When your chain needs lubing (and cleaning)
#1
Banned.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Brighton UK
Posts: 1,662
Bikes: 20" Folder, Road Bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
When your chain needs lubing (and cleaning)
Hi,
This isn't for the obsessive types, quite the opposite.
I've noticed a few things for when my chain needs lubing,
and if any of them apply IMO you should lube your chain :
(and your derailleur pulleys if applicable)
Generally in order of things getting worse :
1) It starts to makes more noise than nice and quiet
2) The cranks don't spin backwards as easily
3) Spinning backwards moves the derailleur cage
(Things carry on getting worse with no lube ...)
Some of this can be muck as well, I guess I attempt some cleaning
with WD40 as well as lubing 1 out of 2 or 1 out of 3 times depending
on the weather and what ground I've been riding through recently.
Spate of wet weather recently, and my folder went from 1) to 2)
without making the level of noise I'd normally lube it in good
weather, that avoids 2) happening. Live and learn I guess.
First really bad weather patch I've ridden it through.
Bike is covered in crap. The chain is oily pristine.
Keep your chain lubed .......
rgds, sreten.
This isn't for the obsessive types, quite the opposite.
I've noticed a few things for when my chain needs lubing,
and if any of them apply IMO you should lube your chain :
(and your derailleur pulleys if applicable)
Generally in order of things getting worse :
1) It starts to makes more noise than nice and quiet
2) The cranks don't spin backwards as easily
3) Spinning backwards moves the derailleur cage
(Things carry on getting worse with no lube ...)
Some of this can be muck as well, I guess I attempt some cleaning
with WD40 as well as lubing 1 out of 2 or 1 out of 3 times depending
on the weather and what ground I've been riding through recently.
Spate of wet weather recently, and my folder went from 1) to 2)
without making the level of noise I'd normally lube it in good
weather, that avoids 2) happening. Live and learn I guess.
First really bad weather patch I've ridden it through.
Bike is covered in crap. The chain is oily pristine.
Keep your chain lubed .......
rgds, sreten.
#3
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,054 Times
in
634 Posts
Your observation that when the chain needs to be lubed is correct from what I have observed. I have alway noticed an increase in noise.
If you spinningg the crank backward and the chain moves around you might want to check your RD adjustments. I have always noticed that if the RD is adjusted dead on, spinning the crank backwards does not cause the chain to derail on the cluster. For me that is an additional check that the RD is adj spot on. That includes making sure the "B" screw is properly adjusted also.
If you spinningg the crank backward and the chain moves around you might want to check your RD adjustments. I have always noticed that if the RD is adjusted dead on, spinning the crank backwards does not cause the chain to derail on the cluster. For me that is an additional check that the RD is adj spot on. That includes making sure the "B" screw is properly adjusted also.
#5
Artificial Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Cyberspace
Posts: 7,163
Bikes: Retrospec Judd, Dahon Boardwalk, Specialized Langster
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6730 Post(s)
Liked 5,441 Times
in
3,198 Posts
Oh, come on! I'm sure there is still plenty of ground to be covered concerning chains, lubrication, best practices, etc.
I find it a fascinating subject. Just last night, while dining with some new friends at a nice restaurant, I held forth on the essentials of chain lubrication for quite some time. Every thing was going great until one of my new friends seemed to fall asleep and ended up face first in the potatoes au gratin.
That was rude!
I find it a fascinating subject. Just last night, while dining with some new friends at a nice restaurant, I held forth on the essentials of chain lubrication for quite some time. Every thing was going great until one of my new friends seemed to fall asleep and ended up face first in the potatoes au gratin.
That was rude!
__________________
#6
Mechanic/Tourist
Hi,
This isn't for the obsessive types, quite the opposite.
I've noticed a few things for when my chain needs lubing,
and if any of them apply IMO you should lube your chain :
(and your derailleur pulleys if applicable)
Generally in order of things getting worse :
1) It starts to makes more noise than nice and quiet
2) The cranks don't spin backwards as easily
3) Spinning backwards moves the derailleur cage
(Things carry on getting worse with no lube ...)
Some of this can be muck as well, I guess I attempt some cleaning
with WD40 as well as lubing 1 out of 2 or 1 out of 3 times depending
on the weather and what ground I've been riding through recently.
Spate of wet weather recently, and my folder went from 1) to 2)
without making the level of noise I'd normally lube it in good
weather, that avoids 2) happening. Live and learn I guess.
First really bad weather patch I've ridden it through.
Bike is covered in crap. The chain is oily pristine.
Keep your chain lubed .......
rgds, sreten.
This isn't for the obsessive types, quite the opposite.
I've noticed a few things for when my chain needs lubing,
and if any of them apply IMO you should lube your chain :
(and your derailleur pulleys if applicable)
Generally in order of things getting worse :
1) It starts to makes more noise than nice and quiet
2) The cranks don't spin backwards as easily
3) Spinning backwards moves the derailleur cage
(Things carry on getting worse with no lube ...)
Some of this can be muck as well, I guess I attempt some cleaning
with WD40 as well as lubing 1 out of 2 or 1 out of 3 times depending
on the weather and what ground I've been riding through recently.
Spate of wet weather recently, and my folder went from 1) to 2)
without making the level of noise I'd normally lube it in good
weather, that avoids 2) happening. Live and learn I guess.
First really bad weather patch I've ridden it through.
Bike is covered in crap. The chain is oily pristine.
Keep your chain lubed .......
rgds, sreten.
The noise hint is OK, but should be noted that it's overall noise, not a particular gear combo. Squeaking of the chain means you've gone way too far or have water contamination as well. The other excellent indicator is if the rollers become particularly shiny, especially if one uses a "dry" lube.
As for WD-40, it's a great way to rinse contamination into the chain, not so great for flushing it out without using copious amounts, and then has to be followed by regular lube, which is not good at flushing out remaining WD-40. I've always found that simply re-lubing with the same lube is the best route, and cleaning thoroughly if contamination gets too bad.
Last edited by cny-bikeman; 09-26-13 at 10:14 AM.
#7
Banned.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Brighton UK
Posts: 1,662
Bikes: 20" Folder, Road Bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
True and lubing won't fix it if it is. If you lubed last week its unlikely to be lubing.
If you're a bit slack on the lubing I think my symptoms for that are fair enough.
rgds, sreten.
I'm assuming most people can tell "the chain needs lubing" issues from
other issues not related to lubing. Like the sort of rear noise you get.
Last edited by sreten; 09-26-13 at 11:45 AM.
#10
The Recumbent Quant
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: SW Florida
Posts: 250
Bikes: Focus Cayo Evo , Cannondale Adventure
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
WD40 is the Devil's pee! It does several things poorly, none well. Lose it.
Discussions of chain lube are religious in nature and should only be entered into in a peaceful and accepting state of mind. The term "Extreme Unction" refers to lubing a very dry and noisy chain.
Discussions of chain lube are religious in nature and should only be entered into in a peaceful and accepting state of mind. The term "Extreme Unction" refers to lubing a very dry and noisy chain.
#12
rebmeM roineS
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,217
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 345 Times
in
225 Posts
WD40 is the Devil's pee! It does several things poorly, none well. Lose it.
Discussions of chain lube are religious in nature and should only be entered into in a peaceful and accepting state of mind. The term "Extreme Unction" refers to lubing a very dry and noisy chain.
Discussions of chain lube are religious in nature and should only be entered into in a peaceful and accepting state of mind. The term "Extreme Unction" refers to lubing a very dry and noisy chain.
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Further North than U
Posts: 2,000
Bikes: Spec Roubaix, three Fisher Montare, two Pugs
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 39 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Nope. My bike has never been so dirty that spinning my chain backwards was anything less than smooth. Dirty yes. Noisy, a bit. But always well oiled and moving smoothly.
#14
Membership Not Required
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: On the road-USA
Posts: 16,855
Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times
in
14 Posts
FTW
Aaron
__________________
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Carson City, NV
Posts: 378
Bikes: Schwinn Trailwise, Surly Pugsley
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
WD40 is the Devil's pee! It does several things poorly, none well. Lose it.
Discussions of chain lube are religious in nature and should only be entered into in a peaceful and accepting state of mind. The term "Extreme Unction" refers to lubing a very dry and noisy chain.
Discussions of chain lube are religious in nature and should only be entered into in a peaceful and accepting state of mind. The term "Extreme Unction" refers to lubing a very dry and noisy chain.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
turky lurkey
Bicycle Mechanics
21
09-20-13 05:34 AM
lineinthewater
Bicycle Mechanics
66
02-21-13 09:24 PM