"Donald Gillies" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:
[email protected]...
> "* * Chas" <[email protected]> writes:
>
>
> >"Donald Gillies" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >>
> >> I don't think he meant mineral oil literally. There is a long lore
> >> that vegetable-based oils do not work in cycling - they attract
more
> >> dirt and break down much sooner than mineral (which includes
> >> petroleum) based oils. In other words, do NOT use 3-in-1 oil to
oil
> >> your bicycle's drivetrain, as this is a vegetable-based oil.
> >>
> >> I first read about this, i believe, in Tom Kuthberson's famous
book,
> >> "Anybody's Bicycle Book", from the 1970's.
> >>
> >> - Don Gillies
> >> San Diego, CA
> >>
> >>
>
> >Castor bean oil has been used as an engine lubricant for many years,
> >that's how Castrol originally got it's name. It's still used in some
> >racing engines, also 2 stroke model airplane engines.
>
> >There is a family of vegetable oils that are effective lubricants.
They
> >are composed of fatty alcohols that contain long chain polymers which
> >act similar to extreme pressure additives to form a boundary layer to
> >prevent metal to metal contact in bearing surfaces.
>
> >Boelube was one of the first commercially available products. It's
> >mostly used for metal cutting applications. It was supposedly made
from
> >jojoba bean oil. There's a commercial chainlube that claims to
contain
> >Boelube.
>
> I agree that castrol is a longstanding and successful engine motor
> oil, and as you say, boelube seems to be also effective. However, I
> think Cutherberson's argument was that the "open air durability" was
> the problem with vegetable oils. As Castrol is used in a closed
> system (engine), and jojoba oil is used for metal cutting which is a
> decidedly short-term usage (hours, not months) pattern, i think the
> assertion that vegetable-based oils are not good for chains and
> open-air drivetrains is still defensible, although i don't know the
> chemical property of vegetable oils that causes this problem ...
>
> - Don Gillies
> San Diego, CA, USA
>
Don,
Except for their racing oils, Castrol engine oils are petroleum based.
I have some sample packs of the jojoba like cutting pastes and oils that
are over 20 years old and have not noticeably changed. It's called an
oil but it's more of a wax.
Boeshield T9 claims to use Boelube in their products. I've been trying
it for past few months but is seems to remain a little oily and it picks
up dust.
http://www.boeshield.com/
Sachs sold a "dry wax" liquid chain lube about 10-15 years ago. That was
my favorite. It kept my chains clean and shifting smoothly. No chairing
marks on my calf.
We started using Quaker State "fibrous" automotive wheel bearing grease
in our shop back in the 70's for hubs, BBs and headsets because it stays
in place. Over time (10 years or so) I found that the oil separated out
and left a hard to clean residue on the hubs and fork crown.
I've also used Phil grease which didn't break down very much over time
but would thin out in very hot weather. It's great if you repack
regularly or have seals to keep it in place.
I don't enjoy repacking bearings. I have about 6-7 sets of wheel that I
have to work on this winter along with a number of headsets. I bought a
can of Park grease which seems to be a little thicker than Phil grease.
I'm going to try that out.
Chas.
