Bicycle Mechanics - Oiling a bike chain

Hey,

What's the proper way to oil a bike chain? When I was a kid I would just turn it upside down and and pour oil on it while I rotated the chain. Does this still apply? :) :eek:

That technique is okay, but oil is bad. Use a bike specific lubricant like Finish Line, Pro Link, Pedros, etc. I use a dry formula. The liquid carrier evaporates, leaving a dry film of Teflon based lubricant behind. My chain tends to stay fairly clean, since there is no greasy mess to attract and trap dirt and grime.

I like to drip a homemade mixture of moly grease and white gas onto the links. Wipe up the excess with a rag and go have a good time riding. It's cheap. It seems to put a good film of lubricant where it needs to be. The lubricant seems to stay put and it lasts a long time. If the chain gets a little dirty, take 10 seconds now and then to wipe it down with a rag in between cleanings.

Best of all, $0.10 will get you a year's supply.

Oh, I've heard good things about Mobile 1 synthetic oil which uses PAO as it's base. My experience working around PAO as a cooling fluid is that the stuff is about impossible to wash off of anything it contacts. Sounds like a good property for a lubricant. It's also non-toxic, though I've never been tempted to drink a chain lube. However, like my homemade lube, a small investment should last for years.

What does 'PAO' stand for? Poly-something-olefins?

What does 'PAO' stand for? Poly-something-olefins?

PAO - Polyalphaolefins

That technique is okay, but oil is bad. The technique is no good either.All it takes is a tniy drop at each pivot pin,rotate the chain to work it in,wipe excess.Use a proper chain lube.That covers lots of territory,but it doesn't necessarily have to come from a bike shop.

As stated, be a bit less liberal with whatever you use as a lubricant. It's difficult for me to watch as one drop saturates each link, so I go a bit faster. however, the trick I've used is to wipe the chain down with a rag AFTER each ride. Then, apply the lube. That way, the lube will have a chance to fully dry, and bond with the chain before you ride again. This will help keep the lube on the chain, and off your chain stays!

Okay means just that- okay. Yes, a little goes a long way. I probably use too much, and wind up wiping off more of what I spray on, but time is sometimes more valuable than some extra lube.

Depends on riding conditions, for wet/mud use a wet bike lube, for dry/dusty, use a dry lube. Only put lube on the moving parts of the chain. Thoroughly wipe off excess lube, especially in dusty conditions. A wet lube tends to require less frequent re-lubing but is no good for dusty conditions.

Excess lube just attracts dirt and will gum up your parts faster than the right amount of lube, requiring more frequent cleaning/relubing.

I stand my bike upright, against a wall. I put the chain on the smallest cog, to avoid dripping on the rim.
Apply the nozel to the inner face of the chain, between the mech and the chainrings.
Apply the lube whilst spinning the pedals. This places a very small amount onto each link.

Turning a bike upside-down may damage the handlebar controls and saddle. Applying oil onto the outside surface of the chain will attract more dirt than neccessary.