Chain, Gears & Wheel Lube

Ian \

What's better for regular lubing of chain, hubs, derailleur,
etc on a hybrid used mostly for road touring?

A very light spray oil (like WD-40), something heavier (3 in
1 light machine oil), or a heavier grease?

I'd like to be able to avoid buying the small overpriced
bottle of "chain lube" at the bike shop.

Thanks,

Ian

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Benjamin Lewis

ianstock"antispam"@sympatico.ca wrote:

> What's better for regular lubing of chain, hubs,
> derailleur, etc on a hybrid used mostly for road touring?
>
> A very light spray oil (like WD-40), something heavier (3
> in 1 light machine oil), or a heavier grease?
>
> I'd like to be able to avoid buying the small overpriced
> bottle of "chain lube" at the bike shop.

I like chainsaw oil or motor oil for drive train.
Grease for hubs.

--
Benjamin Lewis

Hey! I'm only fourteen, sickly 'n' thin Tried all of my life
just to grow me a chin It popped out once, but my dad pushed
it in. -- FZ

Psycholist

"Ian (remove the antispam)" <ianstock"antispam"@sympatico.ca> wrote in
message news:40d1b3fd_6@corp.newsgroups.com...
> What's better for regular lubing of chain, hubs,
> derailleur, etc on a
hybrid
> used mostly for road touring?
>
> A very light spray oil (like WD-40), something heavier (3
> in 1 light
machine
> oil), or a heavier grease?
>
> I'd like to be able to avoid buying the small overpriced
> bottle of "chain lube" at the bike shop.
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ian
>

Of the choices you offered, I'd guess the 3 in 1 would be
best. If you really want to go cheap, I've heard that used
motor oil from a car makes an excellent chain lube. WD 40
won't do and heavy grease will collect way too much dirt and
probably won't work into the pins very well.

Bob C.

David Kerber

In article <40d1b3fd_6@corp.newsgroups.com>, "Ian \(remove
the antispam \)" <ianstock"antispam"@sympatico.ca> says...
> What's better for regular lubing of chain, hubs,
> derailleur, etc on a hybrid used mostly for road touring?
>
> A very light spray oil (like WD-40), something heavier (3
> in 1 light machine oil), or a heavier grease?
>
> I'd like to be able to avoid buying the small overpriced
> bottle of "chain lube" at the bike shop.

I find that 10W30 motor works well, and doesn't hold dirt
and grit as much as heavier and/or stickier lubes do. The
3-in-1 oil might be ok as long as you kept up frequent
applications. I wouldn't use WD-49 though; too many
volatiles which quickly evaporate.

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in
the newsgroups if possible).

Rick Onanian

On Thu, 17 Jun 2004 11:07:49 -0400, "Ian \(remove the antispam\)"
<ianstock"antispam"@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>A very light spray oil (like WD-40), something heavier (3
>in 1 light machine oil), or a heavier grease?

Usenet lube wars are very good for keeping your chain
operating at peak efficiency.
--
Rick Onanian

Tk

> Usenet lube wars are very good for keeping your chain
> operating at peak efficiency.

Anyone using goose fat?

Trailgalore

"Ian (remove the antispam)" <ianstock"antispam"@sympatico.ca> wrote in
message news:40d1b3fd_6@corp.newsgroups.com...
> What's better for regular lubing of chain, hubs,
> derailleur, etc on a
hybrid
> used mostly for road touring?
>
> A very light spray oil (like WD-40), something heavier (3
> in 1 light
machine
> oil), or a heavier grease?
>
> I'd like to be able to avoid buying the small overpriced
> bottle of "chain lube" at the bike shop.

Chain saw chain lube

Badger_south

On Thu, 17 Jun 2004 11:20:07 -0400, "psycholist" <technico@wctel.net>
wrote:

>
>"Ian (remove the antispam)"
><ianstock"antispam"@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
>news:40d1b3fd_6@corp.newsgroups.com...
>> What's better for regular lubing of chain, hubs,
>> derailleur, etc on a
>hybrid
>> used mostly for road touring?
>>
>> A very light spray oil (like WD-40), something heavier (3
>> in 1 light
>machine
>> oil), or a heavier grease?
>>
>> I'd like to be able to avoid buying the small overpriced
>> bottle of "chain lube" at the bike shop.
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Ian
>>
>
>Of the choices you offered, I'd guess the 3 in 1 would be
>best. If you really want to go cheap, I've heard that used
>motor oil from a car makes an excellent chain lube. WD 40
>won't do and heavy grease will collect way too much dirt
>and probably won't work into the pins very well.
>
>Bob C.
>

My understanding is that the real 'lube' for chain lube is
suppoed to be a type of wax, and not a type of oil.

I was told by a LBS owner:
1. WD-40 is not good, and that the lube in this was
'lanolin'. It collects dirt. (For MTB use the lube is
almost entirely 'wax' and little else, and it is the
most resistant to dirt-collection.
2. The chain, to be properly lubed should be taken off the
bike and thoroughly soaked in the 'lube' and then left
to dry overnight. The transporting agent would evap.,
leaving the waxy substance on the chain
3. When you're lubing a chain you are not doing it for the
outside, i.e. the chain in the sprockets. You're
actually lubing the inner spindle and posts inside the
chain that lets the individual chain segments move
freely as they go around the circuit.

Dunno if this is correct. FWIW. (this is the same guy who
wants to charge my brother 30 bucks to true a wheel...!!)

-Badger

Oughtfour

Ian (remove the antispam)" <ianstock"antispam wrote:
> What's better for regular lubing of chain, hubs,
> derailleur, etc on a
hybrid
> used mostly for road touring?
>
> A very light spray oil (like WD-40), something heavier (3
> in 1 light
machine
> oil), or a heavier grease?

WD-40 too thin. You'd have to apply it every day, I think.

3-in-1 too sticky thick for chains.

Mind you, I defer to the actual experience (if any) of those
who use these lubes.

Triflow is a good choice, I think. If you want something
lighter try a dry lube with teflon (and remember to reapply
often and after wet). Dry lubes are thinner but don't
attract as much dirt.

S O R N I

tk wrote:
>> Usenet lube wars are very good for keeping your chain
>> operating at peak efficiency.
>
> Anyone using goose fat?

Canadians only.

Bill "poor tip" S.

Curtis L . Russ

On Thu, 17 Jun 2004 13:00:59 -0400, Badger_South <Badger@South.net>
wrote:

>Dunno if this is correct. FWIW. (this is the same guy who
>wants to charge my brother 30 bucks to true a wheel...!!)

Seems reasonable. Maybe I'd start at $ 25 and add $ 5 if
they told me they had already tried to true it and failed.
Lord knows what you'd be dealing with.

Curtis L. Russell Odenton, MD (USA) Just someone on
two wheels...

Psycholist

"Badger_South" <Badger@South.net> wrote in message
news:l8j3d09q0cn5hmk7eif6jg8b3fqjv1c5h0@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 17 Jun 2004 11:20:07 -0400, "psycholist"
> <technico@wctel.net> wrote:
>
> >
> >"Ian (remove the antispam)"
> ><ianstock"antispam"@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> >news:40d1b3fd_6@corp.newsgroups.com...
> >> What's better for regular lubing of chain, hubs,
> >> derailleur, etc on a
> >hybrid
> >> used mostly for road touring?
> >>
> >> A very light spray oil (like WD-40), something heavier
> >> (3 in 1 light
> >machine
> >> oil), or a heavier grease?
> >>
> >> I'd like to be able to avoid buying the small
> >> overpriced bottle of
"chain
> >> lube" at the bike shop.
> >>
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >>
> >> Ian
> >>
> >
> >Of the choices you offered, I'd guess the 3 in 1 would be
> >best. If you really want to go cheap, I've heard that
> >used motor oil from a car makes
an
> >excellent chain lube. WD 40 won't do and heavy grease
> >will collect way
too
> >much dirt and probably won't work into the pins
> >very well.
> >
> >Bob C.
> >
>
> My understanding is that the real 'lube' for chain lube is
> suppoed to be a type of wax, and not a type of oil.
>
> I was told by a LBS owner:
> 1. WD-40 is not good, and that the lube in this was
> 'lanolin'. It collects dirt. (For MTB use the lube is
> almost entirely 'wax' and little else, and it is the
> most resistant to dirt-collection.
> 2. The chain, to be properly lubed should be taken off
> the bike and thoroughly soaked in the 'lube' and then
> left to dry overnight. The transporting agent would
> evap., leaving the waxy substance on the chain
> 3. When you're lubing a chain you are not doing it for
> the outside, i.e. the chain in the sprockets. You're
> actually lubing the inner spindle and posts inside
> the chain that lets the individual chain segments
> move freely as they go around the circuit.
>
> Dunno if this is correct. FWIW. (this is the same guy who
> wants to charge my brother 30 bucks to true a wheel...!!)
>
> -Badger
>

I've heard of people who do that sort of thing. Sounds
pretty anal to me. I wonder if there's any research that
suggest how many more miles (if any) you get if you go
through all that nonsense. On my road bike, I clean my chain
thoroughly (on the bike with a chain cleaning device and
degreaser, followed by soap and water) about every 300
miles. Then I re-lube with Pedros extra dry (I rarely have
to ride in damp conditions). Between cleanings, I'll spray
with an LPD-9 spray lube and wipe down really well about
every third ride. This seems to work fine.

Bob C.

Matt O'Toole

tk wrote:

>> Usenet lube wars are very good for keeping your chain
>> operating at peak efficiency.
>
> Anyone using goose fat?

Ask Wolfgang Puck.

Matt O.

Curtis L . Russ

On Thu, 17 Jun 2004 14:40:18 -0400, "psycholist" <technico@wctel.net>
wrote:

>I've heard of people who do that sort of thing. Sounds
>pretty anal to me. I wonder if there's any research that
>suggest how many more miles (if any) you get if you go
>through all that nonsense.

Since most people would be discouraged from ever doing it in
the first place, not many more. Even if you did do it, I
wonder if the replacement would come at about the same time
from other factors other than simple lubrication issues.

Curtis L. Russell Odenton, MD (USA) Just someone on
two wheels...