A bike drivetrain collects everything thrown up by the wheels: dust, sand, spring mud and old lube that eventually turns into an abrasive paste. As a result gear changes lag, the chain gets noisy, and the cassette and chainrings wear out many times faster.
A full clean takes 20-30 minutes and gives you a chance to check the derailleurs, jockey wheels and shifters. Here is how to do it properly.
What you will need
Important: Keep degreaser and lubricants off brake discs, pads and rims with rim brakes. Cover the brakes with a rag if needed. Work outdoors or in a well-ventilated room.
Step 1
Secure the bike
Put the bike in a stand so the rear wheel turns freely. Without a stand, turn it upside down onto the saddle and bars on a flat surface near a drain. Shift the chain onto the smallest cassette sprocket, which makes it easier to clean.
Step 2
Wet it and remove coarse dirt
Rinse sand and dried mud off the chain, chainrings and both derailleurs. If thick layers of old grease are packed between the cassette sprockets, carefully scrape them out with a flat screwdriver first so the degreaser works faster.
Step 3
Apply the degreaser
Put a basin under the derailleur. Shake the can of WD-40 Bike Degreaser and spray it generously from about 15 cm onto the cassette, chainrings, chain and derailleurs while slowly back-pedalling, so it reaches every gap. Leave it for 5 minutes.
Step 4
Scrub off the grime
Brush between the cassette sprockets, over the chainring teeth, the jockey wheels and cage of the rear derailleur, and the front derailleur. Treat stubborn spots again. Jockey wheels have bearings or bushings, so do not soak them for long or blast them with a strong jet.
Step 5
Rinse and dry
Rinse off the remaining dirt and product with clean water from a hose or bucket. Never hold a pressure washer nozzle close to the hubs or bottom bracket. Wipe the chain, sprockets and derailleurs with a dry rag and let the drivetrain dry completely.
Step 6
Lube the chain and pivots
Apply WD-40 Bike Chain Lube to the inside of the chain, one drop per link, while turning the pedals. Give it 5-10 minutes to soak in, then wipe the excess off the outside. Give the front and rear derailleur pivots and the cable exits a short burst of WD-40 Multi-Use and dab off the surplus.
Tip: After cleaning, run through every gear. If the chain hesitates or clicks somewhere, the cause is often a stretched cable or a bent derailleur hanger rather than dirt. Better to spot it now than on the road.
What next
Wipe the chain after every wet ride and do a full drivetrain clean every 300-500 km or once a month. In autumn and winter, with water and salt on the roads, do it more often.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
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