I am switching to WD-40 for chain lube! Check this out:

WD-40 is essentially 2 parts mineral spirits, one part petroleum based oil - Similar to Pro-Link and home-brew lube.

I don't understand why it gets such a bad rap. Maybe it's not expensive enough? Maybe the applicator it too easy to use?

You guys should reconsider.

I use WD-40, and I have an aerosol can of the stuff permanently stored in the bed of my pickup truck so everybody can get to it, except in the summer when I think it might explode.....

But I am not HAPPY with WD-40. The trouble is that the lubricant gets extraordinarily sticky as it ages, and it picks up road grime and cakes up next to the chain track. So the chainrings load up, the bottoms of the cogs load up, and the RD jockey pulley cage loads up, and you have to scrape this stuff off. You can't wipe it off.

When I think ahead, I try to use White Lightning. You have to use it more frequently, but there are fewer gross bike cleaning projects.

Sadly, I mostly use WD-40.

I use it all the time! There, I said it.


I use it because it's HEAPS cheaper than the fancy stuff at bike shops, it seems to attract much less crud than oil, and, best of all, I can buy it from any supermarket at 2am!

When it comes down to it, the chain and cassette are only temporary, relatively inexpensive items, so it ain't crucial if they aren't perfectly maintained.

I still manage to get many thousands of kms out of my chains and cassettes

I got 2 bottles of white lightning for the holidays (this year was sort of a bike "theme") and I have that on my bike, I like how it works, though if I need more lube and can't afford more white lightning, I don't have any problems using WD-40

Like they always say:
"With Enough Duct-Tape, WD-40, and Paperclips, you can fix/build/repair just about anything."

I don't use it on my bike as I've got several bottles of prolink already, but I used it almost exclusively on my ATV (Honda 400EX) for several years. I never noticed any extra wear or other problems, but then again I applied it after every ride not every week or so like I apply prolink to the bikes.

Over the years, bicycling magazines in the U.S. and the UK have tested chain lubes. The tests include friction reduction, keeping the chain and cassette clean, resisting "wash off" in the rain, and lifespan.

Often the lubes that do the best in rainy, wet conditions don't do as well in dry conditions. And, the best lubes for dry conditions often wash off in the rain. But, what the comparisons did show was that in BOTH categories, the lubes that did the best were lubes designed JUST for chains, not the general purpose lubes designed for lubing sewing machines and rusty hinges.

I seldom ride in the rain (just go get coffee and wait for the rain to stop). I get very good results with Pedro's Ice Wax, and Finish Line KryTech Wax. I can put them on even an old dirty chain, wipe off the residue, let them "harden" eight hours or so, and get great results.

I don't lube a chain until it is making noise, or hesitates during shifting. I ride everday, and I have not lubed a chain yet this year. The wax type lubes seem very durable for the conditions I ride in.

I use WD-40 to degrease my chain, cogs, etc... Then I use a nice cycling lube to lube everything. I don't think $3.50 for a 4 oz bottle that lasts a long time is too expensive when it is the right tool for the job. That's what they sell it for at Gart Sports usually. I think it is $5 at the lbs tho.

ONe thing is for certain. When you spray WD-40 or similar on a bike, it doesn't go up in flames like many would have you believe. I found that it worked great on my frozen derailler the other day. I am going to expirement a bit.

I get pretty sick of spending $7.50 on a small bottle of chain lube. Espescially since i don't run all that expensive of bike drive train components. It is a little stupid to spend $25 trying to preserve the life of a $20 chain that is going to wear out regardless.

I used that pedro's wax one time and the stuff left a really hard goo that was loaded with dirt.....it was tough to get that chain clean again. Luckily I had a SRAM chain so I could take it off the bike.

WD-40 is great for cleaning the bike......though I think that engine degreaser may be better. I might try a can soon for the initial clean-up of the chain.....then use WD-40 and toothbrush to rinse.

I used to use this foamy bio safe engine degreaesr, that worked well though it stunk really badly so i started using simple green. I think pedors cog cleaner brush works well though, i know chain lubes well if you think about what your getting are not cheap, 5 bucks for that little bottle, so i get mine on ebay in bulk

WD-40 acts more of a degreaser and it cuts away rust. its a good cleaner. i use it to clean my bike

Hmm....I'm just now trying Pedro's Ice Wax for the first time. I got it for X-mas. It came with one of those chain cleaner machines they sell on Nashbar for $30.

Prior to that I was using TriFlow, and I liked it well enough. It turns black and attracts dirt, but you don't have to apply it all too often. It was impossible to get all of the TriFlow off of that chain with the Pedro's BioDegreaser. It's persistent...just like a good lube should be.

If you do a careful comparison you will notice that the wd-40 will cause your chain to squeak faster than most chain lubes. It will also wash out the grease in your freewheel/hub and cables rear derailleur etc. if you get too much in there. It is good for many, many things. But a chain lube or oil is better for your chain.

And yes you can wear out the chain and just get a new one, that works. But if you get too much WD-40 around the free hub/wheel and axle bearings you can easily ruin something more expensive than a chain. Be careful.

WD 40 is a wonder lube for many things, but there are well engineered lubes specific to bike chains that you should use rather than WD 40. I use Pedros and like it pretty much. In the 70s, we would use WD 40 or this stuff that was red, can't remember what it was called.

i love tri flow, the black that gets on all the cogs is just part of it though, i dont think it attracts more or less dirt than any other oil lube out there.

I use WD40 to clean my chain, and the derraiuleur, then I wait until it dries maybe overnight then i put Perdos Chain POil, I just run out of the Campagnolo, Chail Oil

I prefer Finish line Krytech. It goes longer for me than anything else in dry conditions. In the wet I prefer The Cross Country finish line. I must have tries 30 different things.
Over about ten years.

https://www.cambriabike.com/

Do a search for "t-9" or "boeshield" There, 12 oz for 7 bucks. It's much better than wd-40, goes on just as easily (aerosol) and it's nice and cheap compared to other chain lubes.

WD40 works fine, but you need to use it wisely. I have previously used it when riding in extremely cold conditions, e.g., below freezing... and that doesn't happen very often anymore. It is ideally suited for super cold temps vs. the more viscous lubes made for bicycle chains.

As for how to use it, it needs to be applied quite often (daily, if you will) whereas most of the newer lubricants last much longer between reapplications. It works best when it is applied right after you ride, not before, so that it will have time to soak-in and dry. It's also a good idea to wipe down the chain with a rag before you apply it, and then again before you ride -- this helps to keep the black crud from building up on the chain and then transferring to the cogs, chainrings, and derailleur jockey wheels.

My default chain lubes include hot-melt paraffin for the weekend road bikes and Pedro's Ice Wax on the daily rider/mud bike, and the mountain bikes. In all cases, I make a point to give the chains a quick wipe down either before or after I ride to keep the crud to a minimum. Crud on the outer plates and rollers simply begats more crud and serves no other useful purpose.

WD 40. A Water Displacement formula that was successful on the 40th attempt. Good for unsticking things, cleaning things but not good for a high demand lubricant. My bike is not expensive but worth more than WD 40 as a lube, considering lubing your bike is the most important maintenance function.

But if you like it - Go for it!

Energonix Red? (And there was Energonix Gold for the BMX crowd)

Krytech is the worst.
it leaves residue everywhere. the bottle clogs up. and it really stinks.

I do clean my drive train often. Probably more than most people. I get 7000 miles out of a chain and cassette and still going. Last year I did over 7000 miles on a variety of different bikes doing over 175 miles a week from March to December, Then riding in the snow about 30-? miles a week in the winter, all using Krytech, I have five bikes with over 5000 miles on the chain and sprockets. I thought that meant it was OK. Maybe I'm wrong, what do I know. I've only been doing this for a few years.

The bottle does clog up, I open the hole wider than normal with a wire. Then if it clogs..........I unclog it!!
I stop and shake the bottle as I go while lubing the chain. I actually follow the instructions.
I use it in the same room I normally sleep in. I can smell it a little but it does not bother me. I don't have a very good sense of smell I guess.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggghhhhhhhhhh!