Tips for looking after new chain

ContrelaMontre

An area of mixed opinions I know but I'm looking for advice on how to look after my new chain for my fixie. I want to do things right from the start so what's my best option;

1) The chain is slightly greased so I could just whack it on and ride.
2) Grease some more with some finish line cross country I've got in the shed but I don't really like it as I've always found it messy.
3) Degrease and lube with white lightening (I know a lot of you don't like it but I do - but I'm not sure if it's better/worse for fixies though)
4) Degrease and lube with hot wax - I've read about this and am interested, but having never done it or seen it done what do you think? What wax do you use? I've got some leftover candles I could melt down, but are these the wrong type of 'wax'?

Your divergent opinions are welcome.

Cheers.

Smokin Joe

Cleaning is best done on the bike with some degreaser and a paint brush. Any oil will do for lubrcation, a chain is only a low tech piece of engineering. Anything that takes over ten minutes to do is a complete waste of time, basic maintainance is all it needs.

You could follow every complicated trick in the book for thoroughly cleaning and lubing your chain and if you did extend the life of it you would probably be talking about a couple of hundred yards at the most.

andyp

Don't do anything to it before you install it as the factory lubricating that's already on the chain will be the best it'll ever be and you'll want to keep it on for as long as possible.

I'd tend to agree with Joe - a quick and regular clean and lube is the best thing for keeping a chain running smoothly and quietly.

aracer

I almost agree with that advice, as the grease the chain comes in does provide good lubrication. However the big problem with chains, and the reason they wear is getting dirt and grit on them, and the original grease is very good at attracting dirt. In fact much of the reason for the use of more specialist lubes is simply in order to avoid collecting dirt on the chain - if it wasn't for this requirement, ordinary 3in1 would work fine as a chain lube. Personally I choose my lubes nowadays based on the amount of dirt they attract, to which end I use White Lightning original for dry conditions, and Purple Extreme if it's likely to be wet (unfortunately they don't mix - once you've put PE on, the WL won't work again without a thorough degrease). Like the OP I'm not keen on FL XC because it gets dirty too easily, but should point out to him that WL is rubbish if you plan on riding in the rain. For a fixie I'd put PE on top of the existing grease.

aracer

(multiple posting due to dodgy network here!)

ContrelaMontre

Tempted to agree with aracer here (though I'm not sure why you had to post twice - by saying it more than once does it make it more true? )

I've not used Purple Extreme and am not sure if I want to spend 5 or 6 quid or more on a new lube when I have got the FL sat there. So the question is what would happen if I used FL XC for the time being and then buy PE when that runs out? I might just do that and just want to be aware of whether they mix or whether I'd have to do a full and thorough degrease and clean to get rid of the FL?

Am I making sense?

aracer

FL XC isn't bad - is what I used to use before I discovered PE, it's just that PE keeps the chain a bit cleaner. Should mix fine, as they're both wet oil based lubes (though ISTR PE do suggest degreasing, and it might work better if you do do that).

ContrelaMontre

ISTR???? :?

aracer

I seem to recall

ContrelaMontre

aracer wrote:

I seem to recall

That's a new one on me! Clearly not on the pulse!!

Anyway, anyone disagree with andyp and aracer and think I should try hot wax? Or is it really a case of wasting my time?

aracer

Though there is a better way
http://sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html

wildmoustache

tempted to agree with aracer, though i don't think his prescription has a sufficiently sound scientific rationale (joke!)

I like white lightening, but I use finish line dry underneath it as I find WL by itself is not thick enough. The two work together very well IME. WL is great for not attracting dirty and also really good for light cleaning ... just kitchen towel and can of WL can get stuff pretty clean

PhilofCas

I'm really tempted to reply:

"Christ, how much was the chain?, you've probably wasted more money on electric for the computer doing in-depth research than you'll save on reducing wear on your chain, just put the ruddy chain on and go out riding".

Is that being out of order ??

Anonymous

PhilofCas wrote:

I'm really tempted to reply:

"Christ, how much was the chain?, you've probably wasted more money on electric for the computer doing in-depth research than you'll save on reducing wear on your chain, just put the ruddy chain on and go out riding".

Is that being out of order ??

No not at all.
As you say, how much can a bloody chain cost that warrants all this bollocks?
Actually you didn't say that did you?
But you meant it.

PhilofCas

no, who me ?, i didn't say that at all occifer :twisted:

Anonymous

aracer wrote:

FL XC isn't bad - is what I used to use before I discovered PE, it's just that PE keeps the chain a bit cleaner. Should mix fine, as they're both wet oil based lubes (though ISTR PE do suggest degreasing, and it might work better if you do do that).

You get through a lot of chains reading books?