How to Grease a Cassette

Part of the drive train on most modern bicycles is the cassette. This is the group of gear rings in the center of the rear wheel. When cleaning and lubricating the bicycle, the cassette gets its lube from the lube given to the chain, not to the cassette itself. It is important you do not apply lube directly to the cassette, as this works to gum the gears up instead of making the shifting easier.

Things You'll Need

  • Newspapers
  • Degreaser
  • Pan
  • Bike chain scrubber tool
  • Rags
  • Bucket
  • Soapy water
  • Sponge
  • Lubricant
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Instructions

    • 1

      Spread newspapers over the ground where you'll be cleaning and lubricating the bicycle. Spray the chain and cassette with degreaser and let it drip into the chain pines and onto the papers.

    • 2

      Fill the bucket with warm soapy water while the degreaser does its job. Once the degreaser has worked off the grime and grit from the chain and cassette, scrub the drive train with the scrubbing tool. Use the curved end of the tool to get in between the gears on the cassette to remove large chunks of grime and grease.

    • 3

      Dip the sponge into the soapy water and wash the entire drive train of the degreaser and grime. Bring the chain and cassette back to the shiny silver as it was new. Dry the chain with a rag. Use a corner of the rag to "floss" between the gears on the cassette.

    • 4

      Turn the bicycle upside down and begin to turn the cranks so the chain and cassette spin. Shake your lube and squirt it onto the bushing wheel on the derailleur (the black round gear bushing in the derailleur arm). Let the lube work into the chain and leave residuals on the cassette gear teeth.