Re: the factory lube (cosmoline)

In my experience I've found that it's great for about 50 miles in most conditions, then there's enough dirt on it to feed an army. The cosmoline penetrates really deeply, and it does lubricate well, but because it's so sticky all benefits are negated by the grit that quickly builds up.

So here's what I do: chain out of bag, I whipe all outer surfaces with mineral spirits (if you use degreaser, it may contaminate the lube you can't quite get to on the inner surfaces). I just soak a rag in spirits and run the chain through it, applying pressure to alternate faces so the texture of the rag picks up the dirt. Then I install and ride for about a week (depending on the conditions). It's actually easier to remove the cosmoline once there's dirt in it. Then I take it off, fill a closeable container with mineral spirits, and shake it over and over again. If every part on the chain is rustproof, I eventually use water for different shakings (this might be a bad idea, but it's worked so far), because then I can easily tell if there's more stuff that's still coming off (pour into a white sink, look for black specks). Often I also scrub it with a toothbrush, or something else with firm bristles. This is good for cleaning off the inner part of the links. I might do this for 15-30 min, then use an air compressor to dry it off, or put it in the sun for a while. Once it's fully dry, nothing should come off on your fingers, and it should sound very loud when you just move it about.

Now I actually apply the lube, which for me is Boeshield's T9, and make sure to gently whipe off excess on the outer surfaces after about an hour of drying. Every few minutes I'll move the chain about, shake it, etc. to help the lube penetrate, and flip its position. After letting it dry overnight, it should still feel dry to the touch.

Oh, and for all 3/32's out there, for god's sake, use a SRAM PC-68. It's the quietest, rustproffiest, shiniest chain you can get. So that's it, if you guys have any suggestions...