Originally Posted by
FBinNY
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.
I was using a brand called "Pedro's" or something like that. It is a very light oil with some kind of solvent. Unfortunately, after a while the solvent broke down the idler wheel and I had to get another. My guess is that I was using too much. I also used to oil my chain only when it squeeked. However, with 27 gears and the amount the chain needs to flex (and the expense of a 'bent), I decided to be more regular. I cut a plastic guard for the new idler wheel and haven't run it much.
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.
This has been exactly my experience. The bike was under cover (so not in direct rain), but I'm in Georgia and it is humid. I guess Pedro's didn't keep it from rusting, though it did keep it lubed. Brute force and 3 in one oil did allow it to work again. I have only ridden it to work once since, but allowing the oil to seep in after breaking the joints free seemed to allow it to work again. There was some "skipping" while in some gears (that's the only way I can describe it, the pedals drop slightly and irregularly), but seemed to smooth out as I rode it.
So, no miracles are promised, but there's hope of raising chains from the dead, if they're not too dead.
I think I have at least made it workable. Unfortunately, the only bike shop near here is about 1/2 hr car drive away, so it is a pain to get the bike in to the shop. That may well have to happen anyway.