which lube to use?

wantaway

Has anyone got any thoughts on which lube to use? My chain needs some TLC and I want to show it some lurve.

I like the sound of Green Oil lube but can't help feeling that usswitching to plant use oil 100ml at a time is not going to make much difference to the world. I am therefore open to all suggestions, which is not a statement I have ever previously made in connection with lubricant use.

bigease

I prefer to use pro road during the summer. It doesn't pick up the grit and the chain runs lovely and smooth.

Rich158

I like Finish Line, and use a dry lube in this weather to stop the oild mixing with dust/grit, and forming a very nice grinding paste to destroy your drivetrain.

alfablue

Prolink Progold

Clean like a dry lube, stays on like a wet lube, reasonable price. Have tried the rest, this is the one!

R_T_A

wantaway wrote:

I am therefore open to all suggestions, which is not a statement I have ever previously made in connection with lubricant use.

I've just recently got some Rock N Roll lube, and found the cleaning/lubing very effective. It may be down to the weather being significantly better, so I'm waiting for some really wet weather, but so far it's been brilliant on my commuter:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=2608

dilemna

For me tried them all as well. Stay clear of White Lightning Clean Ride which will knacker your transmission and makes it so noisy. GT 85 over time will eat into the surfaces of your chain rings and cassette as it is too thin. WD40 is far too thin and acts as a cutting agent.

I've had Finish Line Pro Ceramic on the transmissions of a couple of my bikes for the past month and it has so far been brilliant. The weather has been fine but it's still on the chain and very little crud has attached itself to it so haven't needed to clean or re-lube yet. The transmission is now very smooth and quiet. Finish Line Pro Ceramic atcually feels like an oil as a opposed to other imitation lubes. It's expensive but appears to be doing an excellent job. I have a bottle of Finish Line XC standing by to try for the winter months if need be. Avoid wax lubes.

UndercoverElephant

Anyone who doesn't use either WD40 or used engine oil is a blouse.

** Runs and hides **

Christophe3967

+1 for Finish Line - dry and wet versions.

dilemna

UndercoverElephant wrote:

Anyone who doesn't use either WD40 or used engine oil is a blouse.

** Runs and hides **

And anyone who does has money to burn as they will reck your transmission and is also a numptee as used engine oil contains lots of toxins having been inside an engine for thousands of miles plus is shagged that is why it has been changed for new :roll: .

If you must use a non cycling specific oil then use EP90 gear oil. The trouble though is getting it to stay on a chain.

always_tyred

Shouldn't the title of this thread be "what CHAIN lube to use?"

Rich158

Always Tyred wrote:

Shouldn't the title of this thread be "what CHAIN lube to use?"

Only for certain members of this forum.................................they know who they are :roll:

DonDaddyD

Finish Line Teflon dry Lube (I think, comes in a red spray can) awesome stuff. Greg66 recommended it.

Incidentally this thread had so much potential to go off topic....

UndercoverElephant

dilemna wrote:

And anyone who does has money to burn as they will reck your transmission and is also a numptee as used engine oil contains lots of toxins having been inside an engine for thousands of miles plus is shagged that is why it has been changed for new :roll: .

If you must use a non cycling specific oil then use EP90 gear oil. The trouble though is getting it to stay on a chain.

Chomp! I actually use Stihl Chainsaw oil; I have it in the garage and suspect that a chainsaw chain must have to go through a lot more abuse than that of a bike.

Underscore

alfablue wrote:

Prolink Progold

Clean like a dry lube, stays on like a wet lube, reasonable price. Have tried the rest, this is the one!

+1

emdeef

I have also been using Progold, and as others have said it seems very good - chain runs smoothly and quietly in summer at any rate, and - a key factor for me - it stays fairly clean.

All the testing of chain lubes, wet, dry or whatever, is pretty subjective, however. I wonder, has anyone tested alternatives against each other in controlled conditions for performance - quietness, chain wear etc.? How much difference does the type make?

barry_kellett99

I've converted to Rock 'N'Roll lube, it cleans the chain and lubes it at the same time.
I am convinced it will lengthen the life of the chain as there is no temptation to take the chain off and degrease the life out of it which I am also convinced is terrible for your chain.

wantaway

Many thanks for the suggestions.

Kieran_Burns

I've found all the advice given on this thread extremely useful and willbe changing my chain oil to those recommended above.


Oh, and wantaway - when did you want a shag up the arse?

fwgx

I was planning on washing my bike down when it gets wet and muddy with warm water then spraying the chain and gears with WD40 so it doesn't rust whilst kept in the shed then before the next ride oiing it down with a decent bike oil. Is this not a good plan of action?

UndercoverElephant

fwgx wrote:

I was planning on washing my bike down when it gets wet and muddy with warm water then spraying the chain and gears with WD40 so it doesn't rust whilst kept in the shed then before the next ride oiing it down with a decent bike oil. Is this not a good plan of action?

Actually, probably not, I was only kidding before. WD40 is actually of most use as a de-greaser, it's too light to stay on the chain long term, even when not being ridden. Use some kind of oil for protection.