goodtimes5

I degreased my chain with one of those chain cleaning machine attachments and added Pedro's Syn chain lube specifically designed for wet weather (since it's wintertime and all). After a few rides to campus, I noticed that the chain is already covered with black grime.

Are chains supposed to get this dirty this quickly (I also degreased the rest of my bike so the chain isn't picking up residue from that.)?

bkaapcke

They do get dirty rather quickly. I clean and relube mine 1-2 times per week in dry weather and the black stuff is always there. Other than that, you may be putting too much lube on your chain. bk

DaveSSS 

That is totally normal with a thick wet lube or any wet lube for that matter. I use a homebrew mix of 3-4 parts mineral spirits or naptha to 1 part synthetic motor oil and apply it every other ride or about 100 miles intervals. A heavy application will help flush out dirt and reduce the need for cleaning, but wipe the exterior of the chain before lubing. I also use a 6/1 mix with heavier 80/90W synthetic gear lube.

Either mix is dirt cheap compared to bike specific lubes that cost about 20 times as much.

bikinfool

Entirely normal...it's dirty out there. After each ride take a rag and wipe the chain off to keep it minimal. Degreaser is overrated for chain maintenance.

triplebutted

I used parraffin wax since the 80's. Then I was so glad that they actually have wax based chain lubricants now. Less dirt pickup.

daveornee

Chain cleaning machines remove most of the external goop, but some of the internal goop remains.
It is nearly impossible to get all the goop off the cassette cogs & chain rings, so even if you road a trainer inside, some black goop will come up in the clean lube. I don't know what your riding conditions are, but as other posters have suggested: wiping off externals of the chain (cogs & chain rings too) will help keep things a little cleaner.

brooklyn_bike

make sure you change out the mineral spirits (or whatever) a few times till it runs pretty clean. allow the chain to dry (use a fan if you're in a hurry) and then lube. wait for the lube to penetrate for a bit and then thoroughly wipe off ALL excess lube. if you follow these steps your chain should be pretty clean for a good bit. if you leave excess lube - your chain will get dirty again in a hurry...

p.s. make sure you clean your cogs and chainrings too.

Steev

I used a lube that was advertised as being for wet conditions and it rapidly left black goo all over the chain that would stain everything in the vicinity. However, the lube did stay on the chain in wet conditions way better than anything else I tried. Seeing as I was commuting on the wet coast I would use the stuff then get a new chain in spring which I would use a dry lube on until next winter.

San Rensho 

The dirt that you see is not new dirt from the environment, its dirt from deep within the recesses of the chain that is coming out. What happens is the chain will "absorb" oil through capillary action deep within the chain, where the oil will mix with the dirt and dirty oil that is in there already. Then when you ride, the forces applied to the chain "squeeze" the new oil out, which of course be dirty.

If you don't believe me, clean the chain as clean as you can get it and lube it. Wipe it as clean as you can and then go out and ride less than 1 block and look at your chain. It will look filthy. There is no way that filth came from riding a couple of hundred yards, its the dirty oil being squeezed out of the chain.

Thats why I never solvent clean my chain, I just wipe off the dirty oil and lube the chain with thin oil (automotive transmission fluid) almost every time I ride. This flushes the chain out and keeps it remarkably clean.

monporn

use a little lube at a time. the 'black stuff' will always be there. which is why a number of people i know actually wash their bikes after each training ride.

Panthers007

I clean the chain thoroughly. Then add ONE drop of lube per link. Right into it - marking the chain for where I started. This helps to cut down on chains ability to haul in dirt from the four-corners of Earth, and pull meteorites out of orbit.

recklesscogniti

I also use Pedro's Syn Lube and mine is black withing a couple of rides. I also live in a very dirty city and pick up a lot of crap on the roads of Seoul. I do find the Syn lube quite thick and gooey, so that is probably helping worsen the matter, try putting a little less on and make sure you wipe off the excess after you're done, if you've got it running down the crank you've put on way too much.

khearn

When cleaning a chain with a solvent, whether on or off the bike, do it then replace the fluid with clean fluid and clean the chain again. You'll find the new fluid gets pretty dirty. If the fluid your chain is running through is dirty, do you think your chain is any cleaner than the fluid? Keep changing fluid and cleaning until the fluid stays fairly clean. Now your chain is clean.

Make sure you also clean your chainrings and cogs if they have gunky stuff on them. No point in putting a clean chain on filthy gears.

BTW, save the dirty fluid, let it sit in a jar to settle for a few hours, then filter it through a coffee filter. Now you can use it again. This will work for solvents like kerosene or paint thinner. I doubt it will work for citrus-based degreasers. Do I need to tell people not to use gasoline?

Don't use gasoline as a cleaner for anything. Unless you like explosions. And even if you do like explosions, don't use gasoline as a cleaner for anything.

Once you have a clean chain, do as Panthers007 says and put a drop of lube on each roller. Once you've lubed each roller, wipe the exterior of the chain clean. Lube on the outside of the chain doesn't do anything but attract dirt.

Keith

2manybikes

After lubing and letting it sit for a while, did you wipe off the excess lube before riding? Lube on the outside just attracts dirt.

goodtimes5

I didn't wipe the chain last time I lubed since it looked fine, but I'll make sure to that that next time. Thanks for the tips, guys.

jsharr

The label on Rock N Roll lube says that you CANNOT wipe the chain too much. I usually wipe my chain down until it is not leaving much residue on the shop rag.

snugglepuppy666

did you know that trans fluid is abrasive?? its made to allow the clutch plates to grip..

2manybikes

good point


I can't read the words in your avitar.

Pocko

+1

.

jsharr

it says this https://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r.../fish_poop.jpg

San Rensho 

Uh, no. Hydraulic clutches do not work by friction, they work because of the viscosity of the fluid.

ATF is run of the mill hydraulic fluid, which tends to be high detergent, and thin, about 20w, which is perfect for chains. The red dye also helps to see where you put it.

San Rensho 

[QUOTE=jsharr;8033313]The label on Rock N Roll lube says that you CANNOT wipe the chain too much. I usually wipe my chain down until it is not leaving much residue on the shop rag.[/QUOTE]

Yep, thats what I do.

I wipe it after every ride, then apply a small amount of ATF fluid, about a tablespoon, which I leave on the chain to soak in.

Then, BEFORE the next time I ride, I wipe the excess lube off.

I never solvent clean the chain and its always visually clean and it shifts perfectly using the above method. And it takes about 1 minute of my life every time I ride my bike.

cyclezealot

One of the reasons I find riding in the rain less than desirable. Unless, I 've not been out for way too long; when it rains, I do my best to not ride.

2manybikes

snugglepuppy666

The fluid is a highly refined mineral oil optimized for the special requirements of an automatic transmission, such as valve operation, brake band friction and the torque converter as well as gear lubrication. Synthetic ATF has also recently become available, offering better performance and service life for certain applications (such as frequent trailer towing).

"Hydraulic clutches do not work by friction"

nope they dont.. hence the term Hydro

to sum my point is that there are much better lubes out there