When do you clean your chain?
08-02-10, 04:06 PM
#26
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Maryland gets a decent amount of rain. More in winter than summer.
I don't keep track of miles or time between applications, but I know I go a lot more than 50 miles. My guess is about 4 or 5 times that many miles. Less in winter, more in summer. I'm negligent with maintenance, there is a good chance I'm riding most of the time on a chain that needs topping off. I don't concern myself with it unless I hear squeaking or see rust.
You might try a bottle of WL or a block of paraffin and let us know if it's any good. It seems to work well enough for me, but my standards are low.
I wasn't really saying my method is best. I was just answering the question about when I clean my chain, then rambling on about how...
I don't keep track of miles or time between applications, but I know I go a lot more than 50 miles. My guess is about 4 or 5 times that many miles. Less in winter, more in summer. I'm negligent with maintenance, there is a good chance I'm riding most of the time on a chain that needs topping off. I don't concern myself with it unless I hear squeaking or see rust.
You might try a bottle of WL or a block of paraffin and let us know if it's any good. It seems to work well enough for me, but my standards are low.
I wasn't really saying my method is best. I was just answering the question about when I clean my chain, then rambling on about how...
08-02-10, 04:19 PM
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Just in case anyone is ever tempted - I was once - NEVER used WD40 as a chain lube. It's a water displacing spray, not a lubricant.
08-02-10, 04:21 PM
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Give it a try. If your riding in mud a lot and hosing down your bike, it will need more frequent apps for sure. I'm sort of against riding off road in wet conditions anyway. That's bad for the environment, dontcha know?
08-02-10, 04:30 PM
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So tempted to post photo of my cogset I took today. Rust stains still on the big cog from when I recently tried to free a stuck freehub by spraying WD40 in it. Maybe should be confessing this in the how stupid was I thread.
08-02-10, 06:31 PM
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Btw - are you sure those stains are *rust*? WD40 does displace water. Otoh, a mechanic told me it leaves very nasty residues,. Could these be what you are seeing? Or do you thing that the WD40 drove out the real lube, leaving the cog vulnerable to rust?
Last edited by meanwhile; 08-02-10 at 06:34 PM.
08-02-10, 07:32 PM
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No, it was rusty inside. Burnt toast. No liquid fix. These cogs rescued.
08-03-10, 05:49 AM
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Buy some GT85 and throw that WD40 away!
https://cgi.ebay.com/CYCLING-MOUNTAIN...item20adb8b2dc
08-03-10, 06:48 AM
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I don't get why people need to drive through mud to get their kicks and it strains the countryside forsure if done too much.
I ride only in dry conditions and avoid rain or mud whenever I can.
08-03-10, 06:55 AM
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WD40 should only be used on bikes to loosen rusty bolts, but I have no iron parts on my bike that can rust, so I never use it.
I use three sprays:
special PTFE lubricant for bearings...
special spray chain lubricant for -obviously- the chain...
and silicon spray for the suspensions and the cablehousings.
08-03-10, 10:21 AM
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08-03-10, 10:26 AM
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WD40 should only be used on bikes to loosen rusty bolts, but I have no iron parts on my bike that can rust, so I never use it.
Anyway, re. chain wax for wet climates I found this on a UK forum:
https://www.singletrackworld.com/foru...ain-wax-report
I have been using Putoline chain wax on the solos and tandem since christmas. This is a solid graphited wax that you heat on the stove
So far it appears to be by far the best lube I have used. It is lasting hundreds of miles even used in wet and muddy conditions ( although I have not ridden a huge amount in mud recently) It is a faff to apply - but to some extent that is compensated for by the fact you don't have to clean the chain - just dump it into the can of molten wax.
Measuring the chains they don't appear to be wearing any quicker than using conventional lube. The wax does not get stripped out by peaty / muddy stuff unlike liquid lubes, dirt does not get stuck to it as it is not sticky on the surface in the same way. each application lasts maybe 3 x as long as conventional lubes. It is under £20 a kilo.
Disadvantages - the lube itself is really manky - and does not wash off hands or clothes easily
I have previously used finishline green and purple extreme.
Needs to be used thru the winter to be sure of the advantages but so far I am convinced
I have been using Putoline chain wax on the solos and tandem since christmas. This is a solid graphited wax that you heat on the stove
So far it appears to be by far the best lube I have used. It is lasting hundreds of miles even used in wet and muddy conditions ( although I have not ridden a huge amount in mud recently) It is a faff to apply - but to some extent that is compensated for by the fact you don't have to clean the chain - just dump it into the can of molten wax.
Measuring the chains they don't appear to be wearing any quicker than using conventional lube. The wax does not get stripped out by peaty / muddy stuff unlike liquid lubes, dirt does not get stuck to it as it is not sticky on the surface in the same way. each application lasts maybe 3 x as long as conventional lubes. It is under £20 a kilo.
Disadvantages - the lube itself is really manky - and does not wash off hands or clothes easily
I have previously used finishline green and purple extreme.
Needs to be used thru the winter to be sure of the advantages but so far I am convinced
08-03-10, 11:46 AM
#39
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O-rings are rubber and possibly damaged by either the heat or something in the lube. You've probably seen o-rings on some headsets or inside of your pump. Generally used to create a seal. Bicycle chains are open chains.
Sounds like the old school paraffin in a double boiler updated with graphite additive. I imagine one could make his or her own graphite/wax mixture.
Sounds like the old school paraffin in a double boiler updated with graphite additive. I imagine one could make his or her own graphite/wax mixture.
08-03-10, 12:42 PM
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Sounds like the old school paraffin in a double boiler updated with graphite additive. I imagine one could make his or her own graphite/wax mixture.
08-03-10, 03:27 PM
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Yes, they have little o-rings sealing each roller. I have a friend you rides motorcycles and I think I learned that from him. Maybe that type of chain, being sealed, doesn't require additional lubrication.
Remember you need enough to immerse the chain in it. Only a small amount of wax remains on the chain, but a greater quantity is needed for the application. Perhaps the excess wax can be reused. I guess one would need to thoroughly clean the chain before waxing if intending to reuse the wax.
Remember you need enough to immerse the chain in it. Only a small amount of wax remains on the chain, but a greater quantity is needed for the application. Perhaps the excess wax can be reused. I guess one would need to thoroughly clean the chain before waxing if intending to reuse the wax.
08-03-10, 08:01 PM
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There is a similar thread in the Commuting section right now. Personally, I like the attitude of the person who just replaces the chain once a year rather than cleaning it! One of the posts has a link to a couple of DuPont Teflon lubes that are evidently hot in the motorcycle world right now. They might be worth considering. Neither of my bikes is quite old enough to worry about this yet, but getting close, real close.
Ken
Ken
08-03-10, 11:46 PM
#43
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
08-04-10, 12:59 AM
#45
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
08-04-10, 06:44 AM
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There is a similar thread in the Commuting section right now. Personally, I like the attitude of the person who just replaces the chain once a year rather than cleaning it!
One of the posts has a link to a couple of DuPont Teflon lubes that are evidently hot in the motorcycle world right now. They might be worth considering.
Neither of my bikes is quite old enough to worry about this yet, but getting close, real close.
???
Ken
???
Ken
08-04-10, 06:48 AM
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08-04-10, 06:52 AM
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08-04-10, 07:41 AM
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I really don't see the point of making a point by point rebuttal of a post that was only meant to point readers to another thread that had some information on a similar topic.
And, given the cleaning and lubrication intervals that many of you post, neither of my bikes has accumulated enough miles to qualify for chain maintenance yet. I typically ride in very benign conditions and I don't live on my bike, absolutely no offense intended to those who do. I don't know why you would find that concept hard to grasp.
Ken
08-04-10, 12:32 PM
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How am I supposed to know it is humour when there are people who never clean their chains and don't even change them once a year?
Thin skinned, aren't we?
So now you're saying that the humour wasn't humour? No chicken dinner for you!
I really don't see the point of making a point by point rebuttal of a post that was only meant to point readers to another thread that had some information on a similar topic.
And, given the cleaning and lubrication intervals that many of you post, neither of my bikes has accumulated enough miles to qualify for chain maintenance yet. I typically ride in very benign conditions and I don't live on my bike, absolutely no offense intended to those who do. I don't know why you would find that concept hard to grasp.