Originally Posted by
StephenH
Note that regular chain lubes aren't intended for corrosion protection, and aren't intended to free up "stuck" chains. They assume you apply them regularly and keep the bike out of the weather when not riding.
One tip I learned from my bike mechanic: Use terrycloth to wipe the chain down. At the big Walmart, I can get a package of 18 wash cloths for about $4, so roughly 30 cents each. I'll put lube on the chain while running it backwards, rotate it a few extra times, then go along with the washcloth and rub down a section about 8" long at a time until I've gotten all the way around. Then just throw the dirty washcloth away.
I don't know about "regular" chain lubes, but a good oil based lube (naming no names) will leave a film on the outside which will effectively prevent rust unless wiped or washed off. If the bike was under an overhang and sheltered from the rain, a decent lube could have prevented rust for a year and more.
As for freeing frozen links, oil alone (any oil) will not do anything, but if the chain isn't rusted solid, frozen links can often be broken loose with brute force. Once they are freed to the point that they can move (though stiffly) a decent lube can help them loosen up nicely simply by riding. This woks well with SS or IGH drives where the chain is a closed loop and must flex as it wraps the sprockets. With derailleurs, the stiff sections will skip, but if the bicycle is at all rideable the chain can loosen up and run freely simply by riding around the block a few laps.
So, no miracles are promised, but there's hope of raising chains from the dead, if they're not too dead.