How to Clean the Transmission on the Whistle AXR with Avinox - What Tools Do I Need?

We all know that to enjoy a 12-speed transmission, regular maintenance is necessary.

How often should the transmission be cleaned?

If we ride it in the city, once a month or more often if it has been through the rain.

If we take it to the mountains through dust, mud, and other elements: mandatory after every ride.

What tools are needed and what are the steps?

Remove the rear wheel

Necessary tools: 6 mm Allen key, usually found at home.

Remove the chain

Necessary tools: chain tool to remove the link.

I was one who only removes but this model also puts the link back.

Clean the chain thoroughly

I let it soak in solvent for a day and change the water two or three times, then scrub and wipe with various other solutions.

Remove the cogs from the wheel - necessary tools

A chain wrench is needed only for disassembly to lock the cogs:

A wrench for removing the nut that tightens the cogs - also necessary for assembly.

Clean the cogs

One by one for those that come off and in block for the riveted ones - a hassle.

Remove the derailleur pulleys and clean them

Necessary tools: 3 mm Allen key.

Apply a layer of protective grease between the washers and pulleys, clean off the excess.

Then put them back, don’t forget to put a drop of thread locker on the screws.

I clean the cages on the bike, if they are too dirty, disassemble the derailleur. If you have a cable derailleur, be careful not to unravel it, otherwise you will need to replace the cable as well. I like those with a resin coating, they don’t unravel.

Disassembly and cleaning of the chainring

Here the problem gets complicated, the space is small, you really cannot do a cleaning on the spot without disassembly.

We just need two more dedicated tools:

Disassemble the crank arm

With an 8 mm Allen key, remove the pedal screw - no problem.

Surprise! the pedal doesn’t come off.

Attention!!! Do not hit it with a hammer! It’s not made to come off that way.

Thread the extraction tool into the pedal thread, making sure to catch the entire thread, not just a few turns.

Then operate the handle and, miracle, the pedal will come off nicely, effortlessly, without hammers and other brutalities.

Pedal extraction tool:

After removing the pedal, surprise!

The fastening system is of the center lock type, the chainring is attached to a spider that is tightened with a special nut for which we need another tool, this time directly from Avinox.

Spider removed from the motor, there’s something to clean, stones have gotten in, scratched, dug...

It’s good to inspect and clean properly by removing the chainring.

The motor and frame cleaned on the right side:

Tools used for disassembly and cleaning the chainring:

All tools for the operation:

Operation result: clean chain, cogs, chainring, lubricated with liquid wax, ready to run!

If you need more tools, accessories, Avinox sensors, shorter crank arms (the trend is 155 mm, given the torque of the motor, we can afford shorter arms, we also have a higher ground clearance while pedaling), you can find them on Bikeverse, an authorized Avinox service partner:

For any service issues with Avinox, diagnostics, warranty problems, and extended warranty, contact us with confidence, we are authorized Avinox service partners.