What chain lube?
johnoakleyallen
Posts: 83
I have recently bought my first half decent road bike.
I'm used to simply spraying a bit of gt-85 on the chain but I am wanting to take better care of this bike. Looking at all the different chain lubes out there I get very confused. What should I be looking for; Wet, dry, ceramic, teflon?
What is the difference?
I'm used to simply spraying a bit of gt-85 on the chain but I am wanting to take better care of this bike. Looking at all the different chain lubes out there I get very confused. What should I be looking for; Wet, dry, ceramic, teflon?
What is the difference?
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I've used all sorts, none seem to make any difference to chain life. I now stick with GT85, as long as you keep it lubed I think one is as good as another.0
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Do a search on the forum, there has been much talk about this.0
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Have you done a search on the forum? This question is asked about twice a week, arguments ensue, and no conclusion is ever reached.
The very light oils, teflon / ceramic / dry lubes tend to be OK in the summer. Just wipe the chain down with a cloth every week or so till it's spotless, then apply a drop of lube to each end of each roller, and turn the pedals backwards to work it in to the bushings. Wipe the chain thoroughly to remove the excess from the outer plates as this only serves to catch dirt.
Prolink Pro Gold is often mentioned as a good summer lube, but I've also used 3-in-1 oil, motor oil, and Squirt which seems to be wax based .
If you ride through the winter it's a different matter. I find then I need to use one of the wet lubes which are stickier. You really need to wipe the chain dry after each wet ride, especially if there's salt on the roads, and to remove as much as possible of the black gunk the chain will pick up. Generously relube and run the chain through a cloth to ensure every part is coated. Don't try to remove all the lube from the outside of the chain, a surface smear will help prevent rust forming.
People are divided on the subject of chain cleaning gadgets which involve the use of degreasers. I can't be bothered when it's on the bike, but occasionally if it's really filthy with grit I take the chain off for a shake in a bottle of paraffin followed by a long soak in motor oil. A KMC missing link makes chain removal / reinstallation so much easier0 -
Smokin Joe wrote:I've used all sorts, none seem to make any difference to chain life. I now stick with GT85, as long as you keep it lubed I think one is as good as another.
same here - GT is as good as any, IMO...0 -
I've heard that wd-40 is worse than doing nothing as it disperses the lube already on the chain and then as it in not designed for high speed it doesn't stay on.
I've had a look at the forums but get easily confused when someone is talking about MTB and road bikes!
I'm looking at the finish line products and think I'll go for the Finish Line Teflon Plus Dry Chain Lube and use the gt on all other moving parts!
Does anyone know of a good complete lubrication and maintenance guide specifically for road bikes?0 -
johnoakleyallen wrote:Does anyone know of a good complete lubrication and maintenance guide specifically for road bikes?
CHAIN LUBE MANUAL
PAGE 1
Lube or grease anything that moves on a bicycle. Lube or grease just about all threaded
items to avoid seizure. Grease seat post for same reason. If something squeaks, oil it.
You may occasionally need to slightly oil items, that are clamped together, to keep them from squeaking.
THE END
That will be 25 dollars please.0 -
GT85 after each ride, nothing better!0
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I wouldn't let GT85 or worse still WD40 anywhere near my chains, because neither one are lubricants. I would use GT85 as a cleaner which it does well enough. WD40 I would use as a releasing agent, which is what it is, on some rusty screws on my garden gate.
During the winter months I use Finish Line Cross Country and for summer use Pedros Syn Lube.0 -
giant mancp wrote:I wouldn't let GT85 or worse still WD40 anywhere near my chains, because neither one are lubricants. I would use GT85 as a cleaner which it does well enough. WD40 I would use as a releasing agent, which is what it is, on some rusty screws on my garden gate.
During the winter months I use Finish Line Cross Country and for summer use Pedros Syn Lube.
Is GT85 actually WD40 under a different name? Don't see GT85 here in the States. WD40 is literally everywhere. Everyone has a can and I mean everyone and they use it for everything. Interesting how some cyclist's swear by GT85 while others swear against it.0 -
Not sure Dennis the markets do vary I have found. If only I could get a 16oz jar of Super Lube in the UK as I could in the States. Big sigh ........0
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giant mancp wrote:I wouldn't let GT85 or worse still WD40 anywhere near my chains, because neither one are lubricants.
That is simply not correct. Both are light lubes fella - but don't take my word for it, you only have to read the labels or look at the websites to understand that. We've been through all this before...0 -
johnoakleyallen wrote:I've heard that wd-40 is worse than doing nothing
you heard wrong. Any lube - even WD - is better than no lube at all...0 -
Yes we have. That doesn't make you right about it though .....softlad wrote:giant mancp wrote:I wouldn't let GT85 or worse still WD40 anywhere near my chains, because neither one are lubricants.
That is simply not correct. Both are light lubes fella - but don't take my word for it, you only have to read the labels or look at the websites to understand that. We've been through all this before...0 -
giant mancp wrote:Yes we have. That doesn't make you right about it though .....
Not sure what you mean. You're saying they are not lubes - I'm saying they are.
The simple fact is - they are lubricants, whether you personally happen to like it or not.0 -
giant mancp wrote:Not sure Dennis the markets do vary I have found. If only I could get a 16oz jar of Super Lube in the UK as I could in the States. Big sigh ........
Just looked on the Super Lube website. Haven't seen it around here.0 -
GT85 is basically WD40 with a bit of teflon in it to avoid patents, is a better lubricant than WD40 as a result.
Neither are particularly well suited to bicycle chains due to the loads found there.
That said in the summer I run my chain practically dry, so GT85 is used for that, applied via a rag to prevent dilution of the factory grease (I believe it is better than any of the chain lubes)
WD40 i use to dry off chains as it is an excellent water disperser, so if i don't have time to clean my bike after a wet ride the wd40 will at least keep the chain in a condition where i'll be able to lube it up before the next outing.0 -
I've never had so much as a yards more life from a chain by using any of the other oils than I have with GT85.ride_whenever wrote:GT85 is basically WD40 with a bit of teflon in it to avoid patents, is a better lubricant than WD40 as a result.
Neither are particularly well suited to bicycle chains due to the loads found there.
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sprays (GT/WD etc.) tend to displace water....
lubes lube.
Spray a cleaned chain to force out the water. Then lube with a lube.
25 more dollars please.0 -
Scrumple wrote:sprays (GT/WD etc.) tend to displace water....
lubes lube.
Spray a cleaned chain to force out the water. Then lube with a lube.
25 more dollars please.
I think I'd be asking for a refund after that kind of advice. There is no rule that says sprays cannot also lubricate. 'spray' is just a means of dispensing the lube - nothing more.....0 -
I told you there'd be arguments, and no conclusion.
In our climate the only safe thing to say is that if you don't lube the chain it will go orange, then squeak, then links will start to sieze, then eventually it will snap. This may take quite a long time though; Newmarket's full of little people on poorly maintained mountain bikes with tango coloured squeaky chains.
The other certainty is that if you lube but don't clean your chain you will at some time end up with a black stripe on your leg, your kit, the dog, or God forbid, your wife.0 -
softlad wrote:
I think I'd be asking for a refund after that kind of advice. There is no rule that says sprays cannot also lubricate. 'spray' is just a means of dispensing the lube - nothing more.....
Ofcourse sprays can be used to lubricate, but WD40 (which happens to be a spray) should not be used to lubricate a chain.0 -
I think WD40 should be withdrawn from the market, it creates so much bad feeling.
As long as they give me adequate warning so I can stockpile a few cans0 -
no bad feelings... I use it all the time, but just not to lube a chain
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Just to throw my 2 cent's out there, and stir the pot a bit. WD40 feels slick like oil.
I don't use it on my bike, for no reason I can think of other than the fact that I may have been sucked in by the "you must use bicycle specific oil" people. I'm now pretty much of the opinion that the chain doesn't need, so called, specialty lubes to run well and in fact WD40 and products like it may be all that is needed.0 -
I use WD40/GT85 + many rags to clean my chain, and very liberally applied gearbox oil (1 litre for £4.50 at my local motor factor) to lube it. Then wipe off excess.0
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I use Finish Line - Pro Road Ceramically Reinforced stuff.
It's around 4 quid for a 2oz bottle but it does go far IMO.0 -
thiscocks wrote:Just thought it was too thin. Ive always used it for cleaning rather than a dedicated lube
it is thin, you're not wrong there. But the other argument is that you don't really need a 'thick' oil to lube a cycle chain...
Truth is that there are probably as many people who are happy using WD, GT or whatever as there are using a cycle specific lube. I bet there's no difference in their chain life, or transmission performance either...0 -
wd is a dry silicone lube and useful but not on chains or bearings. most of it is solvent which is good for cleaning things and freeing off. also good for cables etc but too dry and too thin for chains. gearbox oil is probably good.0
