Brand new bike and oiling

[johnny5alv]

Hi

I've just bought a new bike and there is no oil on the chain at all.. I'm sorry if I sound like I havn't a clue..It's because I don't :/ Haven't ridden in years.

I know I have to oil the chain but should I oil most other parts where metal meets metal?

Also I thought it would be a simple case to just put the oil on the chain 'liberally'.. But I've read there are 'certain' ways to oil chains... I just want some advice before I go ahead and start oiling :)

Thanks for any help

Jon

[Bikelyst]

Go to your bike shop and pick up a lubricant. Just ask them, and they'll know what you are talking about.

People prefer different types of lubes i.e. wet vs. dry, but whatever cuts down on friction will be fine for you.

I don't really go by any standard when it comes to oiling my chain, I just throw it anywhere, and everywhere, but I'm sure someone might know a way to oil your chain some specified way.

[johnny5alv]

Ok cool, thanks

I forgot to say that I already bought some oil.. It's like 'runny snot' (not my words, the shop keepers words).

It's the spray kind with a long tube fitting.

Thanks for the reply.. Feel more at ease putting it on now :)

[Retro Grouch]

Hi

I've just bought a new bike and there is no oil on the chain at all.. I'm sorry if I sound like I havn't a clue..It's because I don't :/ Haven't ridden in years.

I know I have to oil the chain but should I oil most other parts where metal meets metal?

Also I thought it would be a simple case to just put the oil on the chain 'liberally'.. But I've read there are 'certain' ways to oil chains... I just want some advice before I go ahead and start oiling :)

Thanks for any help

Jon
It's pretty hard not to overlube bike parts. Too much lube is counter productive. It attracts dirt and grit and generally lakes a mess of things.

Chains take very little lube. I use a drip bottle and put the tiniest drop that I can manage on each individual link. If you use a spray lube, let it set for 10 minutes or so then see if you can wipe it completely off of the exterior of the chain.

Other bike parts require even less lubricating. Maybe a tiny drop of oil once a year.

[johnny5alv]

Hi

I'm a bit worried..I've messed up by the sounds of things here...

I have a spray and as a friend cranked the chain, I sprayed the lube a good several seconds.. But it's where I sprayed it! Dumb ass is me, I sprayed the can (and kept spraying) ON the cog(?) wheel itself (back wheel). When I was done it was dripping..

In my defense, my friend told me 'he knows what he's doing' and told me to spray until he said stop.. In the end it was going so long I said stop...

It's been a few hours since then and there's a lot on the chain..god knows what the cog wheel is like... Have I messed up bad, or will I be 'ok'?

Thanks for the advice

Jon

[CSpeedster]

I would say just use a cloth and get in between the cogs all the way in, you can streach the cloth out so you can reach deep in the cogs. :) as someone said before dry off the sides of the chain and the inside shouldent be dripping either.

You should pick up a bag of rags somewhere, nice clean rags are handy.

I've googled on how to clean my bike/drivetrain elc and found some good links but I dont have them anymore since I have a new computer.

(if I dident explain how to get inbetween the cogs well enough just say so, I will put more efort into it). :)

oh and Im not all that knowledgeable on part names, but cogs mean those little wheel things on your rear derailer? you can use a alan key to remove it and dry it off. its not going to mess up you alingment, easy to do. :) I have a mountain bike that I get real dirty, keeping it clean makes things last so much longer.

[xxamr_corpxx]

Wipe of the excess with a rag.

IMO there's no need for special oils. I've heard olive oil works quite well.

[sogood]

I've just bought a new bike and there is no oil on the chain at all..
Hard to believe. Is there no visible dripping oil or doesn't even feel greasy. You don't need to see the oil, just need to be able to feel there's a layer there.

[sogood]

I have a spray and as a friend cranked the chain, I sprayed the lube a good several seconds.. But it's where I sprayed it! Dumb ass is me, I sprayed the can (and kept spraying) ON the cog(?) wheel itself (back wheel). When I was done it was dripping..
With that, you'll have a dirty cassette with all kind of crap stuck b/n the cogs over time. You really don't need to lube the cassette directly, just concentrate on the chain and derailleurs. Apart from aforementioned wiping b/n the cogs, at some stage you might care to take the cassette off the wheel and degrease. It's the only way for a total clean.