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Thread: Chain lube
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05-08-2013, 09:43 AM #1
Chain lube
Anyone got a favorite chain lube? My bottle of Finish Line Dry Lube is almost kicked, which is just as well because my chain gets noisy two rides after applying anyways. Conditions have been dry and dusty lately, with the occasional deep mud spot and stream crossing. Actually, that's most of the year, though not usually quite this dry.
What affects how long a lubing lasts? How clean the chain was at the time of applying the lube? Riding conditions? Does the chain itself make a difference? Or does the lube itself mainly determine how long it's useful? I'm just sick of my bike sounding neglected when it's anything but.
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05-08-2013, 10:02 AM #2
chain lube is really a chain cleaning. you apply the stuff, then pull the chain thru a towel to get all the gunk off. if you are just lubing the chain, you are just riding with it wet, and dust sticks to the chain easiest. doubly true for dry lubes. they suck.
in colorado/utah where it is also known as the desert, you pretty much lube every other ride.
get yourself some pro-gold chain lube, towel it off after every application, and you will be stoked.
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05-08-2013, 10:10 AM #3
While what MO said is true, I'm lazy and I never have a rag handy when I need it. I just squirt a bit of lube on when things start to chirp.
Lube of choice is T9; it has a nice balance of longevity without making every piece of dirt in the northern hemisphere stick to my chain.
Lube itself has a big effect on lengevity; wet lubes last longer but catch more dirt. Dry lubes / wax lubes run cleaner but don't last as long.
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05-08-2013, 10:28 AM #4Registered User
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my local trails here are dry & dusty. I use dry lube every ride but I apply it after a ride so the waxy stuff has dried ready for the next ride. Dry lube flicks right off if you ride when its still wet.
edit: my chain is quiet & is not caked with shit so its seems to work.
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05-08-2013, 10:31 AM #5
My favorite chain lube is a dry lube, and I never run the chain through a rag after lubing it -- it dries in 30 seconds, no need to wipe it off.
DuPont teflon "multi use" lube -- available at Lowe's for around $5-6, in a big spray can. It's made by Finish Line, and I'm pretty sure it's the same stuff as their dry lube. So if you don't like Finish Line, don't bother with this stuff either. It works for me, but I live where it's dry and dusty -- very little mud or wet-weather riding.
I also firmly believe in soaking a new chain in degreaser before using it, so YMMV and all that.
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05-08-2013, 10:44 AM #6
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05-08-2013, 10:50 AM #7
Another vote for Rock-n-Roll. I like the blue stuff.
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05-08-2013, 10:56 AM #8Registered User
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Been a pro-gold user for quite a while and it does clean the chain off pretty good, they gave out the biggest samples at interbike and then I just kept buying it
edit:actualy its pro-link made by pro-gold and I use it on pivots drip it into cables
I try to lube every ride cuz chain lube is cheap, once a season I might put the chain cleaner tool on the bike with some simple green and get the chains on all my bikes really cleanLast edited by XXX-er; 05-08-2013 at 12:01 PM.
Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know
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05-08-2013, 10:57 AM #9
I used White Lightning Clean Ride for a while and it sucked balls. You go through so much of "dry lube" shitthat shit because it lasts for about 1 mile.
I switched to ProLink because it's relatively cheap and easy to find. 1000x better than the above mentioned shite.
I've used TriFlow. Great for keeping your chain lubey, but man that shit is like a tractor beam for gunk. I guess I'd use it if I was going on like a 1000mi ride and couldn't lube up in the middle.
I passed on the Rock'nRoll stuff because I have no patience for deciding which blend to use. I want one bottle of lube.
Sometimes it feels rewarding to remove your chain and clean the fuck out of it and then lube the fuck out of it and wipe it down. I'm not convinced this helps a bunch, but it sure feels right.
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05-08-2013, 11:25 AM #10
RocknRoll Gold for several years now. jm2e, it's not that complicated...do you avoid drinking beer because there are too many choices, or do you pick a beer that works for 99% of your drinking?
I have some other lubes for wet conditions e.g. the rainy parts of the PNW.Know of a pair of Fischer Ranger 107Ti 189s (new or used) for sale? PM me.
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05-08-2013, 11:32 AM #11
I like Dumonde Tech Lite. It does the job, lasts a lot longer than others I've used, and it smells like gogonzola.
All I know is that I don't know nothin'... and that's fine.
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05-08-2013, 11:37 AM #12Registered User
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Use the used oil from your fork. Not the nasty stuff from your lowers, the cartridge oil.
I follow similar plan to Marshal. First run chain through rag, then apply oil, then run through rag again.
If riding in lots of gritty sand I'll pull the chain off and do a double oiling. Hit the chain with oil, then blast the links with the air nozzle on the air compressor and wipe clean. Re-install chain and then regular oiling. Don't hit the chain with the air nozzle while on bike, oil goes everywhere and onto your discs. Oil on discs is bad mmkay.
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05-08-2013, 11:38 AM #13
Recent test in velonews backs up what I have thought for years. Paraffin wax seems to be the best wax out there. In my own use, I clean and dry my chains thoroughly and then let them soak over night in a crockpot of paraffin wax on low. Next day wipe off excess install and ride. Seems 2-3 times a season is about all, when squeaks reapply. I get plan wax near the canning supplies at the grocery store. Practically free. No greasy hands, jersey, car, etc. A little more time involved initially but awesome. I tried it after a bet in the bike shop with the crunchy retro guy and never went back. 10 years, Montana Portland and now park city.
I rip the groomed on tele gear
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05-08-2013, 11:57 AM #14
Hm. Paraffin. Interesting. Never occurred to me even. Well... maybe I'll give that or the ProLink a try. Thanks all.
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05-08-2013, 01:31 PM #15
Rock n Roll Gold was #2 in their test by a small margain.
The biggest gain from the hassle of paraffin is a chain that's basically clean all the time.
If you wash your bike regularly and don't mind reapply lube, Rock N Roll Gold is far and away the way to go.
(I've done both)
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05-08-2013, 01:40 PM #16
Have not tried the rock n roll but I like Squirt. I apply it ahead of time so it dries then it is good to go in about 5 minutes without wiping it down. I ussually lube every ride or every other here in Durango. Seems to keep things fairly clean and I like it a lot better then the finish line dry or wax crap. Next bottle I might have to try the rock n roll.
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05-08-2013, 01:41 PM #17
Rock n roll blue or gold. I think blue lasts a little better if you have some stream crossings or some such. Still very dry and clean.
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05-08-2013, 01:47 PM #18
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05-08-2013, 02:13 PM #19
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05-08-2013, 02:43 PM #20Registered User
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Been lubing for over 20 years. Hands down the best product I've found is A.T.B lube (Absouletly the best) red out of Mesa, AZ.
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05-08-2013, 02:52 PM #21Registered User
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How long to leave a chain soaking in wax? parafin wax in a crockpot overnight seems excessive (?).
Can you just heat it up & leave in there for a short while, ie pull it out before it solidifies?
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05-08-2013, 02:54 PM #22
Agree with marshalolson and toast2226.
If you are going to use products, use this: http://www.whitelightningco.com/prod...ean-streak.htm for blasting dirt and old grease out. Then use a light chain oil, then and a rag to remove almost all the oil that you put on. This leaves only a very thin, minimal oil/wax in the rollers of the chain. Keeps it lubed without attracting dirt by coating your chain entirely in sticky oil or wax.
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05-08-2013, 02:57 PM #23
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05-08-2013, 02:57 PM #24Registered User
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05-08-2013, 03:02 PM #25
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