Lubricating your Drive Chain - what do you use?

[bpsmith]

£3.85p a litre at Toolstation. I might try it.
https://www.toolstation.com/shop/p36322?table=no



View attachment 387788

Put it in your car too while your at it. It’s just oil after all.

 

[Ajax Bay]

I think you need to go for good quality chainsaw oil. Bit concerned that the cheapness of that 'Silver Hook' stuff might signal its quality. Support your local lawnmower (and garden tool) maintenance and repair shop.

 

[raleighnut]

Hypoid 90 (Axle Oil for cars) is almost as good as Chainsaw Oil but by god does it reek.

 

[Gravity Aided]

And there was me fretting that I was born too late and missed out on all those fondue parties and swinging.

I believe I still have a turtleneck sweater around here...

 

[Blue Hills]

Ah yes, turtles, those great arbiters of style.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Red diesel
Cleans & lubricates

Cheap enough to use as many times as required, weather dependant

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Red diesel
Cleans & lubricates
Cheap enough to use as many times as required, weather dependant

Just been down to one of local garages that sells it, as my can was almost empty
Circa 4.3 litres, for £3
That'll last me (on 3 bikes) for 4 - 5 years

 

[Blue Hills]

You worry me dogtrousers.

But since you are in maths mode how many elephants would that get across a river with one boat and half a paddle?

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

You use nearly a litre of oil a year on bike chains? How do you apply it? With a ladle?
(One of those teensy tiny dropper bottles lasts me nearly a year)

Edit: Actually I've done some sums and it's not altogether unreasonable.

At one drop per link, assuming a drop is 0,05 ml and a chain is 110 links that's 5.5 ml per lubrication. At one lubrication per week that's 286ml per year. So if you have four bikes and lubricate each chain once a week that would be a litre a year.

However if you remove the chain and use an oil bath periodically then 1L / year would be easily attainable.

So I retract my sarky comment.

Okay, maybe it lasts longer
I can't remember when I last filled the can, but it was at this house, & we moved here in 2004
Eg; the work-bike ('all-rounder') - now the CGR
I'll use an old toothbrush, to 'scrub' the links, maybe once a fortnight in summer
In winter, it'll get a rag/old towel dipped in diesel over the chain/chain-ring teeth/jockey-wheels 2 - 3 times a week, if it's wet/manky weather

 

[Ming the Merciless]

And there was me fretting that I was born too late and missed out on all those fondue parties and swinging.

You mean you did not go to the parties where you put your chains in a bowl? You haven't lived.

 

[Blue Hills]

You mean you did not go to the parties where you put your chains in a bowl? You haven't lived.

maybe not enough though a few semi anonymous encounters needing recourse to lube science.

 

[Gravity Aided]