Chain lube - when to....

in message <[email hidden]>, AC

(') said:

I have a 2nd hand Fausto Copi San Remo, fitted with
Shimano 105 kit

How frequently should I be lubricating the chain? I don't
often ride in the rain & am averaging about 120 miles a
week at the moment.

Weekly, I would say. Some people would say 'every ride'.

Quoted message said:

While I'm on the subject - any recommendations re
brands/types to use,

I use (and am happy with) Finish Line Cross Country.
However, other people recommend chainsaw oil, which is
designed for a similarly stressful environment and is much
cheaper. I've recently been given an aerosol can of a grease
formulated for industrial roller chains (i.e. like bike
chains but driving bits of industrial equipment) which is
much cheaper than the bike stuff and which I intend to try.

Quoted message said:

and should the chain be CLEANED at the same time? The type
of cleaner that enclose the chain and have several brushes
seems good (?)

Ideally you _should_ clean the chain every time you lube it
but in my experience the plastic clip-on-the-chain baths are
not really much good and get through a lot of expensive
degreaser. I take my chains off the bikes about once a month
and wash them in a tin of parafin, before hanging them up to
dry and then relubing them.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke)
jasmine.org.uk~simonOpen ↗

;; Semper in faecibus sumus, sole
profundum variat.

AC said:

How frequently should I be lubricating the chain? I don't
often ride in the rain & am averaging about 120 miles a
week at the moment.

"Whenever it needs doing", he said unhelpfully. In winter
with salt down on the roads I generally go for "every ride".
At 120 miles a week I'd think at least once a week if the
conditions are fairly benign. Thing is you can't really do
it too often.

Quoted message said:

While I'm on the subject - any recommendations re
brands/types to use, and should the chain be CLEANED at
the same time? The type of cleaner that enclose the chain
and have several brushes seems good (?)

A typical lubing session will effectively clean the chain at
the same time. I generally work by overdoing the oil so it
soaks in to all the links nicely and then rub off the excess
off with a rag. This seems to keep mine pretty clean too. If
you don't rub off excess it's a sticky goop to let particles
stick to the thing, which is Bad, so always wipe excessive
amounts off.

I used to have a Finish Line rotating brush cleaner thingy,
and someone at FL clearly decided desirable characteristics
of the plastic body should be "as brittle as possible".
Anything that could break off did. I subsequently got a much
cheaper (and frankly rather better) one in a Lidl's special
bin which I use for particularly filthy or neglected chains
(does a good job too), though normally just the regular lube
and wipe seems to keep things in good order.

But removing the chain and soaking it is probably best.
If you'll be doing this then a Sachs Powerlink or similar
to make breaking and remaking the chain easier is a
Cunning Plan.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111
ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382
640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net
[email hidden] dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

You've asked a question that probably provokes more disagreement and opinions than any other.

My opinion (for it is only that although it is formed from my experience):

- Only lube it when it needs it (when you hear it squeak) This is almost always the case after it has had a soaking.
- Don't lube a dirty chain. The lube will carry the dirt particles into the rollers and accelerate wear. I try to minimise dirt build-up by running the chain through a rag (by holding the chain with the rag while back-pedalling) after every ride and especially if it has got wet
- The way I clean my chain is to take it off, put it in a large jam jar or similar half filled with cleaner or degreaser,put the lid on a give it a good shake. Leave immersed overnight if possible, shake again and then give a really good rinse in clean water (again in the jar) to remove all traces of solvent. Leave out in the sum to dry thoroughly (or stick in the oven at about 50deg)
- Don't use a spray lube as this puts too much on. There are many good chain lubes available; I happen to use Finesse Multi Lube Plus. I put a tiny drop on left and right of each roller - takes a few minutes but avoids over-lubing. I then put the chain back on the bike and run it around the sprockets several times to get the lube worked in.
- Wipe off any excess lube with a clean rag. Excess lube attracts dirt.

There is no one answer to this question but that is what works for me

Ian

The chain is currently off my Galaxy due to replacing the
front mech, due to switching to sti's. The chain is
absolutely disgusting and I have tried a range of things
including wd40, muc off and white spirit. My latest attempt
is using Caustic Soda as recommended by my local hardware
store. He reckons this will totally degrease the chain
(which is what I want) and then I will be able to relube it
from scratch. Has anybody else used Caustic soda? It doesnt
seem like particularly nice stuff but apparently it shouldnt
corrode the metal. Only my hands...

I'm not sure of the chemistry but I wouldn't use it. Anything that could potentially weaken the pins can result in sudden chain failure which can be nasty.

Use citrus degreaser in a jam jar as I described above. Go through a few cycles of shake-it, leave-it, shake-it, leave-it etc. Then rinse out, put in some fresh degreaser and repeat. Rinse and dry thoroughly before lubing.

If that doesn't shift it, buy a new chain - you probably need one.

Oh, and don't let it get in that state again - you should be ashamed of yourself 🙂

Ian

David Waters said:

The chain is currently off my Galaxy due to replacing the
front mech, due to switching to sti's. The chain is
absolutely disgusting and I have tried a range of things
including wd40, muc off and white spirit. My latest
attempt is using Caustic Soda as recommended by my local
hardware store. He reckons this will totally degrease the
chain (which is what I want) and then I will be able to
relube it from scratch. Has anybody else used Caustic
soda? It doesnt seem like particularly nice stuff but
apparently it shouldnt corrode the metal. Only my hands...

Oh, push out the £5 for a new chain!

"AC" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I have a 2nd hand Fausto Copi San Remo, fitted with
Shimano 105 kit

How frequently should I be lubricating the chain? I don't
often ride in

the

Quoted message said:

rain & am averaging about 120 miles a week at the moment.

While I'm on the subject - any recommendations re
brands/types to use, and should the chain be CLEANED at
the same time? The type of cleaner that enclose the chain
and have several brushes seems good (?)

Put the chain in a shallow tray of Diesel, brush with a
tooth brush, wipe off the excess Diesel refit the chain and
lube with Finish Line.

David Waters [email hidden] opined the
following...

Quoted message said:

The chain is currently off my Galaxy due to replacing the
front mech,=20 due to switching to sti's. The chain is
absolutely disgusting and I have=

=20

Quoted message said:

tried a range of things including wd40, muc off and white
spirit. My=20 latest attempt is using Caustic Soda as
recommended by my local hardware=

=20

Quoted message said:

store. He reckons this will totally degrease the chain
(which is what I=

=20

Quoted message said:

want) and then I will be able to relube it from scratch.
Has anybody=20 else used Caustic soda? It doesnt seem like
particularly nice stuff but=

=20

Quoted message said:

apparently it shouldnt corrode the metal. Only my hands...

For only a few quid more, go to your local garage and buy
some paraffin.=20 5L used to cost about =A32.50. Get an old
ice cream tub, jam jar or=20 tupperware container (That you
have no desire to use again!), dump the=20 chain in it and
fill. Shake, leave, rinse and dry. Relube.

A number of people have suggested running two chains. One in
use, and=20 one being cleaned & relubed. The advantage of
this is that you can=20 simply immerse the chain in oil and
then hang it up over a container to=20 drip dry. A quick
qipe off of the excess and it's ready for use. As soon=20 as
I'm organised enough to do it I probably will!

Jon

On Mon, 7 Jun 2004 10:14:32 +0100, "AC" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I have a 2nd hand Fausto Copi San Remo, fitted with
Shimano 105 kit

How frequently should I be lubricating the chain? I don't
often ride in the rain & am averaging about 120 miles a
week at the moment.

Your chain will tell you when it needs to be lubricated. It
will start to squeak.

Quoted message said:

While I'm on the subject - any recommendations re
brands/types to use, and should the chain be CLEANED at the
same time? The type of cleaner that enclose the chain and
have several brushes seems good (?)

Rule Number One of Chain Maintenance: NEVER LUBRICATE A
DIRTY CHAIN!

All the rest is pretty much religion.

jeverett3<AT>earthlink<DOT>net
home.earthlink.net~jeverett3Open ↗

John Everett said:

Your chain will tell you when it needs to be lubricated.
It will start to squeak.

After noxious winter buildups I've had chains that don't
squeak... but that don't bend very much either! So clearly
not 100% reliable. If you wait until it's past needing done
and squeaking is IMHO worse than a bit of time-advanced
maintenance and having it never squeak (and wear) in the
first place. Downside is you spend more on lube.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111
ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382
640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net
[email hidden] dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

On Mon, 07 Jun 2004 11:05:03 GMT, Simon Brooke <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

in message <[email hidden]>,

AC (') said:

I have a 2nd hand Fausto Copi San Remo, fitted with
Shimano 105 kit

How frequently should I be lubricating the chain? I don't
often ride in the rain & am averaging about 120 miles a
week at the moment.

Weekly, I would say. Some people would say 'every ride'.

Quoted message said:

While I'm on the subject - any recommendations re
brands/types to use,

I use (and am happy with) Finish Line Cross Country.
However, other people recommend chainsaw oil, which is
designed for a similarly stressful environment and is much
cheaper. I've recently been given an aerosol can of a
grease formulated for industrial roller chains (i.e. like
bike chains but driving bits of industrial equipment)
which is much cheaper than the bike stuff and which I
intend to try.

Quoted message said:

and should the chain be CLEANED at the same time? The
type of cleaner that enclose the chain and have several
brushes seems good (?)

Ideally you _should_ clean the chain every time you lube
it but in my experience the plastic clip-on-the-chain
baths are not really much good and get through a lot of
expensive degreaser. I take my chains off the bikes about
once a month and wash them in a tin of parafin, before
hanging them up to dry and then relubing them.

I use diesel in my chain bath. Its slightly oily anyway
and very cheap. The cleaning products tend to remove
too much IMO.

--

J u l i a n

__o
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(_)/ (_)