On Thu, 09 Feb 2006 09:49:52 -0800, Mike DeMicco
<
[email protected]> wrote:
>In article <[email protected]>,
> "Ozark Bicycle" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> HarryB wrote:
>
>> > What is the exact name of this product,
>>
>> It *might* be "DuPont Teflon Multi-Use Lubricant", a liquid with teflon
>> solids which sets up dry. On the back, it says Mfg. & Dist. By Finish
>> Line, Inc. I've used it on a number of things (pivots, etc.) with good
>> results, but never on a chain (I have my own "chain ritual"). The good
>> news is that a 4oz bottle is ~$3.39 at a big box home improvement
>> center, so it's much cheaper than stuff with the official Finish Line
>> label.
>
>Yes, that is it. See
>http://www.performancelubricant.dupont.com/dp_products_multi.html . It
>may be made by Finish Line, but it is sold under the DuPont brand name.
>It says it can be used on bicycle chains.
>>
>> > and why is it better than the
>> > hot wax method that I'm now using? My priorities are as follows
>> > (highest priority first):
>> > 1) Clean chain
>> > 2) Reduced chain wear
>> > 3) Low cost
>> > 4) Ease of relubing
>
>Because wax is a poor lubricant,
>
I can't agree. When I replaced the last drive chain on our tandem
(because it broke,) it had just over 2,000 miles on it. I checked it
with a Park Tools chain checker and it measured about 25% stretch. My
timing chain has about 3,200 miles on it and I just checked and it has
not even stretched 25%. (Since this chain is longer than the drive
chain, isn't shifted, and only has my torque on it, I would expect it
to last longer than the drive chain.) These chains have been
thoroughly cleaned of the original lube and only waxed. I submit that
if wax is a poor lubricant I wouldn't be seeing this kind of mileage.
>
>doesn't last,
>
I suspect that I get at least 700 miles before the chain would start
to squeak. That is much longer between relubing than other lubes I
tried. (We only ride pavement.)
>
>and doesn't hold up to water.
I do agree with that. If the chain only gets slightly wet from riding
in a light rain I didn't have to rewax, but after a downpour it
squeaks immediately. We seldom ride in the rain, so this isn't much of
a concern for me.
> I've used the DuPont lubricant on my mountain bike chain, and it
>stays clean. I have only tried the squeeze bottle, not the spray.
>
>ProLink is also a good lube, but the chain doesn't stay as clean in the
>presence of dirt as with the Teflon lubricant.
>
I have tried a couple of different lubricants, ProLink being the one I
tried the longest before switching to hot wax. I called ProLink and
followed the directions I was given for the "correct" preparation of
the chain prior to using ProLink (thoroughly saturating the chain with
ProLink.) I don't recall how often I was supposed to relube, but it
involved putting a drop of lube on each link. This takes quite a while
(a tandem has *many* links.) Some of the lube would drip off, so I had
to put down rags or cardboard to absorb the drips. Then I had to leave
the bike sit overnight or the lube would sling off. And, I was told to
be sure to relube after each ride in the rain. Then I needed to run a
cloth over the chain to take off the excess lube before riding after
relubing.
All of this was a lot of work and the chain was not whistle clean like
with the hot wax method. The chain rings, cassette, and rear
derailleur always had a black residue on them. It wasn't a heavy
residue, but it was dirty. Since I try to keep our tandem showroom
clean, a clean drive train is very important to me. Besides, I didn't
like to see a chainring tattoo on my stoker's lovely legs - she's
never had one after I switched to hot waxing.
Harry
