How do you go about "Deep Cleaning" a rear derailleur?

Triathlon Forum
1

I want to really give my bike a good cleaning… I keep a clean bike, but I’m thinking after 4000 miles it needs a really good cleaning. Like take the derrailleur off the bike and really clean that sucker from all angles.

So what say you… Do I soak in solvent first?

2

simple green
.

3

Or Zep Big Orange (I prefer the smell of citrus degreasers to Simple Green). Then get some good teflon lubricant and get all up and in there…

4

Take a look at this:

http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/howfix_deroh.shtml
.

5

Can someone explain why a higher or lower tension setting would be chosen?

  1. Engage cage spring into derailleur cage and body. Again refer to notes from disassembly. Changing spring hole location will change tension. In the image below, spring is in most relaxed position. Seen from this orientation, cage will be rotated counter-clockwise for working tension.
    http://www.parktool.com/images/repair_help/derailleur8.jpg

In the image below, the spring is engaged in the higher tension spring. Notice cage must now be wind futher counter-clockwise, adding to spring tension.
http://www.parktool.com/images/repair_help/derailleur9.jpg

6

I use a citrus cleaner, and a can of compressed air. Spray it down good, let it sit for a minute or two while I clean the sproket wheels I take off, then use the compressed air to blow all the dirt away. Repeat as needed. Wipe it all down, add some teflon lube, assemble and your good to go

-bcreager