Spec me cycle chain oil please

RetiredGreyFox

RetiredGreyFox

RetiredGreyFox

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and while you're at it how to wipe my bum :)

Seriously I've been oiling my chains for 6 years now but feel I'm not doing it right.
There are so many to choose from - wet, dry, grease etc!

So how often, which type, any special preparations before use etc?

Thanks
 
SexyGreyFox said:
and while you're at it how to wipe my bum :)

Seriously I've been oiling my chains for 6 years now but feel I'm not doing it right.
There are so many to choose from - wet, dry, grease etc!

So how often, which type, any special preparations before use etc?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I used to spend ages cleaning my chain.

Now I just wiped the dirt off, splash some oil on, wipe off and ride. Buy cheaper chains, and replace more. But then when I stopped treating my chains like they should be gleaming, they've actually lasted longer.

I use dry lube on the mtb because I find less sandy grit crap gets stuck on the chain.
 
I won the chain lube lottery ~18 months ago, one litre of Muc Off C3 Ceramic Wet for £7... It might last me the remainder of my lifetime! :eek: ;)

It's great for the winter, but it does cover the drivetrain in black gunk not long after a complete clean and fresh application. In that respect, my old Progold Prolink was much better, but I discovered the hard way that it easily leaves the drivetrain when exposed to a bit of rain.
 
Can of worms is this subject lol!
I've been using muc off dry for a few years, it's great in good conditions , but for wet muddy rides, it can strip off, and when the chain dries out it needs wiping down and a reapplication.

I've also got some squirt lube I've not used yet but is well regarded, but that requires you to fully degrease the chain before you apply it for the first time.
 
mattyfez said:
That's pretty much what I do to be honest, life's too short!
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Maybe I'm wrong, but I think degreasing your chain too often causes more issues than good. Having a shinny chain is lovely and all but meh.

Easier on a roadie than a mtb to keep shinny of course. But even still, re-lube after or before most rides and just don't worry about it.

My BMX has never been lubed, still works even though it's more a hint of rust than silver :D
 
Thanks for the replies - I'll carry on with my Muc Off C3 Ceramic Wet although I'd love a litre for £7 :)

I ride 45 miles every week and clean my chain & sprockets every two weeks with a wire brush and then apply the oil.
However I get fed up when a bloke at work looks down 3 days later and says "Still got no oil on your chain?" :(
He rides 26 miles a day and re-lubes every week so my 2 weeks should be OK!
 
Slight hijack to the thread but does anyone know what stuff bike manufacturers use when they ship bikes out to lube the chain? Always thought that it was fairly clean and does the trick for the first few rides before having to apply new stuff yourself.
 
Pringle W said:
Slight hijack to the thread but does anyone know what stuff bike manufacturers use when they ship bikes out to lube the chain? Always thought that it was fairly clean and does the trick for the first few rides before having to apply new stuff yourself.
Click to expand...

It's wax usually.
 
New chains are lubed in factory during manufacturing. Not sure what they use but it's decent stuff, certainly no need to put 3rd party lube on until the factory stuff is worn off.
 
mattyfez said:
New chains are lubed in factory during manufacturing. Not sure what they use but it's decent stuff, certainly no need to put 3rd party lube on until the factory stuff is worn off.
Click to expand...

It would be handy to find out what the stuff is. Anyone work in a bike factory? :p
 
Pro Green MX PTFE chain lube. Expensive, but by far the best chain oil I've ever used (having worked as a mechanic for 10 years)
 
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