171682 1355 Sports & Fitness Bikes & Biking Bike Repair & Maintenance true Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:06:54 -0700 /system/videos/0/82/16/17/171682.flv bike repair, bike maintenance, bike cleaning, bicycle repair, bicycle maintenance, bicycle cleaning, how to clean a bicycle, how to clean a bike, how to clean a chain, how to clean a bicycle chain How To Clean and Lubricate a Front Derailleur http://www.howcast.com/videos/171682-How-To-Clean-and-Lubricate-a-Front-Derailleur http://www.howcast.com/videos/171682-How-To-Clean-and-Lubricate-a-Front-Derailleur/edit approved 378 640 480 <object width="425" height="352" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="howcastplayer"><param name="movie" value="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=171682"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=171682" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="352" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" ></embed></object> 3 caeasura http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/171682/185_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg 2073 false false false 67632 1 48 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/171682/48.jpg Brush the dirt off of your derailleur using a range of brushes like the ones in the Finish Line Easy-Pro Brush Set. Begin by removing dirt on the outside of the derailleur body using brushes that have longer, more flexible bristles. Continue by removing dirt from inside the derailleur and around the pivots using brushes that have shorter, stiffer bristles. Because the parallelogram of a front derailleur is open, and does not house a spring like the parallelogram of a rear derailleur, it’s possible to insert a brush of the right size and bristle length directly into the parallelogram, and clean the pivots from the inside. It’s also worthwhile to insert a brush in between the inner and outer plates of the derailleur cage. Although this isn’t a point of friction, and doesn’t need to be cleaned and lubricated in order to improve the performance of the derailleur, removing dirt from the insides of the plates will prevent it from rubbing off onto the chain as the derailleur plates move the chain on and off the chainrings when shifting.

]]> 67630 2 60 Tip Don’t worry if you pick up grease with the brushes and smear it on the derailleur. The degreaser you’ll be using in the next step will strip it off. However, be sure to always clean your brushes before your next cleaning task. Remove dust, dirt, and debris by brushing them vigorously against a hard edge like a concrete step. If the brushes have grease on them, swirl them around in a container filled with a degreaser that you know is safe on plastics, like Finish Line Multi.

]]> 67631 3 85 Tip Removing your crankset will make it easier to access your derailleur. However, the wya you remove it depends on the make, model, and year of the crankset. The process can vary in difficulty from loosening a bolt with an allen wrench, to removing a bolt with an allen or box wrench and using a specialized crank puller to remove the crank, to pressing out a cotter pin with a specialized cotter pin press. If you don’t know how and would like to give it a try, most crankset and bottom bracket manufacturers now post their product manuals online. Your local bike shop would also be happy to show you how to remove your crank, especially if you bought from them tools necessary to do so. If you don’t want to remove your crank, shift the front derailleur to the smallest chainring, then lift the chain off of the chainring and let it drop in between the crank and the frame, ideally so that it’s resting on the part of the frame that holds the bottom bracket (the bottom bracket shell). Once you’re done with that, shift the derailleur back out to the largest chainring. This will eliminate the chain as an obstruction, and open up the derailleur body, allowing you to clean inside it, and also clean it from its underside.

]]> 67629 4 103 Warning Using a brush with small, stiff bristles, pay special attention to the derailleur pivots. If they’re not clean when you lube them, the application of lube will drive more dirt into them, grinding them down every time you shift. This will create excess play in the pivots (slop), which is one of the most overlooked causes of imprecise shifting. Slop is a condition that gets progressively worse over time, and cannot be repaired.

]]> 67644 5 127 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/171682/127.jpg Degrease the derailleur using Finish Line Speed Clean, a powerful degreaser that dries almost instantly. This is important because it means that you won’t have to wait before applying lube, or worry that lube will be broken down by excess degreaser that didn’t dry.

]]> 67746 6 132 Tip Protect your bottom bracket bearings by draping a rag over the bottom bracket shell and the bottom bracket spindle. Although it’s powerful enough to break down the grease in a bottom bracket if it makes it past the seals, Speed Clean dries so quickly that it generally does not make it past the seals, or even into the bottom bracket cups. However, it’s a good idea to hang a rag over the bottom bracket shell in case you miss the derailleur while spraying it down, and end up spraying Speed Clean directly at the bottom bracket. When you remove the rag, it may be moist, and the bottom bracket shell, spindle, and cups may be moist as well. It’s nothing to worry about, because what you’re trying to guard against is not moisture, but the spray itself, and any degreaser that might drip off of the derailleur. This might also be a good time to give the bottom bracket spindle a couple of turns, either with the crank or without, and check for roughness, which could indicate that the bottom bracket might need to be adjusted, overhauled, or even replaced. Keep in mind that a loose bottom bracket will also compromise shifting, and make it impossible to adjust the derailleur correctly because of the lateral play that allows the chainrings to change position relative to the derailleur.

]]> 67742 7 186 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/171682/186.jpg Lubricate the derailleur by first spraying it down with Finish Line Dry Teflon Lube, then injecting Extreme Fluoro, a fully fluorinated grease, into all the points of friction.

]]> 67745 8 223 Fact Don’t worry if you don’t remove all of the excess lube when wiping down the derailleur. Although it was originally developed as a clean chain lube and not a surface coating, Dry Teflon Lube makes it easier to wipe off dirt that accumulates on the surface of the derailleur body while riding. Many cyclocross racers spray it on their frames, particularly on the undersides of the down tubes, before muddy ’cross races, to prevent mud from sticking to the frame and weighing it down.

]]> 67741 9 254 Tip To make sure that you lubricate all the moving parts of your derailleur, begin by locating the spring and the part of the derailleur in which it’s housed. Although it’s not necessary to lubricate the spring itself, lubricate under it as best as possible, and lubricate the points to which it’s attached to the derailleur. Then look at the parallelogram from the left side. Lubricate the pivots at the four corners of the parallelogram by injecting Extreme Fluoro directly into the pivots. Then look at the parallelogram from the right side, and do the same. Once you’ve taken care of the pivots, shift down to the smallest chainring, then grab hold of the stainless steel shift wire that runs from the shifter to the derailleur, and tug on it so that the derailleur moves through its range of motion without shifting. If you watch the derailleur as it moves, you will notice additional points of friction. Lubricate these as well.

]]> 67747 10 323 Warning Wipe off excess grease to prevent the derailleur from picking up dirt during rides. Because the parallelogram of a front derailleur is open, and does not house a spring like the parallelogram of a rear derailleur, it’s possible to insert a rag directly into the parallelogram, and wipe off any excess grease inside the derailleur.

]]> 67743 11 352 Tip Shift through your derailleur’s full range of motion, as if from the largest chainring to the smallest chainring, and back again. Do this a couple of times. It will allow the lube to work its way into the pivots, and at the same time drive excess lube out of the pivots so that you can wipe it off in a clean, controlled environment before riding.

]]> 67744 12 369 Tip For more repair and maintenance tips, go to www.finishlineusa.com and www.maintainthatride.blogspot.com

]]> 1355 9568 General Bike Maintenance and Safety Check 3222 Thu, 22 May 2008 15:40:19 -0700 3 Torpedo7 ]]> 390 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/68/95/9568.flv bike, Mechanics, General Maintenance, Do It yourself, help, cycling, Online shopping Bike, Snow and Adventure. Get up to 80% off! Bikes, Mountain and Road Bike Parts, Bike Accessories, shoes, shorts, apparel, nutrition, Snowboards, Snowboard Boots, ski Sports & Fitness Bikes & Biking Bike Repair & Maintenance 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/9568/5_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/9568-General-Bike-Maintenance-and-Safety-Check 1355 12383 How To Change Flat Tire on a Bike 1139 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 09:11:19 -0700 1 HandyGoddess ]]> 316 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/0/83/23/01/12383.flv flat tire bike how to Sports & Fitness Bikes & Biking Bike Repair & Maintenance 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/12383/155_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/12383-How-To-Change-Flat-Tire-on-a-Bike 1355 30826 How To Lubricate a Bike Chain - the Best Way! 1117 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:46:28 -0700 1 Fanscape ]]> 108 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/5/26/08/03/30826.flv bike, bicycle, cycling, chain, derailleur, solvent, lubricant, lubrication, jigaloo, jig-a-loo Sports & Fitness Bikes & Biking Bike Repair & Maintenance 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/30826/50_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/30826-How-To-Lubricate-a-Bike-Chain-the-Best-Way 1355 55598 9 - Front Derailleur Adjustment YoutubeGuide 937 Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:46:21 -0700 3 youtubevideos ]]> 343 adjustment, bike, derailleur, front, mountain ngm6dr-1na0 Sports & Fitness Bikes & Biking Bike Repair & Maintenance 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/55598/0_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/55598-9-Front-Derailleur-Adjustment 1355 55601 6 - Advanced Rear Derailleur Adjustment YoutubeGuide 986 Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:46:26 -0700 5 youtubevideos ]]> 340 adjustment, bicycle, bike, biking, derailleur, mountain, rear, road xkGBajG4TPc Sports & Fitness Bikes & Biking Bike Repair & Maintenance 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/55601/0_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/55601-6-Advanced-Rear-Derailleur-Adjustment 1355 55604 10 - Overall Mountain Bike Setup YoutubeGuide 589 Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:46:31 -0700 2 youtubevideos ]]> 385 bike, mountain, Setup x0H7zbSvdAc Sports & Fitness Bikes & Biking Bike Repair & Maintenance 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/55604/0_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/55604-10-Overall-Mountain-Bike-Setup 1355 55610 2 - Adjusting a Rear Derailleur YoutubeGuide 551 Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:46:44 -0700 3 youtubevideos ]]> 128 adjustment, bike, derailleur, mountain, rear, tech, Tips D0Xt_QCHD1U Sports & Fitness Bikes & Biking Bike Repair & Maintenance 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/55610/0_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/55610-2-Adjusting-a-Rear-Derailleur 1355 55614 4 - Installing a New Bicycle Chain YoutubeGuide 532 Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:46:47 -0700 2 youtubevideos ]]> 191 bicycle, bike, chain, installation, mountain bsU2nEf2Tpc Sports & Fitness Bikes & Biking Bike Repair & Maintenance 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/55614/0_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/55614-4-Installing-a-New-Bicycle-Chain 1355 55619 1 - Adjusting a V-Brake YoutubeGuide 856 Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:46:54 -0700 4 youtubevideos ]]> 153 adjustment, bicycle, bike, mountain, v-brake mGgidUE8drE Sports & Fitness Bikes & Biking Bike Repair & Maintenance 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/55619/0_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/55619-1-Adjusting-a-VBrake 1355 55623 5 - Lubing a Bicycle Chain YoutubeGuide 410 Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:47:00 -0700 2 youtubevideos ]]> 142 bicycle, bike, chain, grease, lube, mountain, oil, spring J2N0t4OEUbc Sports & Fitness Bikes & Biking Bike Repair & Maintenance 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/55623/0_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/55623-5-Lubing-a-Bicycle-Chain 1355 55627 7 - Flat Tire Repair YoutubeGuide 132 Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:47:07 -0700 1 youtubevideos ]]> 337 bike, flat, mountain, repair, tire YpndZOhlGd0 Sports & Fitness Bikes & Biking Bike Repair & Maintenance 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/55627/0_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/55627-7-Flat-Tire-Repair 1355 55639 3 - Repairing a Broken Mountain Bike Chain YoutubeGuide 320 Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:47:24 -0700 2 youtubevideos ]]> 79 bicycle, bike, chain, mountain, repair OfK7K4BuyKk Sports & Fitness Bikes & Biking Bike Repair & Maintenance 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/55639/0_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/55639-3-Repairing-a-Broken-Mountain-Bike-Chain 1355 55647 8 - Seat and Seat Post Replacement YoutubeGuide 126 Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:47:39 -0700 1 youtubevideos ]]> 288 bike, moutain, post, replacement, seat 1jiFSlqq90U Sports & Fitness Bikes & Biking Bike Repair & Maintenance 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/55647/0_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/55647-8-Seat-and-Seat-Post-Replacement 1355 136328 How To Patch a Bike Tire AssignmentGuide 2086 Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:17:31 -0800 10 do3a2 ]]> 102 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/3/28/63/13/136328.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, sports, fitness, bike Sports & Fitness Bikes & Biking Bike Repair & Maintenance 4 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/136328/Picture_3_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/136328-How-To-Patch-a-Bike-Tire 1355 153454 Roadside Bike Flat Repair YoutubeGuide 175 Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:10:03 -0800 0 Mindbitesdotcom ]]> 124 bicycle, bike, fitness, flat, howto, physical, repair, tire, training, DIY K5Qrvog9xTM Sports & Fitness Bikes & Biking Bike Repair & Maintenance 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/153454/0_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/153454-Roadside-Bike-Flat-Repair