Chain lube - a slippery subject!

dstev55
dstev55 Posts: 742
edited February 2016 in Workshop
Evening all,

I'm a bit confused as to what chain lube I should be using. There seems to be conflicting advice depending where you read. I currently just use GT86 to displace any crap off my bike after a ride, wash it then re-apply GT86, but I know there are better products out there that are specifically only a lubricant.

Firstly, wet or dry, what's the differance, and are there any differences on how they are applied?

Secondly, are lubes generally easy to apply without making a mess?

And finally does anyone have any recommendations?

I want to look after the Dura Ace groupset on my new bike. 8)

Comments

  • grenw
    grenw Posts: 804
    Wet if it's wet otherwise use dry. The wet stuff clings on more and doesn't get washed off but it generally is a lot gunkier. A drop on every roller, spin the chain a few times, leave an hour and then wipe off any excess.

    I tend to use the Muc off ceramic stuff but everyone has their favourites.
  • dstev55
    dstev55 Posts: 742
    Do you not put any on the cassette or chain rings?

    Also, do you put some on after every ride?
  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 17,341
    don't put gt85 on it, the solvents in it will displace heavier lubricants that do a better job, a properly lubed drive train is protected by the lube, no need to spoil it with gt85

    fit a removable link on the chain, then you can easily take it off to clean it, a heavy linen rag is good for wiping off cack

    fwiw i use synlube, it's sticky so it stays in place in the interminable wet weather we have, apply every few weeks

    if you only ride in the dry you can use a dry lube, but you need to apply it more often
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • dstev55
    dstev55 Posts: 742
    sungod wrote:
    don't put gt85 on it, the solvents in it will displace heavier lubricants that do a better job, a properly lubed drive train is protected by the lube, no need to spoil it with gt85

    fit a removable link on the chain, then you can easily take it off to clean it, a heavy linen rag is good for wiping off cack

    fwiw i use synlube, it's sticky so it stays in place in the interminable wet weather we have, apply every few weeks

    if you only ride in the dry you can use a dry lube, but you need to apply it more often

    OK thanks. So only use GT85 to clean the chain before relubing?
  • grenw
    grenw Posts: 804
    I only use gt85 after I've washed the bike to disperse water. I only lube the chain, jockey wheels and mech pivots. Not the cassette or rings.

    I usually lube every couple of hundred miles in the dry, after pretty much every ride in the wet
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    sungod wrote:
    don't put gt85 on it, the solvents in it will displace heavier lubricants that do a better job,

    Not if the 'heavier' lube is already long gone - let's not baffle the guy with bullshit. GT85 is an ok chain lube, but needs re-applying pretty regularly.
  • mercia_man
    mercia_man Posts: 1,431
    GT85 or WD40 are great for putting on a rag and cleaning your chain. But, as sungod says, they are not suitable for lubricating the chain.

    I ran out of my customary Finish Line Wet lube a couple of months ago so experimented with what I had lying around at home. Stihl chainsaw oil and regular car engine oil were both a bit mucky and tended to fling off. But I have had great results with Comma Hypoid EP80 gear oil that I had left over since my motorcycling days in the 80s. It's just the right consistency for a wet lube. It stays in place, doesn't fling off onto your spokes or chainstays and resists water. I would still choose a dry lube for my best bike in summer but EP80 is my new favourite for winter and touring use.