How to Lube a Bone Dry Cassette

[holliscx]

Forgive me V-Saloners for I may have sinned: I just sprayed some WD40 on my rear cassette. I cleaned the outside of the chain thoroughly then lubed it but had no idea what to do with a super dry cassette after 43 minutes of mud punished my drivetrain today. Would appreciate any best practices with regard to a thirsty cassette.

[velobran]

Lube the chain properly (baller's lube aka NFS) and that should take care of the cassette when cycling through gears. Amiright?

[sonny]

just keep your cassette clean
the chain will do the rest

edit: wd40 for degreasing only atmo

[holliscx]

How do you clean a cassette? Do you need a special tool i.e. that fits between the sprockets like a brush? What do you clean it with?

Also I've been spraying a hit of WD40 in my brake levers and around on the derailleur plus brakes but what should I be spraying there to keep those well maintained? I hope I'm not hurting anything with WD40 but I profess to have no idea what I'm doing in terms of proper bike maintenance. At least I try to take good care of my steeds.

[christian]

If it's filthy, I pull the cassette off the freehub and clean the sprockets and spacers individually.

[Dorman]

I usuallly blow them apart and scrub the cogs with an old toothbrush in laquer thinner.

[Bobqzz]

Cassettes require no lubrication. In fact, the are far better off bone dry. Similarly, the outside of a chain requires no lube. The interface between the rollers and the pins (inside the roller) is the only place where wear takes place.

[xjoex]

I usually clean them with a rag, back and forth, again and again. I saw this at the lbs recently:

Seems like a great idea.

-Joe

[j44ke]

Less is more. Too much lube (and your description sounds like too much) just attracts dirt. Especially WD40.

Best way to clean a cassette is what Christian said - take it off and clean it out.

There are products that advertise cleaning without removing. For example, Finish Line makes a Speed Degreaser that seems able to clean just about anything. But I am not convinced those things are all that great to get on tires, especially if you have expensive tubulars. Pulling the cassette actually makes cleaning easier and definitely allows a more thorough cleaning. You just need the remover for the lockring and a chainwhip.

I like removal because it also forces you to take a gander at what is down there. You'll notice things like wear, damage, etc. that you wouldn't if you were just blasting away.

[Human Epic Jolt]

what about ravelled up hair, string and plastics?
or an inner tube? where do i start?

[AngryScientist]

you're overthinking it. knock the big pieces of crap off the cassette, lube the chain and ride the bike. done.

[dgaddis]

You guys clean your cassettes?? I pull sticks out so it'll still shift...

[mjbabcock]

I think we need a picture thread for cassettes. Awards for cleanest, muddiest, and greasiest. Award should be Too Talls new stuff.

[McKinney777]

That's what I do.

[turkish]

I usually clean them with a rag, back and forth, again and again. I saw this at the lbs recently:

Seems like a great idea.

-Joe

Collars and cuffs from old shirts fit between sprockets and remove dirt very well, you don't need to pull the cassette out.

WD40 is a great way to glue grips to a ti bar.

[Human Epic Jolt]

or a spoke.

often and little. not morecambe and wise, vic and bob or laurel and hardly.

[suhacycles]

Cheap & quick way to clean between the cogs: pieces of cardboard. Don't even have to take the wheel off, just turn that crank and you're done in a few minutes.

[Saab2000]

Take a rag to the cogs and floss them. Clean the crud off the pulleys. Clean the crud off the chainrings. Clean the chain on the rag. Drop about 5 or 6 drops of oil on the chain. Done. Do this about every 4 or 5 rides and you'll never have a dirty drivetrain.

[nspace]

If you don't want to remove cassette off hub, pipe cleaners (especially the tougher rough ones) can be useful for flossing between cogs and loosening up grime.

[WadePatton]

sell it and buy another one geez.