Bike enthusiast

Hello,

I recently purchased an Ultegra Groupset that came off of a new bike and realized that the Ultegra 6600 chain is sticky to the touch - almost as if someone coated it with glue. Is this normal? Should I clean it before I lube it? Or is it standard practice for factories to do this?

Thank you.

jccaclimber

That is normal for new chains. It is the factory grease and is great fun to clean up if you mistakenly put your "clean" new chain down on anything light colored.

Bike enthusiast

Thanks, should I just clean it off and then regrease it (Not supposed to mix greases right?), or should I leave it on and run with it? I know it's pretty much a "you decide" question, but am in need of opinions. Don't really know what you mean about "light colored" things as the grease is clearish? But yes, I can imagine it to be painful to clean it off of anything.....

Thanks

unbelievably

It is more of a preservative grease than it is a lubricant.
I'd suggest that you clean it off externally, before it gets dirty.

grolby

Uh, no, it's a lubricant (preservative? against what?), and it's the best lubrication your chain will ever have. Clean it off externally if you wish, but factory lube should never be removed.

When the chain needs to be re-lubricated, just start using whatever chain lube you happen to prefer. Don't worry about mixing with the factory lube, it's just not a problem in practice.

elgalad

+1

Sheldon Brown says it's the best lube your chain will ever see.

unbelievably

Cosmoline, from what I understand is what chains are packed in.
Correct me if I'm wrong.

Now to say,
this goop will be "the best lube your chain will ever see", is merely an opinion.

elgalad

Read for yourself:

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/chains.html#factory

Thirstyman

Its the best the chain will ever see becasue as Sheldon has said the factory can lube the inside (where its needed) really well and we can not. Its not what it uses to lube its where it is

mascher

Re: Sheldon, I would guess that "best it will see" is on the assumption that the manufacturer had the best in mind - I myself run a new chain out of the box until it's squeaky or sticky with filth and then run whatever lube I'm using on that bike - don't bother stripping the grease if you're going to use wax-based lube, it will come right out with a couple of applications of white lightning or whatever you use.

Definitely though do not clean the chain before you use it - it may be sticky, but it's not going to slow you down.

unbelievably

Perhaps it will not slow you down but,
it will collect grit and grime which will lead to premature wear of you drive-train.

mascher

How much though is the question. How much wear will you rack up if you're the type to fastidiously suck every drop of oil off a brand new chain and replace it by dropping a drip on each roller just so it looks prettier? I've gone both ways, and I've found that on a bike not ridden in dirt, it's not like you'll be replacing a cassette months or years prematurely. Even on dirt - I've got 3 years on a cassette and chain on a mountain bike always ridden in dirt, maybe 1500kms, and am only changing that at the end of this season - what would cleaning that chain first gain me? Esp. if you're running oil-based lube anyway - especially then do not strip your chain before using.

operator

-1 fail

The only thing you have to do with new chains is wipe off the sticky gunk on the OUTSIDE of the chain.

operator

-1 fail again

Regardless of whether or not it's the "best chain lube". All you have to do is wipe down the outside of the chain with degreaser on a rag and go riding.

unbelievably

Did you read a post where I suggested otherwise?
-1 fail...

You guys are a hoot. It's a preference thing.
I think it's time to do a poll...

barba

Cosmoline=Controversy in some quarters.

I usually just give the new chain a good wipe down with my degreaser impregnated rag. I am not a proponent of a more thorough soak for new chains because I don't want to wash the lubricant out of the inner parts of the chain.

brianappleby

fwiw, newer shimano chains now use a different grease.

It's thinner, not as sticky, and smells worse than the sticky stuff did.

uberclkgtr

Keep the factory lube on there, just wipe off the outside. That factory lube is applied heated, so it has a lower viscosity and can get into all the high-tolerance areas. It's also a very high-quality lube.

slimvela

In the automotive/hot rod industry...we always remove it, it is only there to prevent oxidation and is always to be removed prior to use. It's the same stuff that is on new brake rotors, timing chains, etc.

But when it comes to Cycling, it's all seems to be a matter of opinion. Point is, it collects anything that is thrown at it like fly paper, that's the main reason you need to wipe it down periodically.

But to say it's the best/worst, or anything in between, type of lube is stricly a matter of opinion no matter who you listen to. Maybe one should do a little research on Cosmoline and look into it further. I got some time...

BTW, this thread delivers in the bickering category...hey wait, isn't that most of the BF threads?! lol

garysol1 

What is it with you and this "you fail" thing, I know everything attitude of your operator? You pulled the same crap on me in a different thread. I can only hope that someday I know everything like you so I can go around shouting "you fail" to others........

curiouskid55

No need to use a degreaser on a modern chain ever. Just wipe it off, relube and wipe off excess. Repeat in one week. And the guy that rode his dirt bike 1500 km in three years, that's what a whopping 300 miles a year? I should hope he is not seeing "excessive wear" or any other wear for that matter. If your doing 200 miles a week, lube your chain evey week.

elgalad

At the risk of sounding somewhat arrogant - FAIL.

Degreaser belongs nowhere on a bike. A damp rag, maybe, but if you remove the factory lube from the outside of the chain, it will be gone from all the contact points where it's really needed.

If you really must get rid of the factory lube, soak the chain briefly in kero, rinse with water, then apply your favorite lube of choice.

Pasqually

Never heard of anyone leaving the thick grease on a chain.

I soak and remove it all then lube. I take the chain off and soak and relube it every 2nd week if I can (not been in rain or muck) have over 13 000km on the same campagnolo 10 speed chain at the moment.

Still shows very little signs of wear. I have been doing this since my father showed me to as a teenager 20 years ago.

aloysius

Jobst Brandt seconds Sheldon's opinion on factory grease:

"You should be glad if you could care for your chain
with as good a lubricant as what is on it when you unpack it. The
stuff does not run or spatter, and if there's too much, you can always
wipe off the excess after installation on your bicycle....

"...This lubricant is semi stiff because it is intended to not fly off
when the chain rotates around a sprocket and especially a derailleur
wheel with its small radius. Motorcycle chain and chain saw lubricant
has a similar consistency and uses a volatile solvent that permits
penetration before the lubricant becomes stiff."

https://yarchive.net/bike/chain_lubricant.html