Chain & sprocket lubrication

[oldtom]

I'm sure this subject has been discussed many times before but I have been using dry-lub on my latest bike since new. It's only an experiment for me as my other bikes have always been regularly oiled but we all know how messy that can be.

As yet, I haven't come to any conclusion about dry-lub but although it's much cleaner than the traditional stuff, it seems like I have to apply it every couple of rides so I think it may work out expensive next to oil. I'm trying it on the basis that scientists have created these products and it's not so many years ago that people were scared to put synthetic oils in their cars. Today, my car like many others, runs on fully synthetic oil and I have used it religiously in all my car engines for about 15 years now without any problem.

I'm interested to know if any ebikers actually use dry-lub and find it beneficial or otherwise.

Tom

 

[jdallan]

I'm sure this subject has been discussed many times before but I have been using dry-lub on my latest bike since new. It's only an experiment for me as my other bikes have always been regularly oiled but we all know how messy that can be.

As yet, I haven't come to any conclusion about dry-lub but although it's much cleaner than the traditional stuff, it seems like I have to apply it every couple of rides so I think it may work out expensive next to oil. I'm trying it on the basis that scientists have created these products and it's not so many years ago that people were scared to put synthetic oils in their cars. Today, my car like many others, runs on fully synthetic oil and I have used it religiously in all my car engines for about 15 years now without any problem.

I'm interested to know if any ebikers actually use dry-lub and find it beneficial or otherwise.

Tom

I've been using White Lightning on my Rose bike and on my wife's Freego Eagle since last summer and can't find fault with it. It may be that I lube more often than is strictly necessary so from that point of view it may be a bit more expensive. However doing it that way seems to keep things running very smoothly so I don't think I'll be changing.

Jim

 

[Aushiker]

I documented my bicycle chain wear rates here and with the better chains now days I am getting close to 10,000 km from chain. My preferred choice of lube is Rock n' Gold but have used Squirt on one chain to try it out and have recently ordered a bottle of Purple Extreme to give it ago given others reports on its performance.

Andrew

 

[oldtom]

Thanks for that Jim and Andrew.

Until I adjusted my rear derailleur and cables, I was beginning to think that the dry-lub was causing the stickiness and reluctance to change smoothly that I have always experienced on this particular bike. It seemed to me that the drivetrain just wasn't as good as on my other bikes with derailleurs although everything looked pretty much ok when I gave it a cursory inspection on the work-stand.

When I finally decided to look more closely at the gears set-up and made some adjustments to the cable and limit stops, I couldn't quite get it the way I wanted but eventually I noticed that there was a slight alignment issue with the long-cage derailleur. It wasn't much out of true but it was sufficient to keep the chain in a permanent state of twist.

After some careful perseverance, I was able to straighten the cage thus enabling the adjustments to provide better alignment, transforming the gear changing to a much sweeter and quieter level.

Now that I'm happy with the gear changing, I feel more comfortable with the dry lub and I don't really mind having to re-apply the stuff frequently as it's much cleaner than traditional oil and presumably just as effective although time will tell, no doubt.

Tom

 

[neptune]

There has been more written about chain care and lubrication than almost any other bike subject. I use a spray on grease, applied perhaps every three to five hundred miles. It seems effective and is cleaner than oil. Any dirt that sticks to it just flakes off. I clean the chain with petrol or paraffin before re applying the grease.

 

[oldtom]

This is just a brief update or progress report on my experience thus far with 'Purple Extreme' dry lub.

Although this product is pretty expensive, it seems to last well and my gear changes are much silkier since I changed to this stuff.

The chain can still get grubby but the accumulated muck wipes off easily compared to regular bike chain oil. I don't normally cycle in the rain if I can avoid it so I can't endorse the manufacturer's claims about its water resistance.

Compared to the dry lub product I used previously, this is an altogether superior product and I don't need to re-treat as often.

Tom

 

[mike killay]

I have not used any lubricant at all on my Woosh Gale. The chain and cogs stay clean, the derailleur changes sweetly.
Most importantly, without oil etc., the hard grains of quartz present in the dirt that oil picks up are absent.
Been like that for a few months so far with no problems.
'Watch this space!'

 

[Aushiker]

Thanks Tom for the update. Good to hear it is going well.

Andrew

 

[John F]

I have not used any lubricant at all on my Woosh Gale. The chain and cogs stay clean, the derailleur changes sweetly.
Most importantly, without oil etc., the hard grains of quartz present in the dirt that oil picks up are absent.
Been like that for a few months so far with no problems.
'Watch this space!'

I Use White Lighting on my Woosh after first applying car engine oil. My theory is that the oil will penetrate the links well, and the White Lightning then "seals" in the oil.

After a while though the wax builds up particularly around the jockey wheels. I've no idea whether this is detrimental though.

I can't see the logic of not applying anything at all. This makes the assumption that the manufacturer must have used some incredible lubricant with an indefinite life span??!! Does anyone make such a chain?...

 

[trex]

I met recently a guy who's done over 5,000 miles commuting on his Sirocco CDL in the last 11 months. His bike looked remarkably clean. I asked if he looked after his e-bike himself, did he oil anything? he said, what oil?
I think his secret is he parked the bike in the bikeshed at work.

 

[RobF]

Some large linked chains on agricultural machinery are designed to run dry to prevent the grinding paste effect.

The links are about an inch long and the chain runs very slowly.

Running without lube is not something I would try on a bike, but it is very easy to put too much on, too often.

 

[mike killay]

As I say, time will tell. In three years I have replaced two sets of rear cogs and one chain on my Tonaro. Each time they were heavily coated in grinding paste which is what any lubricant soon becomes in use. Now both bikes are running well on the cogs as they came. The SRAM chain was coated in a very thick wax and would not change gear, so I cleaned it off with white spirit and now it runs just fine.
I am seriously challenging the notion that a chain needs external lubrication. Wear will take place, but will it be any more for clean steel, or steel coated with a mixture of very hard grains (Quartz for example cuts glass).

 

[John F]

As I say, time will tell. In three years I have replaced two sets of rear cogs and one chain on my Tonaro. Each time they were heavily coated in grinding paste which is what any lubricant soon becomes in use. Now both bikes are running well on the cogs as they came. The SRAM chain was coated in a very thick wax and would not change gear, so I cleaned it off with white spirit and now it runs just fine.
I am seriously challenging the notion that a chain needs external lubrication. Wear will take place, but will it be any more for clean steel, or steel coated with a mixture of very hard grains (Quartz for example cuts glass).

I'm warming to the same conclusion. Woosh told me to do nothing, even though my first stainless chain lasted not very long at all. however...

What about if it's a non stainless chain? In the past my chains used to go rusty very quickly - always the sign of a badly maintained chain. Are all modern chains non rusting?

 

[mike killay]

I'm warming to the same conclusion. Woosh told me to do nothing, even though my first stainless chain lasted not very long at all. however...

What about if it's a non stainless chain? In the past my chains used to go rusty very quickly - always the sign of a badly maintained chain. Are all modern chains non rusting?

I have no idea, perhaps someone else can help.
What I can say is that my sailing club, there are a number of bikes used by members just to get around the site which is long and narrow. The bikes are very old and have never been maintained, their chains are rusty but don't seem to suffer. It is the inside part of the chain that is important and needs oil, not the outside.

 

[flecc]

Moderate price silver finish chains like this one which are often nickel plated I've found to be rust resistant.

I daresay Rohloff's 24 carat gold plated one at £125 is too.
.

 

[mountainsport]

Moderate price silver finish chains like this one which are often nickel plated I've found to be rust resistant.

I daresay Rohloff's 24 carat gold plated one at £125 is too.
.

But when I decide to porn it will they accept melted steel, aluminium and rubber in it ? Or just stick to hanging it around my neck.

MS.

 

[flecc]

I doubt one would have much worthwhile pawn value after use, the recovery cost would be quite high with cleansing stages before smelting.
.