In order for the bike to serve faithfully and truly for its owner for many decades, the bike owner must periodically lubricate all the mechanisms. Priority should be given to the running gears - the parts that are directly responsible for the movement of the two-wheeled horse.
Types of Lubricants
How to lubricate a bicycle? Currently, there is a wide variety of tools that can be used to lubricate various bicycle running gears.
- Liquid oils are bicycle lubricants suitable for the maintenance of all categories of chains, brakes and shock absorbers. Thanks to the liquid structure, the treated areas are effectively enveloped, ensuring uninterrupted functioning of bicycle parts for a long time.
- Aerosols - ideal for lubricating threads, switches, cables.
- Plastic type of grease - used when necessary to seal various compounds.
- Lithium greases are a special type of grease with a whole host of additional components.
- Lubricants with calcium - belong to the category of plastic substances. Intend for care of various knots and connections.
Bike preparation
Many experienced cyclists believe that after each serious trip, and even more so before the planned lubrication of the main mechanisms, it is necessary to carry out a comprehensive cleaning of the bike from pollution. This allows you to significantly extend the life of the determining components of a two-wheeled friend and keep him attractive.
Currently, the market is simply full of special products in the form of liquids for cleaning bicycles. Most of them eats away dirt and cleans bike parts in minutes, after which they are easily washed off surfaces.
However, it is not necessary to resort to additional costs for the purchase of cleaning fluids. The expected effect can easily be obtained using ordinary hot water and shampoo. Alternatively, you can use the mildest dishwashing detergents with a low salt content.
Bike fork lubrication
The bearings located in the front fork should be lubricated using oils of a relatively thick consistency. Due to the high probability of contamination of the lower bearing of the fork of a sports or mountain bike with dust due to the presence of an impressive gap, it is recommended to perform the procedure quite often (several times a month). However, lubricating the fork of a
city bike, which is used in a gentle manner, is not a mandatory procedure.
Carriage
As in the previous case, the nodal mechanism of the bicycle carriage is lubricated with thick substances. Initially, grease is plentifully laid in the carriage at the time of assembly of the bike. As for the care of racing bicycle models, the carriage is treated exclusively with liquid lubricants.
Grease the rear hub of the bike
Rear hub bearings are lubricated no more than once a month. To do this, it is advisable to use liquid oils, which are poured into the hub mechanism with only a few drops.
If we talk about the lubrication of brake systems in the bushings, then such actions must be performed extremely carefully so as not to damage anything. These elements are lubricated with machine or bone oil, common when caring for sewing machines. This will be enough to lubricate the bicycle wheel is considered complete.
It is worth noting that treating the bushings with an excessive amount of oil is fraught with the occurrence of a slipping effect during movement. In addition, the grease leaking from the sleeve will collect on the surface of the contamination mechanism in the form of fine debris and road dust. This, in turn, can lead to premature wear of parts. Therefore, grease for bicycle bearings must be applied wisely.
Switches
Lubricate the switches with liquid types of oils during active use of the bicycle with a frequency several times during the week. The switches of sports models of bicycles that are used for long-distance riding are recommended to be lubricated before each next trip.
Shift and braking cables
Caring for the braking and shifting cables can be done using conventional liquid oils as well as various aerosols. For effective lubrication of this element, a small amount of oil is enough, literally drops. Moreover, only the inlet and outlet openings of the elements through which the cables pass are lubricated.
Chain
The most effective chain lubricant is liquid synthetic oil. Do not lubricate the inner surfaces of the chain rollers, because such actions do not really entail any practical meaning. Instead, it is recommended to oil the outside of the links on both sides. It is convenient to cope with the task, having a grease fitting with a thin finish.
Once the bike’s lubrication has been completed, it is necessary to scroll through the gears and gently wipe the outside of the chain with a dry piece of cotton material.
Depreciation system
To lubricate the front fork, it is enough to fill a regular medical syringe with liquid oil. The procedure allows you to fill the grease under the protective plastic caps that are located on the top of the legs of the suspension fork.
The rear shock absorber is also treated with a fluid oil. When choosing lubricants with the correct consistency for the maintenance of the front and rear shock absorption system, absolutely no problems should arise.
Pedals
To lubricate the bicycle was considered complete, it is necessary to process the pedals. To do this, the components of the pedals should first be disassembled:
- a cap is removed that protects the pedal nut;
- the nuts are unscrewed, and then the lock washers are removed and the cone is removed;
- bearings are dismantled and pedals are removed from the axles.
Further details of the pedals are thoroughly washed in kerosene, and then wiped with a rag. As soon as all the components of the pedal mechanism dry out, they are lubricated with liquid oils. At the end, the pedals are assembled in the reverse order and installed.
In conclusion
As soon as the bicycle is lubricated, it is recommended to sit on the bike, click on all the gears, evaluate the operation of the switches, check the reliability of the brake systems. It is necessary to remove excess oil from the processed mechanisms of the bicycle. Outside, oil should not be visible anywhere, and moreover, the lubricant should not lie in a dense layer or drip from the bicycle parts.
Ultimately, you can polish the bike using special polishes for paints and varnishes. This will not only give the bike a spectacular shine, but also provide protection against the accumulation of dirt and dust on the mechanisms.
Having completed the entire complex of the above procedures, we can consider the planned maintenance of bicycle systems complete. A clean, quietly rolling, and most importantly - a reliable bike always brings only positive emotions to its owner.