Fifty Plus (50+) - Anti chain maintenance

Thought I'd start another rare thread by me to mark, for future reference, when I actually did clean my chain. I noticed the Trek 7200 trail bike had a grey chain the other day, quite dry, fully coated with limestone trail dust. I'm thinking may be I should clean the chain, but delayed the job for two more trips on the trail. Well today, I don't know what came over me, only have 2160 miles on the bike; but I finally cleaned the chain. I'm from the old school of cleaning greasie parts with kerosene and an engine cleaning brush. Had to break the stock Trek chain apart and replaced a fixed link with a quick link. I was out of kerosene so used some perfumed lamp oil we had in the house. Hope the bike likes lavender.

So I have some lamp oil left and I'm thinking, what the heck, the road bike chain still looks well lubed, but just may be with 3556 miles on that chain, it could use a cleaning as well. Discovered the pointy teeth on the dérailleur guide pulleys were in fact not pointy, that was all hard gunk. My rear cassette is actually chrome, not anodized black. I'm feeling a bit a shamed for putting off this maintenance for so long; but then I recall I still haven't changed the oil in the wife's car this year. :o

I think you messed up royally! If they're still running leave 'em alone. Now they'll likely break (or is that brake - someone help me out here). Lavender is going to attract the bugs. But then you might really fly.

I still don't like the concept of driving dirt into the inside of the chain rollers. I knock the limestone dust off with a paint brush, lube only when the chain gets stiff (sometimes found because of shifting glitches) and clean the cassette with brushes as needed or solvent when a new chain is put on.

The derailleur polley's can be cleaned on the part not covered by chain with a rag pinched between the fingers. Pinch, squeeze and pull the gunk off.

The limestone dust should be brushed off often as it is very abrasive.

With all that cleaning, I'm sure you noticed a big difference in the ride.

With all that cleaning, I'm sure you noticed a big difference in the ride.

Probably rides smoother and is a whole lot faster, too, right?

Most "lamp oils" are actually parrafin(sic).

I've about reached the point at which I think that chain maintenance threads should be moved to politics and religion.

Otherwise intelligent and thoughtful folks seem to have very strongly felt opinions on the subject that are quite opposite one another.

I think measuring your chain is more important than cleaning it. Cleaning it and lubing it will make it last longer, but if you measure it occasionally you will know when to change it before it wears out other parts.

I'm feeling a bit a shamed for putting off this maintenance for so long :o

Do the police know about this? I'd lay low for awhile if I were you.

I've about reached the point at which I think that chain maintenance threads should be moved to politics and religion.

Otherwise intelligent and thoughtful folks seem to have very strongly felt opinions on the subject that are quite opposite one another.

+1
:roflmao2:

chain maintenance threads should be moved to politics and religion.

Jesus and Barack Obama use Finish Line Teflon Dry Lube.

Well I road tested the trail bike with a 5 mile round trip to my car wash. I should probably ride to wash more often, but the way there is straight down hill, so return is not so great. I usually have items to carry there or back. And for this trip I returned with 5 pounds of quarters in my pants. Not quite the same ride as the Schuylkill River Trail, so can't say I noticed any improvement. Bike still went forward when I pedaled so it's still working.

I ran out of day light last night to get chain back on road bike. Just completed that job. Got a bit sloppy with the Liquid Wrench Industrial chain lube, so left sneaker is well oiled. Short ride in neighborhood and all is working well. Will get my real test this Wednesday when I hope to ride a 30 mile route.

Are you happy about cleaning your links, or is that a roll of quarters in your pocket?;)

The important thing of course is did you change the oil in the wife's car? All else could be in vain.

Darn!! Forgot the wife's car again. Mañana, Mañana.

I think you messed up royally! If they're still running leave 'em alone. Now they'll likely break (or is that brake - someone help me out here). Lavender is going to attract the bugs. But then you might really fly.
Yup. Reminds me of the old saying, if it ain't broke...fix it 'til it is.

Well at least your shoes won't squeak! :p

I ran out of day light last night to get chain back on road bike. Just completed that job. Got a bit sloppy with the Liquid Wrench Industrial chain lube, so left sneaker is well oiled. Short ride in neighborhood and all is working well. Will get my real test this Wednesday when I hope to ride a 30 mile route.

I thought this was a solvent, not a lubricant. Are they now making a new product?

Apparently a new product, or relabeled old product. By the people who also make Gunk. 15 oz. spray can clearly says lubricant. "Cuts friction and clings to chains and sprockets, extends life and inhibits corrosion. Anti sling formula with molybdenum disulfide." Not to get into pros and cons, I just wanted an oil based lube as they supposable last longer, good for someone like me who puts off maintenance. Forgot what it cost, got it at the local farm equipment store. But yes I know what you mean regards solvent, have a 40 year old can of the original Liquid Wrench in shop.

Now all you need is for the chain to break and find that the new one skips over the worn out teeth on the old cassette and chain rings.

Expensive way to find out that the grit around the chain has also worn out the pair of them.

Well I surprised myself and actually got on the road by 09:15. It could have been the temperature or the dew point, or may be raisin bran packs more energy then puffed wheat, but the ride was definitely easier. I thought I was really struggling this past Sunday, before cleaning drive train, to cover 20 miles. But today's 30 miles was quite easy. Certainly makes me want to re think my clean maintenance. May be look at it every 1000 miles.

Another surprise, I actually changed oil in wife's car. One year and 8,000 miles later, I've got to get better at this. May be if the oil filter wasn't buried behind engine.