Cycle chain lubricant

mcduff16

Can anyone recommend a good lubricant for my cycle chain (not WD40) thanks

Paradigm

Cheap 20/50 engine oil applied with a paint brush, leave it drain over some newspaper & job done.

Some will be thrown off when you ride it but it still leaves a film on the chain which is all you need.

Weird_Nev

I just use whatever engine oil i have in stock. Pour some onto a bit of kitchen towel, grip lightly around the chain and cycle the pedals backwards a few time (takeing care not to get your hand pulled into the chain/cogs!)
It's served me for years.
do it every couple of weeks and the chain will last fine. Just don't leave the bike out side or when it's wet.

gilbert_and_sullivan

If you can't find any spray grease or rather proper chain lube whcih is very sticky, then 75/80w or so gear oil is better than engine oil, which washes off too easily.

If you want to put some grease on the chain to waterproof it as it were and keep the oil in then Castrol CL grease is waterproof.

thescouselander

I find Finish Line Wet is the best.

Dont do what Weird Nev says as you'll only end up coating the outside of the chain - the oil needs to get between the pins of the chain and the rollers. Coating the outside of the chain is pretty nugatory. The best way to apply oil is to drip it on to the inside (the side the comes into contact of with the sprockets) of the chain while pedalling backwards - apply enough that it will soak through to the pins then wipe off any excess with a rag.

Personally I try to make sure I don't get any oil on the sides of the chain as it only attracts dirt.

verybigchris

^^^ thescouselander's right about applying it to the pins. Oil on the outside of the chain does nothing except move dirt and grit through your gears.

I prefer Finish Line Dry as it doesn't get as dirty, but it does need reapplying often, especially if you ride in the rain.

johnfarquhar74

I've paid silly money in the past for various types of chain lubricant, from dry types to gel types that 'cling & protect'.
The cheapest and best for me was GT85, couple of quid and lasts for ages.
Can I just add, WD40, THIS IS NOT a lubricant. It has some fantastic uses, apparently it's even good for arthritic joints(don't ask) but overtime, WD40 will ruin your chain!

Lithian

I really liked Finish Lines wax krytech lubricant, i rode XC in Scotland year round so lots and lots and lots of sticky wet mud getting flung about. Thin lubes would just be washed off after a few stream crossings, thicker lubes would have dirt and grit stuck in them and you hear that going through the gears, the wax lube was perfect, i'd run some through the chain once a week but never felt it really needed it that often.

fred7777

Use proper bike chain oil. Any is good including finish line.

https://www.google.co.uk/#q=bike+chain+oil&hl=en&sa=X&tbs=p_ord:p&tbm=shop&prmd=imvns&ei=aySNT-XFCYri8APU4fijCw&ved=0CKQBELsNKAE&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=b5de08279a11adbe&biw=1024&bih=622

Don't use engine oil or grease, it's too thick will collect far more dirt and won't get into the chain as easily as proper chain oil.

Also if you are doing a lot of miles on dirt or in the rain then once your chain has thick black dirt on it take it off, wash it in white spirit or WD40, leave it to dry then re oil it before putting it back on the bike.

reeac

When I was a racing cyclist in the 1950s the deluxe was to look after your chain was to remove it, vapour degrease using e.g. benzene and then immerse in hot graphited oil before "hanging up to dry". The benzene vapour bit was dodgey.

Strider590

Go to a proper bike shop, you want a thin oil with anti-static and dirt repellent properties.

The stuff I use, you can't seem to buy anymore (unless they rebranded).

A lot of people use GT85, it's not the best, but it's pretty easy to get hold of, versus the more specialist stuff. Bike shops sell this, but they don't sell WD40 (unless you go to Halfrauds)

Your right not to use WD40!!!

Bike chains come manufactured with long life grease installed inside each chain link, WD40 is primarily a solvent and degreaser, with a residual light oil. Using WD40 on a bike chain removes this pre-installed grease and leaves the chain links dry, it also washes drit/grit into the links. Once you've done this, your chain is ruined, it'll make awful grinding noises for weeks and you'll have no choice but to constantly keep oiling the damn thing.....

WD40 is good for a lot of things, but it's NOT good for bike chains OR ANY area that has inaccessible pre-installed lubricating grease.


You can't watch the video but you can see the explanation.
http://bicycletutor.com/no-wd40-bike-chain/

In fact just Google