new chain

gbr236

How come a new chain always seems to get blck so quickly.
Is it something to do with the type of oil?
Does anyone remove the oil before using and then use a clear oil (which hoefully remain clear)?

Thanks

andrewgturnbull

gbr236 wrote:

How come a new chain always seems to get blck so quickly.
Is it something to do with the type of oil?
Does anyone remove the oil before using and then use a clear oil (which hoefully remain clear)?

Thanks

Hi there.

Chain cleaning and lubing differs from rider to rider, and you'll hear differing opinions here that are almost religious in their zeal...

What I do however is pretty much this:

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=24

Which lube to apply depends on what kind of riding you're going to do and what the weather's like. For off road or wet conditions I like Purple Extreme, for dry roads I simply use GT85. But there are many. many different options which work out well for other people.

The main things are:

1) Clean you chain thoroughly
2) Don't use 3 in 1 household oil.

Cheers, Andy

Smokin Joe

andrewgturnbull wrote:

gbr236 wrote:

How come a new chain always seems to get blck so quickly.
Is it something to do with the type of oil?
Does anyone remove the oil before using and then use a clear oil (which hoefully remain clear)?

Thanks

Hi there.

Chain cleaning and lubing differs from rider to rider, and you'll hear differing opinions here that are almost religious in their zeal...

What I do however is pretty much this:

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=24

Which lube to apply depends on what kind of riding you're going to do and what the weather's like. For off road or wet conditions I like Purple Extreme, for dry roads I simply use GT85. But there are many. many different options which work out well for other people.

The main things are:

1) Clean you chain thoroughly
2) Don't use 3 in 1 household oil.
Cheers, Andy

Care to elaborate? I've used everything oily in the past and found no difference to chain life provided you don't let it run dry, though I'm open to ideas. I do find that Finish Line is the best that I have used because it stays where you put it and doesn't drip on the floor even when you first apply, which helps to lenghten the intervals between oiling as it doesn't fling or wash off.

andrew_s

gbr236 wrote:

How come a new chain always seems to get blck so quickly.
Is it something to do with the type of oil?
Does anyone remove the oil before using and then use a clear oil (which hoefully remain clear)?

Thanks

If you put a new chain on and want it to remain clean-looking for longer, dismantle and clean your rear mech and chainset at the same time.

The lube that comes on a new chain is better stuff than you can add later - you should be able to get a fair bit of use before having to lube at all.

maddog 2

GT85 is a degreaser, not a lube.

Finish Line or Purple Extreme is what I usually grab.

alfablue

I use Progold Prolink chain lube, it has the advantages of both a wet and a dry lube - it lasts a long time even in the wet, but it is very clean and doesn't attract gunk build-up. I have tried many others, and this is now the one I stick with. UK Bike Store have it.

andrewgturnbull

Hi there.

I did point out that everyone has a different point of view...

GT85 leaves behind a thin film of teflon which acts as a very light lube - I find this is enough for dry conditions.

3 in 1 is too thick and becomes a black sticky mess very quickly as road grime sticks to it.

Your opinion may differ!

Cheers, Andy

maddog 2

I stick grips on with GT85 so its lubrication qualities can't be that good :shock:

Monty Dog

The important thing is that the lube needs to be on the inside of the chain i.e. pins and rollers and not on the outside. After lubing your chain, give it a good wipe to clean off the excess and that way there's nothing for the dirt and debris to stick to. IME a 'wet' lube tends to last longer whereas as a dry lube goes 'squeaky' after one ride - dry lubes also require a cleaner chain to begin with. I too don't consider GT85 a lube - OK for cleaning stuff and getting it moving, but not for keeping it that way.

pliptrot

Glad I'm not the only one who has problems with dry lubes getting squeaky quickly. Frank Berto (he wrote some excellent technical articles for Bicycling Magazine [yes, they did these once upon a time] and even better books) did a test comparing various lubes. It's some time ago so there are likely new things around to undermine these findings, but he found the best lube was paraffin wax. To use it effectively you need to remove the chain and drop in melted paraffin wax (use the stove top when the wife is out!), and then hang it up so that the excess drips off. Monty Dog is quite right that the key to a long chain life is to keep the rollers and internals lubed. However, the advent of Shimano and Campag chains made removing the chain impractical (and against manufacturer's advice), although the SRAM fast link thingie will aid in this process. I don't think GT 85 would cut it as a chain lube.

simon_e

pliptrot wrote:

I don't think GT 85 would cut it as a chain lube.

I respectfully disagree. The teflon does a good job of keeping my chain quiet and fairly clean. I give it a squirt, leave it overnight and it's fine for at least a week in dry weather. Not so durable in the wet.

Have just decided to replace the chain after about 15 months and 3,000 miles of year-round commuting, a few longer rides and some offroad riding. I'm not saying GT85 i's the best thing out there, but it has certainly done the job for me. A £2.99 tin lasts years.

It's also great for things like squeaky door hinges. OTOH WD-40 is a degreaser rather than a lubricant and will beckon rust to any steel-based item you possess.

Smokin Joe

I doubt very much whether the teflon does bugger all, it's addition is just a marketing ploy. This stuff is commonly claimed to be a wonder substance in car oil additives and is regularly rubbished in independant tests as no more than snake oil.