Motor Oil as A Lubricant

[screenman]

Yes - because if the oil cools once it's on the chain, then you might as well not have bothered heating it in the first place..

I think the idea is to thin the oil so that it flows, once in place it can thicken again. We used the idea centuries ago with motorbike chains, a kit was available that you warmed up on the stove.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

The idea is to heat the gear oil (is very thick) to a temperature where it becomes quite fluid, you then drop your chain into the heated oil which will then penetrate the pins and rollers of the chain. Remove chain from the cooled oil and wipe off excess leaving the now cooled thickened oil in the pins and rollers. It works great but any excess oil that works its way onto the outside of the chain acts like fly paper and clogs up with dirt and debris very quickly.

Don't give up your day job.

 

[steve50]

Don't give up your day job.

Wouldn't dream of it.

 

[screenman]

Putoline boiling chain wax.

 

[S-Express]

The idea is to heat the gear oil (is very thick) to a temperature where it becomes quite fluid, you then drop your chain into the heated oil which will then penetrate the pins and rollers of the chain. Remove chain from the cooled oil and wipe off excess leaving the now cooled thickened oil in the pins and rollers. It works great but any excess oil that works its way onto the outside of the chain acts like fly paper and clogs up with dirt and debris very quickly.

Gear oil is already in a liquid state - you don't need to do any of that. You are just wasting (either) gas (or) electricity (delete as appropriate).

 

[S-Express]

I think the idea is to thin the oil so that it flows

Try an experiment - open the bottle of gear oil and turn it upside down. Does it 'flow' out? If the answer is yes, then you don't need to heat it.

 

[steve50]

I think the idea is to thin the oil so that it flows, once in place it can thicken again. We used the idea centuries ago with motorbike chains, a kit was available that you warmed up on the stove.

Exactly my point

 

[screenman]

Try an experiment - open the bottle of gear oil and turn it upside down. Does it 'flow' out? If the answer is yes, then you don't need to heat it.

I knows that, I have never found a need to use such a system, I was merely pointing out it's availability.

 

[screenman]

Try an experiment - open the bottle of gear oil and turn it upside down. Does it 'flow' out? If the answer is yes, then you don't need to heat it.

But would its viscosity change if you heated it?

 

[S-Express]

But would its viscosity change if you heated it?

Probably yes, but to no real purpose in terms of lubing a bike chain.

 

[davidphilips]

The idea is to heat the gear oil (is very thick) to a temperature where it becomes quite fluid, you then drop your chain into the heated oil which will then penetrate the pins and rollers of the chain. Remove chain from the cooled oil and wipe off excess leaving the now cooled thickened oil in the pins and rollers. It works great but any excess oil that works its way onto the outside of the chain acts like fly paper and clogs up with dirt and debris very quickly.

thats what my grandad would do with his old triumph bonneville (motorbike) chains he always had 2 chains, i remember him heating up an old tin plate full of oil and chain,on the kitchen gas cooker ,still remember the smell.great way of getting heavy oil into the links.
my own view on chain oil is the thinner the better unless you are prepared to use the heat treatment, leave for a few minutes and wipe of excess with a rag and some cleaning agent.

 

[screenman]

Probably yes, but to no real purpose in terms of lubing a bike chain.

Whilst I agree I can understand whilst others may think there are benefits.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Refuting the hot oil fairytale is easy. Apply some of the said heavy oil to a clean bicycle chain. Spin the crank twice. Now disassemble the chain at the quick link and see if the inside is still dry. Report back.

 

[screenman]

Is gas or electric best?

 

[glasgowcyclist]

I think the idea is to thin the oil so that it flows, once in place it can thicken again. We used the idea centuries ago with motorbike chains, a kit was available that you warmed up on the stove.

I used this years ago I on motorbikes...



GC