John Kelin

Hi all,

Yes, I searched the FAQ but didn't find anything. I guess I didn't use good keywords.

After seeing an item in the local paper this morning (link below) I got to wondering: what are the main parts of a bike that need regular lube? Is there a comprehensive list anyone can direct me to? The chain, obviously. Brake posts probably. The parts with ball bearings.

Thank you.

Francis Phelan said you should always ring the doorbell with your elbow. I bring this article:

Pop-up bike repair stand slated for Boulder's West Pearl Street - Boulder Daily Camera

cny-bikeman

No way to answer that question simply. Just about every part that rotates or slides against another needs lubrication, but some much less often than others (bearings vs. chain, for example) and the type of lube (oil/light lube vs. grease) differs as well.

dsbrantjr

I also grease threaded fasteners when assembling them. Especially important are pedal and bottom bracket threads; I use Tef-Gel for these. Seat posts and quill stems every 6 months or so in order that they do not seize.

mconlonx

During a regular tune, chain, and I tend to hit all the derailleur pivots with a drop of oil. Semi-regularly, I will grease or oil the shift and brake cables/housing. Every other year or so, I will take a bike down to the frame and grease everything on reassembly, especially anything threaded, as dsbrantjr noted. If something threaded ever loosens, I'll clean up the interface and reassemble with thread locker instead of grease. I draw the line at prying out seals of sealed bearings to refresh grease in favor of replacing rough bearings. Other things like wheel bearings, headset, and bb will depend on if they are sealed or not (duh).

Retro Grouch 

To me this is kind of a touchy subject.

While all of those parts need some degree of lubrication, it's real easy to over do. Then all you do is get crud all over your bike. Whenever I'm in doubt, I use a little less.

Randybb

My rule of thumb is, if you ever want to get it apart again, grease it. I've had too many nightmares with parts getting stuck together and ruined -- seatposts, brake cable clamp screws, screws that hold on rear racks, light mounts, bottle cage screws, spoke nipples, quill stems, freewheels, pedals, bottom brackets. I've had experiences with all of these parts, and more, getting broken and ruined (or even ruining an entire frame in the case of a seatpost), simply because someone didn't bother to slap a dab of grease on. Only thing you definitely SHOULDN'T grease is a square taper crank.

A grease gun is an awesome investment, takes all the mess out of greasing things, and makes it quick. just a little dab and screw it in. And for bearings it's amazing.

jyl

I do a mini service of my daily bike about once every three months. The routine:
- Check wheel true, correct as needed
- Wipe crud from chain, chainrings, and cogs
- Lube chain, 1 drop of Chain-L per link
- 1 squirt of Tri-Flow into the freewheel
- Check shifting, 1 drop of Tri-Flow on each shifter (old fashioned friction shifter levers)
- Wipe off derailleurs, 1 drop of Tri-Flow on each derailleur pivot, 1 squirt of Tri-Flow on each pulley bushing
- Check brake pads and adjustment, 1 drop of Tri-Flow on each caliper pivot
- Wipe crud from hubs, 1 squirt of Tri-Flow on each sealed bearing, wipe off (I think this merely helps keep the seal clean)

So that's like 12 drops of Tri-Flow, 220 drops of Chain-L, 6 squirts of Tri-Flow.



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easyupbug 

Don't you mean 110 drops?

12strings

So you only lube your chain every 3 months?

jyl

Yup! Basically I do this mini service when I lube the chain, and I lube the chain when it gets noisy, and that works out to about every three months.

jyl

Sorry, brain fart!