New Chain Lubrication

reformer
reformer Posts: 38
edited May 2011 in Workshop
Should a new chain be lubricated on installation. Conflicting information below.

“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.” - Sheldon Brown

“The grease covering your new chain is primarily a rust inhibitor, and does not provide proper lubrication.” - Bicycling Life.

Advice appreciated.

Comments

  • forcutty
    forcutty Posts: 1,055
    I usually leave new chains with there original wax on for a few weeks till it collects dirt. I then clean it all off and lube like normal.
    P.S Sheldon is GOD who the fark is Bicycling Life to contradict him. :lol:
  • crumbschief
    crumbschief Posts: 3,399
    I just leave them in summer as they are for about 100 miles or so from new,then i just get back to baby wipes and oiling as usual (when i meet up with DD)
  • TuckerUK
    TuckerUK Posts: 369
    Maybe it depends on the chain?

    Despite Bicycling Life’s statement, SRAM chains are factory lubricated with Gleitmo 582. To quote ‘GLEITMO™ — biking's best chain lubricant — coats chain for superior protection against friction and dirt.’

    Perhaps Bicycling Life are affiliated to a chain oil manufacturer or supplier? :roll:
    "Coming through..."
  • JamieW
    JamieW Posts: 114
    i reckon u should degrease fully and relube with GT85....

    when it gets dirty or fails... just blame wiggle
  • reformer
    reformer Posts: 38
    Despite Bicycling Life’s statement, SRAM chains are factory lubricated with Gleitmo 582. To quote ‘GLEITMO™ — biking's best chain lubricant — coats chain for superior protection against friction and dirt.’

    It is a SRAM chain I'm fitting so thanks for the info.
  • Scrumple
    Scrumple Posts: 2,665
    Sometimes life is too short to worry about such toss...
  • Chris James
    Chris James Posts: 1,040
    I dampen a cloth with a small amount of GT85 / TF2 or similar and wipe the worst of the gunk off the outside of the chain.

    I then run it on just the factory lubricant for a while - depends on weather conditions excatly how long.

    I then clean the chian by the lubing and wiping method. I never degrease a chain. I usually get about 2,000 very hilly, all weather miles out of a 10 speed chain.

    At this point it will be showing about 0.75% wear on a chain checker (whihc may exagerrate wear). I can get at least 4 chains to a cassette using this method and the chain rings pretty much never wear out.

    Having said all that, my last chain showed hardly any wear but broke on me at 2000 miles with the side plates shattering, so maybe you wnat to follow a different method to me!

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