Best Lubricant for chain etc
- Thread starter louise
- Start date
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Sittingduck
Legendary Member
- Location
- Somewhere flat
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
There's some good threads on here but basically you should avoid WD40. There's lot of lubes out there but I'm using Finish Line Wet (Green Top) on the commuter and Finish Line Pro Road (Gold Top) on the road bikes.
Hi Louise
I think the reason why you haven't had a reply yet is there was a very extensive thread last week on this very subject and it was done to death. In fact I think several members died of boredom and ill humour lol.
Your new chain will arrive pre-lubed and will feel sticky which is the wax lube. It will be fine as it is unless you intend to use the bike in the rain a lot and leave the bike wet or outside in a shed.
If you do a search on chain you should find the thread
I think the reason why you haven't had a reply yet is there was a very extensive thread last week on this very subject and it was done to death. In fact I think several members died of boredom and ill humour lol.
Your new chain will arrive pre-lubed and will feel sticky which is the wax lube. It will be fine as it is unless you intend to use the bike in the rain a lot and leave the bike wet or outside in a shed.
If you do a search on chain you should find the thread
gbb
Squire
- Location
- Peterborough
You'll get plenty of this Louise, but DONT use WD40.
I did last year, just to prove one way or the other, and because i have access to as much as i want.
You have a brilliant clean looking chain, and even if you apply it virtualy every day (as i did)..chain wear is accelerated. Mine stretched quicker than any chain i'd had before.
For those that dont want to get into actualy taking the chain off, Mickles way is as good as any. I use engine oil...but i have access to copious quantities of that as well ...
I did last year, just to prove one way or the other, and because i have access to as much as i want.
You have a brilliant clean looking chain, and even if you apply it virtualy every day (as i did)..chain wear is accelerated. Mine stretched quicker than any chain i'd had before.
For those that dont want to get into actualy taking the chain off, Mickles way is as good as any. I use engine oil...but i have access to copious quantities of that as well ...
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Finish Line, White Lightening - all pretty good. With the wet stuff, get the bottles, and blob a drop on each roller - you won't need much. The dry stuff - again, if aerosol, just spray the rollers as you rotate the chain..
Get a well known make of bike chain oil, not GT85 (ok on parts) or WD or 3 in 1 basic oil.
Get a well known make of bike chain oil, not GT85 (ok on parts) or WD or 3 in 1 basic oil.
Dave5N
Über Member
- Location
- Outside The Little Nibble
Oil. As always.
Sittingduck
Legendary Member
- Location
- Somewhere flat
We're happy to help 
I wouldn't worry too much about repeating questions. We've all done it and the sheer amount of posts and active members on this site means you'll always get a reply.
Happy lubing!
SD
I wouldn't worry too much about repeating questions. We've all done it and the sheer amount of posts and active members on this site means you'll always get a reply.
Happy lubing!
SD
I don't know you wait all day for an answer and then 3x come along all together !
heres the linky
http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=21764
heres the linky
http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=21764
Mr Pig
New Member
- Location
- North Lanarkshire
I use Finish Line too, Cross Country wet lube, and after trying a few others I'm happy with it. A drop on each link, put too much on and the chain will just get collect crap.
John the Monkey
Frivolous Cyclist
- Location
- Crewe
I like Finish Line Pro-Road, myself. Evans sell that for £7.
Chain oils need a fairly specific set of properties, and it's well worth buying something designed for the job, imho.
A can of GT85 would be a good investment for derailleur pivot points etc, and some grease for your seatpin and miscellaneous bolts is useful too.
Chain oils need a fairly specific set of properties, and it's well worth buying something designed for the job, imho.
A can of GT85 would be a good investment for derailleur pivot points etc, and some grease for your seatpin and miscellaneous bolts is useful too.
Sikhandar
New Member
- Location
- Pisa (Italy!)
I'd like to say something about this subject, I'm a chemist. WD-40 is nothing else than... a light fraction of naphta (check the MSDS), with some Boron-esters just to make its smell more "appealing" (but they don't lubricate anything). So it isn't a good solvent for lubricating things, it's quite volatile and it doesn't protect metals. It's a solvent... that's it
The great breakthrough in the field of chain lubricants was performed introducing teflon oligomers into the oil formulation. These lubricants, that seem milk-like emulsions, leave the chain bright as well as using wd-40 or any other organic solvent, but the teflon oligomers remain on the metal and protect it. These oligomers are very "greasy" and they reduce friction.
The method used by many manufacturer for introducing a lubricant into a chain (for instance) before selling it to people, consists in heating up some grease until it becomes liquid, to put the chain in it, to remove the chain from the grease-bath after some time, to remove the excess of grease after 3-4 hours.
The great breakthrough in the field of chain lubricants was performed introducing teflon oligomers into the oil formulation. These lubricants, that seem milk-like emulsions, leave the chain bright as well as using wd-40 or any other organic solvent, but the teflon oligomers remain on the metal and protect it. These oligomers are very "greasy" and they reduce friction.
The method used by many manufacturer for introducing a lubricant into a chain (for instance) before selling it to people, consists in heating up some grease until it becomes liquid, to put the chain in it, to remove the chain from the grease-bath after some time, to remove the excess of grease after 3-4 hours.
