don't futz with any rivets and avoid taking the pivot
springs out- they're difficult to reassemble.
Yes, clean and lube the rollers. Oil cable anchor and adjuster.

A toothbrush and volatile solvent gives a good value of
'clean'. Spray out residue with compressed air and follow up
with oil on all pivots.

A higher value of 'clean' can be done with an ultrasound but
that's probably excessive for derailleurs.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

On 12/31/2018 2:39 AM, John B. Slocomb wrote:
On Mon, 31 Dec 2018 08:12:27 +0000 (UTC), Ralph Barone
wrote:

John B. Slocomb wrote:
On Mon, 31 Dec 2018 06:46:57 +0000 (UTC), Ralph Barone
wrote:

I've got a Shimano FD-4503 and an RD-M771 off my bike at the moment. They
have years of dirt, grease and generalized grime on them. What cleaning
methods are safe for these and what should I avoid? I will take the jockey
wheels off the rear derailleur, but in general, I'm not really keen on
taking things apart any more than that.

I have always used a spray can of "engine cleaner" and a paintbrush.
Spray the cleaner on, let it soak for a while and then wash it off
with a hose. If there is a lot of really hard caked on stuff then
spray, soak and scrub with the paint brush and then wash.

I've also just tossed them in a bucket of cleaning solvent and let
them soak over night and then washed them again with some sort of
cleaner to get the solvent off. They are pretty much indestructible if
you don't let the bike fall on them (or hit them with a hammer :-)

I usually spray them with some sort of magic lubricating spray after
they are clean although the total movement during a 1 hour ride is
likely measured in inches.

The "jockey wheels" are a pain in the neck as there are various wheels
for various models of detailers and I usually pick the wrong one :-(

You can buy, although I never have, jockey wheels with some sort of
magic bearings that you just know will make you countless miles an
hour faster :-) And of course the price is what one would want to pay
for something that increased one's speed so dramatically :-)

cheers,

John B.


As long as nothing dissolves in paint thinner or is ruined by soap and hot
water, I'm good. I just wasn't sure if there were hidden plastic parts
inside that might dissolve. Thanks.

"paint thinner" is a nebulas term. Methyl-
ethyl-ketone is sometimes used as a paint thinner and it is pretty
fierce stuff. I don't think I'd want to use it around a bicycle.

When I said "cleaning solvent" I was thinking of the kerosene like
stuff that is used as a paint thinner. "Mineral spirits" I think it is
called in the U.S.

cheers,

John B.



Auto brake cleaner is mostly alcohol & acetone and is useful
available and cheap.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

On 12/31/2018 2:44 AM, wrote:
On Monday, December 31, 2018 at 7:47:01 AM UTC+1, Ralph Barone wrote:
I've got a Shimano FD-4503 and an RD-M771 off my bike at the moment. They
have years of dirt, grease and generalized grime on them. What cleaning
methods are safe for these and what should I avoid? I will take the jockey
wheels off the rear derailleur, but in general, I'm not really keen on
taking things apart any more than that.

I use brake cleaner. I assume that this is the same stuff John mentioned as engine cleaner. It proved to be safe for all bike parts/materials. Let is soak for a while and then use a high pressure cleaner to blast the dirt of even in the hidden corners. Yes, you can use a high pressure cleaner on derailleurs as long as you lube the pivots afterwards with a light oil. I use a syringe for that.


Lou


+1

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

AMuzi wrote:
:On 12/31/2018 2:39 AM, John B. Slocomb wrote:
: On Mon, 31 Dec 2018 08:12:27 +0000 (UTC), Ralph Barone
: wrote:
:
: John B. Slocomb wrote:
: On Mon, 31 Dec 2018 06:46:57 +0000 (UTC), Ralph Barone
: wrote:
:
: I've got a Shimano FD-4503 and an RD-M771 off my bike at the moment. They
: have years of dirt, grease and generalized grime on them. What cleaning
: methods are safe for these and what should I avoid? I will take the jockey
: wheels off the rear derailleur, but in general, I'm not really keen on
: taking things apart any more than that.
:
: I have always used a spray can of "engine cleaner" and a paintbrush.
: Spray the cleaner on, let it soak for a while and then wash it off
: with a hose. If there is a lot of really hard caked on stuff then
: spray, soak and scrub with the paint brush and then wash.
:
: I've also just tossed them in a bucket of cleaning solvent and let
: them soak over night and then washed them again with some sort of
: cleaner to get the solvent off. They are pretty much indestructible if
: you don't let the bike fall on them (or hit them with a hammer :-)
:
: I usually spray them with some sort of magic lubricating spray after
: they are clean although the total movement during a 1 hour ride is
: likely measured in inches.
:
: The "jockey wheels" are a pain in the neck as there are various wheels
: for various models of detailers and I usually pick the wrong one :-(
:
: You can buy, although I never have, jockey wheels with some sort of
: magic bearings that you just know will make you countless miles an
: hour faster :-) And of course the price is what one would want to pay
: for something that increased one's speed so dramatically :-)
:
: cheers,
:
: John B.
:
:
: As long as nothing dissolves in paint thinner or is ruined by soap and hot
: water, I'm good. I just wasn't sure if there were hidden plastic parts
: inside that might dissolve. Thanks.
:
: "paint thinner" is a nebulas term. Methyl-
: ethyl-ketone is sometimes used as a paint thinner and it is pretty
: fierce stuff. I don't think I'd want to use it around a bicycle.
:
: When I said "cleaning solvent" I was thinking of the kerosene like
: stuff that is used as a paint thinner. "Mineral spirits" I think it is
: called in the U.S.
:
: cheers,
:
: John B.
:
:

:Auto brake cleaner is mostly alcohol & acetone and is useful
:available and cheap.

Some places, you can still get chlorinated brake cleaners. They're
nice because they leave no residue. I find they work better on tough
grease and gunk buildup. the flamable ones work fine for oil and
grease films and lighter crud. They work on heavier stuff, but its
more work.


I miss having a parts washer....



--
sig 105