Raleigh71

I've always been a light oil guy, or even WD-40 on chains. I've just got everything in the drive train spotlessly clean for biking season and was thinking....should I switch to dry lube?

How do you remove silicone lube from a chain if you want to?

lopek77

Gasoline always work

FBinNY 

To my knowldege, there are no silicone based chain lubes out there. While there might be some I don't know about, most dry lubes are a dry agent, commonly Teflon, suspended in a solvent to help carry it into the chain. Then the solvent evaporates leaving the lube i place.

In diect answer to your question, they don't build up because the newly applied solvent tends to lift and flush old stuff in the process.

The real issue isn't lube build up because that can't be a bad thing, but dirt buildup, and the tendency of lube applier to a dirty chain, carrying dirt deeper into the chain where it causes wear. (Dirt on the outside doesn't matter, except to the extent that it migrates into the wear zone)

lopek77

There is many silicone lubes. I just saw few at Lowes and Home Depot. Not interested in testing them since I'm very happy with what I'm using. Many silicone based lubricants are used...for very intimate uses

FBinNY 

Yes, there are silicone lubes, and if you want to be silly we can go that way.

BUT

The OP asked a specific question about dry (silicone based) chain lubes, and I chose to give him an on-point answer.

lopek77

Silly? WTH is wrong with you?

Raleigh71

Thanks for the info, gents!

FBinNY 

Yes, SILLY.

Or are we to assume that Gasoline and a reference to intimate lubrication were serious answers?

Maybe your laughing emoticons confused me. I guess you see his question to show off how funny you think you are.

So, yes, in the absence of an alternate word, silly it is. But if it makes you feel better, you can consider yourself the funniest man since Seinfeld.

lopek77

Remember to choose your chain lube to riding conditions. I ride in Midwest, North East states, so a lot of mixed conditions, I never liked dry lubes. I use Prolink which is not attracting dirt /when not over-applied/, and it's wonderful in wet conditions. If you are a mtb biker and ride a lot in muddy condition - I would stick to dry, wax based lubes, and I would clean chain after each ride.
WD40 is also an "OK" lube/cleaner. About 1/4 of it are oils, and many oil based bicycle lubricants have similar ingredients. It won't last long though , but I use it a lot for cleaning some components when not too dirty, and when I don't have time for playing with gasoline.

lopek77

Gasoline is an excellent cleaner, especially for chains, and will leave a protective "oily" barrier when it dries, so it will protect metal from rust.
There is many silicone based lubricants used in intimate settings.

Now...you tell me who is silly. If I'm not up to your standards - it's your problem. Don't be a grumpy old man...Did you ever smile, or you always like that? It's a bike forum, and about fun outdoor activity, NOT military base...

Krull06

We've used Sunlite's Dry Lube with Silicone in the shop in the past and it works well enough. I've never experienced any kind of build up on the chain from repeated use. Although if you would like a suggestion I don't recommend dry lubes like that except in very dry dusty conditions, and I've found that such lubes do not last very long between applications.

Fred Smedley

I use a silicon spray on stanchions , does not build up or stick around very long either for that matter. Tried it under a clean mower deck for mowing in the rain, it failed there.

HillRider

Yes, gasoline is an excellent chain cleaner but it's also dangerous as all hell. It's toxic and extremely flammable (its flashpoint is -8°F). There are other far safer but equally efficient chain cleaners such as Kerosene and Odorless Mineral Spirits. If you insist on using gasoline I hope you work outside and well away from all sparks and flames.

lopek77

Love the smell of gas while smoking a cigarette. The only thing I don't like is ash in the gasoline container while I clean my chain.

HillRider

Keep at it and soon the ash in the container won't be just from the cigarette.

Dave Cutter

The bad thing about using solvents on a bicycle chain is removing the solvent..... before reapplying lubricant. Although the carrier may evaporate quickly I don't like the leftover solvent residue to be part of my fresh lubricant. If you use a solvent, then wash off the solvent to get a proper oiling... why not just wash off the old crud to begin with?

Before I oil the chain I like to get it clean... and allow it to dry. In a pinch... I have used WD-40 as a solvent followed later with a little fresh oil. Or even WD-40 to thaw frozen parts.

lopek77

+1

We also got so dangerously close to the moment when we discuss which chain lube is the best, and why WD40 is "bad" for chain.

Jed19

OP, silicone-based lubes are not effective/efficient on bicycle drivetrains. I have tried to use silicone lubes on my bicycle pulleys (reasoning they are made of plastic and won't result in build-ups), but found out they are not as effective as the regular bike lube and don't last as long.

I have used LPS and also Dupont silicone lubes.

Eric S.

I can't comment on silicone, but I used White Lightning for awhile. I found that it did accumulate between cogs on my cassette and the derailleur pulleys. The waxy stuff doesn't dissolve easily so cleaning was a pain.

I don't want to start an argument about gasoline, but it sure does clean well. I haven't used it in years but it used to be the standard degreaser in the garage when I was growing up. If it weren't for the smell I'd probably still drop my chains in it.

I know it's volatile, but how many times have you heard of gas station explosions, where careless "amateurs" handle gasoline every day?

FBinNY 

The issue with gasoline isn't it's high flammability alone, it's the density of the vapors. Not a serious issue outdoors like at gas stations where the fumes dissipate rapidly. But in confined places, the vapors accumulate in low sumps where the fuel/air mix is extremely explosive.

It's this risk of accumulating and forming explosive fuel/air mixes that makes gasoline so dangerous. So used outdoors, with reasonable care it's not outrageously dangerous. Used indoors without positive, spark proof ventilation it can be very risky. I'm not saying use gasoline and die, just saying it calls for some understanding and management of the risks.

Eric S.

Point well taken. As well as it dissolved gunk on chains, I always hated the smell on my hands for the next couple days. Never mind the flammability, that alone is enough reason not to use it!

Bill Kapaun

We can only hope-

lopek77

Should I add "Don't try that at home"?

davidad

Chain care, wear and skipping by Jobst Brandt

Al1943

Gasoline is extremely dangerous and should never be considered as a cleaner or solvent. And it has no place on a bike forum.