Chain lubrication
04-22-08, 04:09 PM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 31
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Chain lubrication
I used mineral oil on my chain when I ran out of Tri-flow recently and my drivetrain is still working great. A friend of mine uses canola oil on his commuter without any problems. Do you think "chain lube" is a scam?
04-22-08, 04:14 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
I brought snacks!
04-22-08, 06:39 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Northern Nevada
Posts: 3,811
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Not to give a serious answer or anything, but my buddy who used to wrench for the USCT says a bike's lube needs aren't very demanding. The forces and speeds involved are generally low compared to a car. i used WD40 on my chain for years before I was told it wouldn't work, and never had a problem. As a kid learning to do my own work, I routinely lubed the wheel bearings with oil dripped off the dipstick on my dad's car.
Having said that, I go through about one bottle of ProLink a year, even lubing my chain between one and two times a week. It works well, is convenient to use and costs almost nothing per application, so why not?
Having said that, I go through about one bottle of ProLink a year, even lubing my chain between one and two times a week. It works well, is convenient to use and costs almost nothing per application, so why not?
04-22-08, 06:51 PM
#7
well hello there
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Point Loma, CA
Posts: 15,430
Bikes: Bill Holland (Road-Ti), Fuji Roubaix Pro (back-up), Bike Friday (folder), Co-Motion (tandem) & Trek 750 (hybrid)
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 503 Post(s)
Liked 336 Times
in
206 Posts
Not to give a serious answer or anything, but my buddy who used to wrench for the USCT says a bike's lube needs aren't very demanding. The forces and speeds involved are generally low compared to a car. i used WD40 on my chain for years before I was told it wouldn't work, and never had a problem. As a kid learning to do my own work, I routinely lubed the wheel bearings with oil dripped off the dipstick on my dad's car.
Having said that, I go through about one bottle of ProLink a year, even lubing my chain between one and two times a week. It works well, is convenient to use and costs almost nothing per application, so why not?
Having said that, I go through about one bottle of ProLink a year, even lubing my chain between one and two times a week. It works well, is convenient to use and costs almost nothing per application, so why not?
__________________
.
.
Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
.
.
Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
04-22-08, 06:51 PM
#8
Walmart bike rider
04-22-08, 07:07 PM
#9
Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 34
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Canola is a poor choice for a chain lube. It's full of polyunsaturated fat, which polymerizes into goo. Polyunsaturated: good for your heart, bad for your chain.
04-22-08, 07:13 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Costa Mesa CA
Posts: 2,636
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
10 Posts
I use Oster clipper oil. It's the best ever.
Because it was free for a 24 oz. can, that's why. Bike chains are not running at high speeds or under high temps. Any light oil 5w or lighter should be fine.
Because it was free for a 24 oz. can, that's why. Bike chains are not running at high speeds or under high temps. Any light oil 5w or lighter should be fine.
04-22-08, 09:13 PM
#12
Lurker
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: So IL
Posts: 269
Bikes: 07 Fuji Professional 2.0, Specialized Roubaix SL4 Elite
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
C'mon Man! Trolls need to be lubed once in a while. Peanut butter oil is great for dosing trolls with.
Mud
Mud
04-23-08, 10:20 PM
#13
These go to 11.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Maryland
Posts: 571
Bikes: 06' Trek 7.5 FX, '09 Dawes Steel SST
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I like to dip my chain in rendered bacon fat, works nice & I get one hell of a workout by outrunning the dogs in my neighborhood.
04-24-08, 06:28 AM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Beaufort, South Carolina, USA and surrounding islands.
Posts: 8,521
Bikes: Cannondale R500, Motobecane Messenger
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I don't care what you use. Just wipe the excess off when you're done.
04-24-08, 06:53 AM
#15
Senior Member
04-24-08, 06:56 AM
#16
Senior Member
04-25-08, 12:00 PM
#18
trois, mon frère
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Gainesville/Miami, FL
Posts: 576
Bikes: '01 Gary Fisher Wahoo, '08 Giant TCR C2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Seriously? Must we have another one of these discussions?
04-25-08, 01:13 PM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
