Lube Advice

[nuggs1]

Its time for a new cassette and chain and I'm thinking of going to dry lube instead of the wet I've been using all my life.

Any suggestions or personal preferences ?

 

[Notso Swift]

I used Finish Line Teflon for a while but I have moved back to wet Chain-L
Dry gets really dirty, it almost attracts the dirt, wear is not an issue, the chain lasts and is quiet, but dirty chains are never sexy

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Its time for a new cassette and chain and I'm thinking of going to dry lube instead of the wet I've been using all my life.

Any suggestions or personal preferences ?

ProLink..little goes a long way, read the directions, apply the night before, not the morning of, the ride.

 

[richwagmn]

I used Finish Line Teflon for a while but I have moved back to wet Chain-L
Dry gets really dirty, it almost attracts the dirt, wear is not an issue, the chain lasts and is quiet, but dirty chains are never sexy

I agree on Finish Line getting really dirty. Sort of defeats the purpose of dry lube. I end up cleaning the drive train every few weeks.

Ordered some Proline and will give that a try.

 

[ElChingon]

There is only one True Dry Lube and that is to wax your chain with paraffin wax. Some say its something from the dark ages some have never heard of it, yet others ride with a waxed chain everyday. Granted it takes a bit extra time and its best to have a spare chain ready to go but its worth every penny and the effort. You will have the quietest drive drain, the cleanest drive train and the best lubed drive train. Everything else is wet and dirty if not the day you apply the next, guaranteed.

 

[fatsprintking]

Another vote for prolink from me. Great self cleaning quality. Just put a little on the chain and at the end of your ride give the chain a wipe over with a rag and apply a little more.

Keps chain clean and does not attract crud like traditianal lubes. Its very thin, so requires more regular application, but as bustedknuckle says you only need a little bit.

 

[Stingray34]

Oh boy, I'm Frodo when it comes to lubes. The everlasting quest for the perfect chain.

There's this stuff if you want a really, really clean chain, no black fingers ever

Not bad but not great either; it's dry and waxy and always clean, but I can't say it does a great job of reducing friction.

Pedros Ice Wax was a personal fave for many years, then they came out with Ice Wax 2.0, which was a bit viscous and not unlike the stuff above, only dirtier

Still good, but a let down from how it used to be.

Prolink is great stuff. Still have a tiny amount left. Was disappointed I couldn't find it anymore when I moved. I can't honestly remember how it was on my chain, but it seemed to do everything well and was moderately clean. [I linked the pic, but can only use 4 images per post...see next post]

This stuff was promised to be the best, most fantalastic lubescent stuff to put on your chain in any weather

Remember Conan the Destroyer? The way the statue is supposed to turn into a reborn-god to the music of Ravel's Bolero and instead everything just turns to sh@t? Well, this stuff is worse, and very very dirty.

So, these days I'm back on the good ol 'Rock n Roll' lubes. The red is okay, but I'm usuing the blue extreme stuff. It's cleanish, quiet and does the job.

Use it like Prolink. Put it on fairly heavily and let it dry a little. Then wipe it down and you're good to go. I recoat every second ride, or every ride if it's long.

So many others used, but mostly forgotten.

 

[Stingray34]

Prolink pic, as promised.

Very good stuff, highly recommended.

 

[Fiemme]

I do alot of my own maintenance. I quite like 'tinkering' in the garage and wasting valuable time on my bike maintenance. I clean and relube my training bike once every two weeks on average. I simply use motor oil and on my 'good' bike use a 50-50 mix of motor oil and sewing machine oil.

The major problem with 'Dry' lubes is they are generally wax based and once applied will work out of the friction join they are supposed be protecting. Then you have steel on steel rubbing and wearing out alot quicker.

There is no wonder lubricant that is going reduce friction and not dirty. Even KY gel will not stop you from getting dirty.

 

[ElChingon]

There is no wonder lubricant that is going reduce friction and not dirty. Even KY gel will not stop you from getting dirty.

Pure paraffin wax! Dip the chain in the melted wax and its everywhere and once dry you mount it on the drive train, clean as can be, you can even wipe it down with a white glove and no dirt/grime/oil/grease. Try it then say there is none if it doesn't work for you.

 

[BroDeal]

I do alot of my own maintenance. I quite like 'tinkering' in the garage and wasting valuable time on my bike maintenance. I clean and relube my training bike once every two weeks on average. I simply use motor oil and on my 'good' bike use a 50-50 mix of motor oil and sewing machine oil.

I use motor oil and oderless mineral spirits. Usually a 1:3 mix. The mineral spirits thin the mix. It then evaporates, leaving the oil. The nice thing is that a liter is cheaper than crap so there is never an urge to be stingy with it. Micro grit internal to the chain drips off with the excess lube.

Wax based lubes suck suck suck, especially if you are caught in a bit of rain.

 

[Jeremiah]

I use motor oil and oderless mineral spirits. Usually a 1:3 mix. The mineral spirits thin the mix. It then evaporates, leaving the oil. The nice thing is that a liter is cheaper than crap so there is never an urge to be stingy with it. Micro grit internal to the chain drips off with the excess lube.

Wax based lubes suck suck suck, especially if you are caught in a bit of rain.

Oil won't penetrate unless thinned?

What about removing chain with quick link and soaking?

 

[Fiemme]

Pure paraffin wax! Dip the chain in the melted wax and its everywhere and once dry you mount it on the drive train, clean as can be, you can even wipe it down with a white glove and no dirt/grime/oil/grease. Try it then say there is none if it doesn't work for you.

The trouble with this method is that when the wax hardens it is forced out of the friction points and then does not act as a lubricant. As Brodeal mentioned in colder weather conditions the wax simply hardens and causes the chain to be less plyable. It maybe alright it temperatures above 30degC but at temperatures below 20degC it remains a solid.

I used a Lanolin based lubricant once and i had no problem in summer. Come winter i had issues with gear changing as the lanolin had hardened and was causing the chain to stiffen slightly.

Jeremiah. I think Brodeal thins the oil just to help getting it into the rollers were it belongs. Some people don't use quick links and don't have the luxury of soaking a chain in oil.

 

[2beeDammed]

Agreed, the Prolink is good stuff. Can't get it at my LBS up here so have moved to Triflow they have a wet and a dry version. Personally I preffer the dry, seems to last longer and stay cleaner

 

[richwagmn]

Been using the prolink gold for a couple of weeks and am quite happy. Definitely doesn't attract dirt like the Finish Line dry lube I was using(and doesn't leave waxy stuff everywhere).

I did initially sort of soak the chain per their instructions and then wiped off the grime with a towel.

Did a second light application after 300 miles and the chain is nice and quiet.

Good advice here again.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

I use motor oil and oderless mineral spirits. Usually a 1:3 mix. The mineral spirits thin the mix. It then evaporates, leaving the oil. The nice thing is that a liter is cheaper than crap so there is never an urge to be stingy with it. Micro grit internal to the chain drips off with the excess lube.

Wax based lubes suck suck suck, especially if you are caught in a bit of rain.

Wax based doesn't even make sense. I hate the dry teflon based stuff cos chain gets really dirty faster. I like using a nice degreaser like Pedros, which gets all grime off the chain without stripping all the lube like gasoline would, then follow with Finish Line or Pro Link chain lubes.

Never thought about the motor oil mix. Tried lemonade once, but that was a waste of time and I couldn't drink it afterwards.