Chainring removal and cleaning?

[Blue Hills]

Seriously nerdy question here.

Do folk ever remove their chain rings to clear all the grot out that sits in all those chainring/crank corners?

Or is it just pointless - the grot/road debris will just get there again in no time?

And maybe is in any case no great problem/won't degrade anything if you just make sure the main body of the chainrings is kept clean?

I have only ever really removed all the chainrings and cleaned everything when I have had to replace one.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Nope. It's never occurred to me to do that. I do occasionally try to get into the nooks and crannies with an old toothbrush though.

If I did I'd probably make a balls-up of putting it back. Somehow get the bolts the wrong way round, or too tight, or too loose. Or put the chainring on upside down or inside-out or backwards or something.

 

[pawl]

I just apply chain cleaner with a paint brush.Scrub it well Leave it for couple of minutes then use the hose pipe set at low pressure to wash it off .Works for me.

 

[ianrauk]

2 or 3 times a year. But I do like to tinker.

 

[MichaelW2]

No, I use my toothbrush to clean up once or twice/year.
Be careful with use of any solvent around the bottom bracket bearings.

 

[Blue Hills]

No, I use my toothbrush to clean up once or twice/year.
Be careful with use of any solvent around the bottom bracket bearings.

Yep I'd never do that, nor water,not even low pressure.

 

[si_c]

Nah, I just spray degreaser on and then use a cloth, you can get to 95% of the chainset without taking it off.

 

[cougie uk]

Nope. Put it on a bike stand and get it up in the air and you can get it really clean without the need to disassemble.

 

[Ajax Bay]

The risk of repeated removal and refitting of chainrings (chain ring bolt security) has to be balanced against the benefits of a 'deep clean'. The 'hard to reach' places are not ones where dirt will have any effect on the drive train's operation/efficiency.

 

[Dale 1956]

Seriously nerdy question here.

Do folk ever remove their chain rings to clear all the grot out that sits in all those chainring/crank corners?

Or is it just pointless - the grot/road debris will just get there again in no time?

And maybe is in any case no great problem/won't degrade anything if you just make sure the main body of the chainrings is kept clean?

I have only ever really removed all the chainrings and cleaned everything when I have had to replace one.

Park Tools makes a set of brushes to clean you drive train and chainring and it does not cost to much either.

 

[Blue Hills]

Park Tools makes a set of brushes to clean you drive train and chainring and it does not cost to much either.

no brush I have ever found will get into those bits between the chainrings and crankset body.
But am inclined to just leave anyway.

 

[newts]

Floss the narrow crevices with a piece of folded cloth damp with white spirit/degreaser, it'll clean up & shine like a hens teeth.

 

[Blue Hills]

Floss the narrow crevices with a piece of folded cloth damp with white spirit/degreaser, it'll clean up & shine like a hens teeth.

Sorry - not into using degreaser on anything but a chain already taken off the bike. Grease is good.

My concern is only really functional and on balance have decided that I will let the stuff sit there as long as the chainrings are as clean as I can get them. Which just means taking the chain off.

 

[newts]

Sorry - not into using degreaser on anything but a chain already taken off the bike. Grease is good.

My concern is only really functional and on balance have decided that I will let the stuff sit there as long as the chainrings are as clean as I can get them. Which just means taking the chain off.

Only just damp enough to help remove the crud, not saturated. Buff over with an oily rag after.

 

[Ajax Bay]

The crevices @Blue Hills means are unreachable with 'an oily rag' let alone the idea of 'buffing them over'.
His functional 'test' is the sensible OCD-avoiding way ahead.
@newts I suggest, as an experiment, you remove the crud, buff away, and then take the chainset off and take the rings off. See if there is any dirt left there.