Patriot

Ran out some old stuff I got from the LBS years ago. Can't remember the brand, the label wore off.

Anyways, i needed someting in a pinch, so I dug around the garage, and grabbed the 90W differential gear oil. Wait a second, it sayd "GEAR OIL"....hmmmm wonder if this will work. After all, it stays in the differential for years with gears grinding away, why not a bicycle chain?

Instant silence... now that is impressive. Even better, and smoother than the old stuff I was using. I just clean the chain every couple rides with WD-40, then squirt on some Diff oil from the squirt can. Takes only a couple minutes.

joeprim

Thanks that's a good tip and I'll bet it stays on pretty well too. Isn't an old paint brush and solvent a lot cheaper than WD-40? Or are thinking you need the water displacer feature as well as the solvent?

Joe

Shadco 

Smells like Cat Pee. Other riders are gonna ask where's the cat box

Patriot

I honestly have never made a habit of sniffing oil. But, the next time I have a fetish for cat pee, I'll let ya know. Besides, who would stick their nose to it in order to smell it anyway? I honestly have never noticed it.

By the way, the smell is the additives they put in the gear oil as cleansers to keep the gears from wearing too quickly from the particulate build-up over time.

As far as WD-40, I like to just spray it while it's on the bike, and put a rag underneath and flush it good to get all the gunk out. Works good so far.

Grasschopper

Along the same lines what about automotive wheel bearing greese for hubs, BBs and headsets? I have a big ole tub of Castrol automotive bearing lube in my car stuff box from a wheel bearing replacement I did on my car.

galen_52657

I would not be surprized if half the chain lubes on the market are just 90 W gear oil relabled and in small containers...

galen_52657

It will work...but auto wheel bearing greese is much stiffer than bike greese, so in the winter you will have more rolling resistance.

Patriot

Probably, only they have a nice pretty label and charge you three times as much.
I think this stuff is like $5 a quart, or something like that. Lasts forever.

Patriot

I get to use Chevron SRI-2 synthetic high speed bearing grease for the headset etc. I get it from work for free. We got about 30 tubes of the stuff, and it never thickens, and can lube the bearings up to 4500rpm.

Next time I get my bike wheels up to 4500rpm, I think I'll be travelling through time.

Grasschopper

You know I had wondered about that. Good point.

Zouf

I've used transmission oil for years to lube the chain, works well - but it does attract dirt like flypaper. It does have a funny smell... As for grease, I have a tub of white lithium grease I've been using ever since I was born, or almost - 5$ per life sounds like a good price.

Don Cook

General pupose bearing grease is all that I've ever used on the bikes in my garage for repacking wheel hubs. For the last 3 -4 years I've used the Valvoline synthetic bearing grease.

TheCutters

I have been using Aeronautical spray lube on my(got cases of it from my bro).
Its pretty great stuff but can get a bit sticky after a while

Cerberusgl

Man and to think I could have bought a Latte and scone with what I would have saved if I hadn't bought that tube of Pedro's.

Maj.Taylor

Funny, but last week I did something I thought unusual. For some unknown reason, I decided to use Phil Wood Tenacious Oil on my chain. Now keep in mind, for years now I've used a number of the various high-tech lubricants. All okay, especially for not picking up dirt. I did think about the Tenacious Oil and the likelihood it could become grimy fairly quickly. But, what the heck?

So, for the first time in 15+ years, I literally "oiled" my chain. My goodness!!! My drivetrain has *never* shifted so well. It's like night and day compared to using the high-tech stuff. Tenacious Oil made them feel like throw-backs. Yea, it's getting grimy pretty quickly, but I've decided a spray-down with Simple Green a bit more frequently is more than worth the improved performance.

You know, I've had that 4 oz. bottle of Tenacious Oil for no less than 16 years. I've barely ever used it. What have I been thinking?! Duh!

And while we're talking about Phil, what do you think of this?



Piss Off
Phil Independent Single Speed Off Road

In celebration of our 32nd anniversary we are offering 32 custom titanium single speeds. They will all include a sterling silver head tube badge, Phil Wood integrated eccentric bottom bracket, vertical disc drop outs, aero space grade 3/2.5 titanium tubing, shot peened finish for improved fatigue life, and full custom geometry. --from the Phil Wood web site

Maj.Taylor

And clicking around, I found this. Seems interesting and worth a try.

A friend revealed to me the way to use Phil's oil on a chain. First, apply Phil's oil liberally. Then wipe of excess. Then (here's the secret!), cut the Phil's oil with WD40. Spray a little WD40 onto a clean cloth and wipe down the chain to remove excess Phil's oil. Just a little bit of experience will allow you to get the right coating with Phil's oil everytime. It works well in dusty conditions (the only conditions I really experience here), provides a much smoother and longer lasting chain-ring/cog interaction than I have previously experienced. The chain, rings, and cogs also seem to clean up easier than with other "dry" lubes. I use to reapply Boes T-shield every 50 miles or so, now I go about 100 miles between cleanings/reapplications with the Phil Wood Tenacious Oil/WD-40 combination (I like a smooth/clean chain).

Steelrider

You know, I had a bottle that was almost 2/3 full for almost 12 years that I just chucked last year! DOH! Guess this means I'll have to go out and get another...never thought of that one. Thanks for passing it along.

Nice bike by the way, I'll have to get to the site and take a closer look - you'd definitely stand out in a group with that one.

Cheers!

hlweyl

I bought some spray-on chain lube(forget the name) from a motorcycle shop when I used to own a motorcycle. Works great, it doesn't fling off and has a bit of a white appearance.

sizmaters

i use "chain wax" it is for motorcycles as well but you cant rpm it fast enough to burn it off and it collects very little dust

msparks

A heavy duty spray lubricant fortified with special rust and corrosion inhibitors. Penetrates and adheres to metal surfaces, leaving a long lasting protective coating. Apply MPHD to any metal surface that requires a heavy duty lubricant or is exposed to the damaging effects of salt, moisture or chemical corrosion. Works as an undercoat, leaving a wax-like film. Recommended for motorcycle chains. Won't "sling" off. Dry to the touch. Doesn't attract dust. It is ideal for hinges, wire ropes and springs, nuts and bolts, motorcycle or bicycle chains, and for undercoating car doors, wheel wells, rocker panels, seams and other metal surfaces exposed to water, dirt or road salt

DieselDan

Get the slack out of that chain before you ride it.

Cerberusgl

Pedals might help a bit too. I know about the minimalistic thing but ya at least need some parts on the drive train.

MichaelW

When I've run out of lube on a tour I rummage around in the discarded oil cartons in a garage forcourt. It lubes the chain OK but attracts dirt like a very sticky thing.

wrench

Hi
If your really stuck for lube out on the trail, why not squeeze a MacD burger onto the chain. Saves all that fat going inside you. Trouble is it attracts dogs like crazy. Your'e never far from a burger bar!!!