re: Cleaning and Lubricating Bicycle's Chain

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re: Cleaning and Lubricating Bicycle's Chain

It's best to degrease, clean and then lube the chain. In that order.

WD40 is a bad idea for chains since it can cause damage inside the rollers. As a cheaper option to chain cleaners use kerosene. In minimal quantities.

Motorbike lube will be too sticky and attract too much muck. Avoid.

re: Cleaning and Lubricating Bicycle's Chain

Thanks for the reply can you suggest any chain lube brands?

Cheers,

Karthik


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re: Cleaning and Lubricating Bicycle's Chain

I use tribocor chain spray for cleaning/degrese and tribocor chain lube for lubricating the chain. Also i do it every 500 kms or less.

I heard Motul is also good.

Thanks Peeths

re: Cleaning and Lubricating Bicycle's Chain

These are not meant for bicycles if I'm not mistaken.

I usually prefer to use normal 2T oil after cleaning. Key is to wipe off all excess oil from the chain after 5-10 minutes of the lubing. Among the cycle specific brands, you have stuff like Finish line and Muc Off.

re: Cleaning and Lubricating Bicycle's Chain

I mistook it as motocycles. Appologise.
Thanks for correcting it.

Thanks
Peeths

Re: Lubricating the chain

You have two options Desi Jugaad or the proper way, the choice is yours.

Desi Jugaad -

Use Pril/ Vim Liquid make a thick solution of it with water and use a toothbrush to clean the chain thoroughly, depending on the condition of the chain, it might require more than one wash. Then use W90 gear oil for lubrication, again apply with a toothbrush, use rag to wipe off excess oil and you are done.

Videsi Jugaad -

Cleaning -

Chain Gang Cleaning System - The Happy Earth Store

Pedros Chain Machine Tool - BUMSONTHESADDLE


Lubricating -

Finish Line Dry Tube Teflon Plus - Buy Finish Line Dry Tube Teflon Plus Online at Best Prices in India - Cycling | Flipkart.com
Finish Line Ceramic Wet Lubricant - Buy Finish Line Ceramic Wet Lubricant Online at Best Prices in India - Cycling | Flipkart.com

Re: Cleaning and Lubricating Bicycle's Chain

Thanks guys will try the desi jugaad for now. Till I get the videshi lubes.

Cheers,

Karthik


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Re: Cleaning and Lubricating Bicycle's Chain

Kartik,

You can very well use WD40 to completely clean the chain but it should be off the bike. Any WD40 going into Wheel-hubs will ruin it. But WD40 is to be used only as a Gunk-cleaning solution. But Spirit or thiners also do a wonderfull job. The best method is to put the chain in a cold-drink bottle spray a lot of wd40 and shake. then completly wash the chain with detergent.

Reason for detergent is that it removes the WD40 which is not good for lubrication. Once the chain is dry & wiped totally clean the you set it back on the bike, lube each link individually with just one drop of oil & turn around the chain a few times & then wipe the chain clean again to remove any residue left.

As for lubes, like said about motorcycle oil is too thick & sticky for bicycle. Hence use dedicated lubes like Zefal or Finish-line, Pedros or even a new brand on the scene Squrt. Happy Earth & BOTS are both very good stores, I know both Arivind & Rohan personally, theyll guide you correct.

Re: Cleaning and Lubricating Bicycle's Chain


Thanks for your reply Kaushik! I will surely check out those stores which u referred to!

Cheers,

Karthik


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Re: Cleaning and Lubricating Bicycle's Chain

Finally bought the park tool CL-1 lube from happy Earth. I'm not able to upload good quality pic from the phone. So here's the link:



Thanks again guys!!

Karthik


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Re: Cleaning and Lubricating Bicycle's Chain

I used and spoiled my previous crank with Singer sewing machine oil and I don't trust it anymore. Below is a cliche advice I adopted

1. I bought a replica of this from aliexpress for less than 500 and got some brush for cleaning in between cogs and on cogs.
2. Take a dry cloth, hold it along with the chain in your hands and crank. While it passes , slowly the much sticks to the cloth first.
3. Once this is done, I just put this chain gang cleaner loaded with light soap (vim liquid) and hot water and make sure the chain passes through it for some 40 - 50 times and repeat the process until I see a clean water (which mean dirt is out) after 50 passes. I was using 3M chain degreaser before this and to be honest, it seriously rips of all the lube and muck which should not be. A mild degreaser is advisable. Purpose is to clean the muck and dirt.
4. Leave it for 40 minutes to an hour.
5. Now take the FinishLine lube (I use green) and place each drop on the rollers, such that the fluid should be at the ends. The lube needs to penetrate into the both ends, per se where the plates are linked to the bushes. They need to reach the rollers.
6. Once all the links are done, just crank for few minutes with uniform velocity to ensure they are spread.
7. Leave it overnight and its ready to bike on the next day.

Some master hack. I own a MTB 8 x 3 and whenever I buy a cassette, I get three chains with it. Swap the chains every 300 kms, this will make cassette wear eventual on all cogs and extends it, else I used to rip it in less than 2k (esp the 5,6)

Re: Cleaning and Lubricating Bicycle's Chain

I honestly have no clue how can someone rip thru their cassette & Chain in 2k kms! I usually don't find much wear even after 5-6k kms. I've not recalled when I last changed my bicycle's cassette for the cause of wear!!! Maybe one of the reasons for it could be I hardly ride with cross chains, but that alone can't be the reason.

Also at 300kms odd the drive train is just not even starting to breaking in to a smoother contact!!!

Re: Cleaning and Lubricating Bicycle's Chain

i was doing all local DIY for chain cleaning. every third ride or so i wipe the chain with a cloth, and then using a hard nylon brush rub out all the dirt etc left on the chain. then i have some left over oil ( as i change my bike oil myself -balance after topping my impulse 15 w - 40 - 4T castrol fully synthetic ) take a little oil and wet a very small piece of clean cloth in oil and rub the chain with the wet oil cloth till such time i am satisfied. no dripping and a clean lube. now every 2 to 3 weeks after cleaning with a cloth and brush i take half a glass of diesel and using a brush (an one inch wide paint brush) with a tray kept below the chain clean the chain with brush and diesel. after i am satisfied i wipe c the chain with a dry clean cloth. after one hour or so i do my wet cloth oil method as described above. like every 6 weeks or so my park tool comes into action. but i fill the tool with diesel and clean the chain. wipe dry with a clean cloth and lube as above. 9 months and 3000 kms are done like this and my hybrid (a montra blues 1.1 ) is fine. now when it rains in kerala and the cycle will be messed up as i ride in the rains. then what i do is immediately after coming back from ride i take out my garden hose and wash the entire bike clean with water ( including chain etc etc) and leave it to dry after wiping the bike. bike is parked inside my house is a plus. i am not going to change my method of cleaning my chain as especially in other parts of the world ( see u tube net etc) they make simple things like this highly complicated and confusing.