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Cleaning Hard-to-Clean Greasy Bike Parts

We’re continuing our run of novel QTs (last week’s was washing your helmet in the dishwasher!), but first a quick caveat from one reader re: that dishwasher tip. He cited a helmet manufacturer’s specific instructions about helmet care and cleaning, which included this: “Never put your helmet in a washing machine, dryer, microwave or dishwasher to clean it!” The reason is that the helmet’s foam core can degrade from certain chemical processes and lose some of its protectiveness.

Today’s Quick Tip comes to us from Iowan Bob Wemer, who writes:

“I found a slick way to clean chains, cassettes, and other small greasy parts that are hard to clean. I put the parts in a plastic 4 lb. size Skippy peanut butter jar, along with diesel fuel or whatever one wants to use for cleaning fluid. Put the lid on very tightly.

I then take an orbital auto buffer, turn it upside down in my lap and set the jar on the buffing pad. Hold the jar tightly against the buffing pad and turn the buffer on. It will shake/vibrate the dickens out of the jar and parts. 

One can change the cleaning fluid as many times as needed. “Shake” the parts until the fluid remains pretty clean.


If you have an idea for a QT, fire away. We’re always looking for good info we can share with fellow roadies. We would love to hear from you with any suggestions you have. Contact us by clicking Quick Tips Ideas.

—John Marsh & The RBR Team

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