Cabrales

I've been riding for many years, but I think I need to change what I use to lube my chains, or how I do it. For a few years I have been using finish line century. It's an oil type lube. Up to now all of my bikes had dark paint, but my new bike has yellow chainstays. Anyway, I rode the new bike for about 60 miles with whatever lube came from the factory/bike shop. Over the weekend I lubed it with my trusty Finish Line. After the ride (short 15 miler) I noticed black grease splatter all over the chain stays and spokes. So I'm thinking that either I'm using too much oil, or I should be using something less messy. (My other bikes also get messy, but I never realized how quickly it happens). For a while I used white lighting wax type lube, but I didn't like how the wax built up after a while. My method: I put the tip of the oil bottle on the chain, then rotate the chain trying to get a little oil in each link. Then wipe the chain off as best I can. So, any suggestions? How about the "dry lubes"? (I have a feeling what came with the new bike was some type of dry lube. This is for a road bike, ridden mostly on decent weather, with the ocassional rainy day. My rides range from 15 to 50 miles, depending on how much time I have.

Doggus

I use Purple Extreme. Good stuff! I'm also kinda anal about cleaning (road bikes only, I neglect my MTBs). I do the gatorade bottle thang, remove, soak and clean the cassettes etc...

thurstonboise

If the chain is grimy, I use a stiff brush and simple green or oranj peelz and brush each link. until most of the gunk is off.
Then I use ProLink on each link of the chain, and ride around for 5-10 minutes. Then I wipe everything down after it has a chance to work in a bit. I usually lube when I'm cleaning up everything else anyway.
I was uing white lightning, but that stuff sucks under 50F.

HillRider

My preference is ProLink. I wipe the chain down with a dry cloth or paper towel to get the surface crud off then apply the ProLink rather lavishly and wipe off the excess. Then I reapply it more moderately and let the carrier evaporate. The chains last a long time and are very quiet. They are not "white glove" clean by any means but they don't throw excess oil around either.

This will be a LONG thread. Nothing brings out strongly held opinions like chain lube questions.

Cabrales

What I didn't say before is that I'm not much into cleaning. Between the job and the family, I'll be lucky if I do a thorough drivetrain cleaning 3x per season (I can hear the gasps come through my monitor). And I think that the way I've been doing it, with the Finish Line Oil, doesn't help keep things clean. I can immagine all that oil just acts as a dirt magnet.

Jason Curtiss

The most important aspect of chain lubrication is frequency, meaning clean and lube the chain often.

San Rensho 

About every other time I ride, after I'm done riding, I take two folded up paper towels and grab the chain and backpedal to clean, then I put a very small amount of engine oil on the inside rung of the chain as I backpedal, then I clean again with the otherside of the paer towel. Takes about 3 minutes.

I rarely take off the chain to clean in solvent.

garagedog

I flip my bike upside down, spin the crank with one hand and let Whitelightning drip on the chain as it spins around the jockey wheel. Takes 30 seconds.

Philatio

I use a mixture of three parts mineral spirits and one part motor oil. I wipe the chain "clean" with a rag and then use a turkey baster (bought this new ) to apply a drop or two to every link.

Can't beat it cost wise

SoonerBent

About twice a month I spin the crank backwards while applying White Lightning to the contact side of the chain. Let it dry and run the chain through a rag to wipe off the excess. Clean, dry, quiet.

SB

Philatio

I've not used Finish Line, but if I let the freshly applied lube site overnight I generally get little to no spatter.

I am also under the impression that it will only do this when the lube is still fresh and lots of excess remains on the chain (it quickly spins off once the bike is ridden). So if you lube>ride>wipe off the frame, it shouldn't be an issue until you reapply.

Illah

I'm at the point where I need to remove the chain and deep clean it. I'm a bit of a beginner so I've literally never done this since I've owned the bike Luckily it's only a couple months old so hopefully not much damage has been done. Unluckily I've ridden it in the rain...alot. I have wiped it down and lubed from time to time, but it really needs a deep clean.

So...

I've searched around and can't seem to figure out if breaking the chain is a good or bad idea. Some say it doesn't matter, other say that it will permanently weaken the chain. I heard about 'superlinks' but I don't want to buy more stuff right now if I can avoid it.

--Illah

HillRider

First, "deep cleaning" is a waste of time. Get the surface clean and free of dirt and buildup and relube sparingly. This can be done on the bike either with a rag and brush or with one of the proprietary chain cleaning gizmos like the Park or Pedros.

You can remove a Shimano chain by pushing out any of the "normal" pins but it must be replaced by a specific replacement pin. These vary depending on the chain width (8, 9 and 10-speed chains all have their specific replacement pins) and any LBS will carry these. Done properly, this does not weaken the chain.

Emory

My MTB chain is perpetually gritty (the trails get very sandy in some places). If I spin the rollers with my fingers they will have a bit of grit, and spinning the pedals backwards makes a louder grit sound. To clean my chain I go over it with a toothbrush, rag, and simple green pretty heavily and then use prolink, but the grit sound remains. I just did a soak in simple green overnight on a chain that hadnt been cleaned in who knows long on a bike im fixing up and it came out like new - no grit, no dirt. So, this weekend I think I will try the deepclean on my MTB chain and see which I like better. I dont think its necessary to do every time you clean the chain, but atleast in my area, a brush and rag dont seem to cut it.

HillRider

I told you this thread would get real long real fast!

MMACH 5

Another reason I love BF. I was using a silicone lubricant. The problem was that it would dry up too fast and I would spend some part of a trip listening to "weak, weak, weak, weak".

Now, I'm not the strongest rider, but I don't need my chain announcing it, everywhere I go.

Anyway, I picked up some ProLink, on my way home last night. I don't think I've ever had as quiet a ride as I did this morning.

Thanks guys!

Cayman

Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but is it possible to clean your chain too much? I just get worried everytime after I ride I see all the dirt, and grime on the chain. I've been cleaning my chain after every ride with the Park chain cleaning tool, and the solution I use is Dumonde Tech Citrus Cleaner. It gets very clean, but I didn't know if this was bad for the chain.

Also, if I'm cleaning it every day, I guess I need to lube it too. Is all of this necessary? I'm a newbie and don't want to ruin an investment.

lrzipris

If I understand your question(s), Cabrales, it's not the cleaning, method or frequency of lubing, but the mess on your chainstays, and it doesn't sound like you overlube. If your concern is really a matter of cosmetics, why not simply apply one of those clear plastic chainstay decals or protectors, whatever they're called, and otherwise keep to your normal maintenance routine? It's easy enough to just wipe off the oil from the plastic covering.

corny

ProLink may be right up your street - it cleans as it works so you do not have to clean it outside of this. I use it, but do clean it when its really dirty (if i go on a poor track or bit of mud etc.), just personal pref.

toolboy

Doggus, do you follow the recommendations on the bottle that tell you you have to completely clean the chain before re-applying the Purple Extreme? Seems kinda weird to me.

khuon

My method for cleaning the chain...

1. Remove chain (I have Wippermann ConneX-links on all my chains)
2. If especially grimey, dip old toothbrush in Simple Green and scrub chain superficially then rinse in hot water.
3. Drop chain in tupperware bowl with 50/50 of Simple Green and hot water for roadbike chains and 75/25 Simple Green and hot water for MTB chains.
4. Put tuperware bowl on top of running washing machine or dryer for a cycle or two to let the vibration shake stuff loose.
5. Withdraw chain and scrub extra dirt if needed.
6. Rinse thoroughly. This is important because Simple Green is a detergent and if there's any still left on the chain, it will prevent the lube from adhering.
7. Shake to expell excess water
8. Use an old rag to wipe off any remaining droplets.
9. Hang to dry
10. Remount chain. It's also a good idea to have scrubbed down and cleaned the cogs and chainrings too.
11. Lube chain as per directions of the lube of choice.
12. Wipe off excess.

I use DuMonde Tech lube. I use the regular stuff on my MTB and on my RB in the really rainy season. I use the lighter yellower concentration on my RB during the dryer season. DuMonde goes on like a wet lube but sets up like a dry lube so it lasts a while even in wet weather.

bkaapcke

I spray brakleen into a utility towel, spin the crank and wipe the chain. After doing this 3-4 times, and cleaning the derailleur idlers, I use ream n kleen pipe cleaners to get down into each link. Fold the pipe cleaner in half and its perfect. The I use the brakleen/towel once more. Result; easy job and a clean chain. Give it 10 minutes for all the solvent to evaporate, then lube with pro-link. It's good for another 500 miles. bk

ken cummings

A San Francisco company is giving away cans of lubricant called Fluid Film. There is a thread about it in the commercial thread area. I got some but have not used it long enough to testify about it. Not petroleum based for the Green types.

roccobike

I'm not an expert, but I ride MTBs on trails that are either muddy or dusty and clean my chain and the chains on my 2 son's MTBs frequently. I would estimate after every 3 to 6 rides. I don't see how cleaning frequently can hurt the chain. But I remove the chain, I don't know what the affect is of cleaning solution droplets spraying around the rear hub assembly or chain wheel. Maybe none. I do know that I ALWAYS lube the chain after each cleaning, NO exceptions.
Is it neccessary? I've read a few posts from members who claim they never or rarely clean their chain. But I don't subscribe to that. On the other hand, cleaning it after each ride is more than I'm willing to do.

Trekke

White Lightning EPIC Lube after I use White Lightning Clean Streak to clean.