When to lubricate?
Comments
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Ah, factory lube on chains... almost as much debate as RLJing!
Personally I'd do it when it sounds like it's needed, even if that's now! Last new bike I had I took it out without adding any and soon wished I had, so I'm not convinced by this factory super-lube stuff.0 -
I lube my chain every week, or after each wet ride. I use Prolink Progold - nice clean lube but it also stays put in the wet.0
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Give my chain a spray with some GT85 and a wipe down with a cloth after every ride and lube it with the finish line dry lube stuff every sunday when I clean the bike."In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"
@gietvangent0 -
You should probably wash the factory lube off anyway,it`s for storage not riding.Smarter than the average bear.0
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This is at the heart of the debate. KMC argue that it is the best lube your chain will ever have and that it should be left in situ. I tend to soak a cloth in GT85. and wipe the excess off the outside of the chain, whilst leaving the lube inside where it is doing its job. This way the chain remains lubed with the factory stuff, but doesn't get covered in 'grinding paste'.antfly wrote:You should probably wash the factory lube off anyway,it`s for storage not riding.0 -
antfly wrote:You should probably wash the factory lube off anyway,it`s for storage not riding.
Is that statement heavy with irony, or not? I can't tell.
In any case, here's what Sheldon has to say on the subject, from here:
New chains come pre-lubricated with a grease-type lubricant which has been installed at the factory. This is an excellent lubricant, and has been made to permeate all of the internal interstices in the chain.This factory lube is superior to any lube that you can apply after the fact.
Some people make the bad mistake of deliberately removing this superior lubricant. Don't do this!
The factory lubricant all by itself is usually good for several hundred miles of service if the bike is not ridden in wet or dusty conditions. It is best not to apply any sort of lube to a new chain until it is clearly needed, because any wet lube you can apply will dilute the factory lube.
and Jobst Brandt, from here:
A myth that is difficult to dispell is the story that grease on a new chain, fresh out of the package, is not a lubricant but rather a preservative that must be removed. This piece of bicycling myth and lore thrives despite its illogic.
I had thought this issue was beyond debate by now!0 -
Guess I'll leave it till it gets too grubby looking. Does the same apply to the other bits?0
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I bow to their greater knowledge but I left it on my new chain and it squeaked horribly for weeks until I`d washed it all off but apparently it only sqeaks when it`s clean so maybe that`s a good thing {irony}.
That Brandt article also says you should never oil your chain on the bike.I can`t imagine too many people heed that advice.Smarter than the average bear.0 -
The reason the factory lube is supposed to be superior is because it's inside all the little unreachable depths of the chain.
The only reason people are scared of cleaning factory lube off is because they know they're not going to lubricate it properly afterwards and will just squirt a bit on the top/bottom of the chain.
If you clean your chain then leave it submerged in oil for a bit, you get the same effect.0 -
Personally I'd do it when it sounds like it's needed, even if that's now!
If it sounds like it's needed then I would suggest that it should have been done about a week ago. Waiting until it's dry enough to sound rough is a good way to reduce the life of your components.I'm left handed, if that matters.0 -
Apologies if you've seen this already, Sheldon updated his chain advice;
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html
I follow this everyday - unfortunately leaves very little time for riding/sleeping0
