Garfield Cat

Does anyone know about teflon? Is there a critical mass of teflon in dry lubes to make it really effective as some kind of lubricant or additive to make a lubricant a better lubricant? Or is Telflon just a marketing hype?

If you had a teflon spray like "dry film lubricant" or what's called PTFE lubricant at industrial type hardware stores like W.W. Graingers, would it be sprayed inside the rollers or on the links or both?

Also I noticed that the dry film lubricant can says to apply on a clean surface. Now if a Finish Line product has both oil and teflon, doesn't that seem contradictory? Isn't it mutually exclusive?

Panthers007

Teflon was the first plastic made with chloroflourocarbons as the base. Very slippery stuff. Works great and lasts a long time. I recommend it. Had great results for years - over 20 on occasion.

Wanderer

DuPont does not recommend, or, list it for a "wet" lubricant. Their recommendation is for a dry, attached, coating.....

One would think they would catch on, if it really is a good use for it.......

Of course, they will sellit to anyone who wants to use it.......

late

Here's all you need to know.
https://webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcycl...chain-lube.htm

https://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...9963-D00110101

Pocko

^ Interesting articles... that product looks exactly like Finishline Teflon Dry Lube! Looks like our motorcycle friends finally caught-up with teflon-chain-lube technology.

I don't know about you guys, but my Finishline 120ml bottle cost about the same as that Dupont 11oz (325ml) spray can!!

Garfield Cat

But doesn't Finish Line mix the two? Teflon in their oil? If Teflon is so good, why mix? Is it because the teflon simply won't stay on a chain?

bkaapcke

The teflon needs an evaporating carrier to take it into the chain rollers. Liquid wrench penetrating oil has a carrier and PTFE. Turquoise can at Wal Mart, $2.15. bk

tatfiend 

You got it. Teflon is a soft plastic. Finely powdered and mixed in oil or grease it can help prevent metal to metal contact. In fine powdered form it provides no corrosion protection nor can it penetrate into the chain interior where it is wanted. For chain lube it is mixed in with a oil lubricant and or other liquid carrier that carries it into the chain interior. The oil provides corrosion protection as well as a lubrication film which is strengthened by the teflon per my understanding.

Pure teflon powder would not stay in position in bearings which is why it is mixed in grease.

z415

I have used Teflon fortified motorcycle chain lube with success. It was relatively cheap for a big can at Advanced Auto Parts.

snugglepuppy666

PTFE is awesome.. i use a mix of Breakfree CLP (w/ teflon) and actual teflon from radio shack..

it makes a wet lube but teflon is slicker than snot and hydrophobic (a gecko cant stick to it) and the CLP is a supreme penetrant/flushing/protecting agent (w/ teflon).

the guy i bought my bike from was using ProLink.. got to say its junk.. smells like a kerosene based solvent..

over used the clp and rode.. was picking up metal slivers on a clean rag.. most of the stuff is now flushed out..

look up Breakfree CLP.. mil spec ratings.. used on my ar-15's, glocks, ak for years..

i would like for someone to give me a reason not to use it.. start a new thread of course..

my 2 cents

Pocko

No worries here either, my friend.

I must say, your logic is interesting. Had you used the other stuff, for $4 (16oz) you could've saved $2000 and could've bought 12 bikes instead.

Nevertheless, I shall try something similar on my wife on my next bike purchase.

.

zacster

PTFe is great stuff, it even makes you stereo sound better. Really. Teflon capacitors are highly recommended in DIY audio equipment.

I've used Finish Line for the last few years on my chain. The bottle just ran out. I'll have to look into other sources for similar products, but I'll probably end up buying it at the LBS.

Garfield Cat

But really, how much teflon is in the Finish Line stuff? There's the cost benefit approach. If I were a manufacturer, there would be a tendency to put just enough teflon to make a difference, yet not make my average cost go way up, and then charge more money for the stuff.

But if I went to W.W. Graingers and got the PTFE spray can (the one with the ball bearings in the can), sprayed the entire chain with that stuff, and then applied my regular Boshield T-9, would that be better than Finish Line with Teflon?

Also, I don't know what kind of propellant they use in that PTFE can, but it comes out cold as heck. Its like holding a can filled with ice.

Pocko

^ I've not tried or seen a general use PTFE spray can, so I'll be in the lookout over here... and try them out for a comparison.

I know the Finishline doesn't completely "dry" out. It actually ends up like a thin grease (or wax) and stays that way. There could very well be a difference in formulation.

.

Garfield Cat

ok, here's the details.
Manufacturer: LPS Laboratories
an Illinois Tool Works Company
Tucker Georgia 800 241-8334
web site: www.lpslabs.com

Product: LPS Dry Film PTFE Lubricant Partno: 02616, 12 Oz.

iamstuffed

Finish Line makes the DuPont branded lube referenced above (it says so on the can and bottles I have). It's probably the same contents as the Finish Line branded lube.

Garfield Cat

I think we can agree on certain things. Teflon is a Dupont product. Both Finish Line and LPS use the Teflon in their products. But Finish Line uses it differently than LPS. The LPS is more of a dry film lubricant. Finish Line may be a dry lubricant, but certainly not a dry film lubricant.

If you go try the LPS can, its very different. The LPS seems like there's no lube in it, that is, its not lube mixed with Teflon. My guess is that the teflon plastic comes in small micron size particles. The LPS uses a propellant to spray on this teflon plastic on metal parts to give it a slippery finish.

But when you add teflon and lube together, how much slippery can you get? Will the teflon plastic get a chance to attach itself to the surface of the metal? Or is the teflon particles suspended in the lube and only little gets on the surface of the metal? If so, how much teflon do you need to make a big difference?

Pocko

^ My thoughts exactly. The "dry" waxy formulation of Finishline could very well stop water from entering the rollers from capillary-action. The dry - dry LPS might not... however I still wonder why it is officially recommended to be used for motorcycle chains which bear higher loads and RPMs than a bicycle chain? Have you had a chance to use and compare the two?

.

JPMacG

I don't mean this as a personal attack on you, but I really think this is a scam. Teflon capacitors and high cost water filled speaker cables..... sucker bait.

snugglepuppy666

wrong.. PTFE is VERY VERY NON conductive.... if your looking to pass electricity in the most effecent way possible this is it..

btw... whole industry created on it... hmm

https://www2.dupont.com/Cabling_Solut...pps/index.html

JPMacG

LOL... yes Teflon is a very good dielectric and has one of the lowest loss tangents of any organic material. It is commonly used at microwave frequencies for low-loss transmission lines - I should know, I design with it.

As for audio capacitors, that is complete nonsense. You will never, ever hear any difference between a Teflon capacitor and the more traditional mylar, mica, or ceramic equivalents.

snugglepuppy666

10-4.. response qulaified..