Chain Lube etc..

ipodrocker

hi guys,

what do you experts recommend for using on your chain.

I have a road bike (if that makes a difference)

Captain Havoc

Gonna lose my street cred here:

Tenzor07

If your local bike shop is out of 3-in-1 you could get this instead:

www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=194&idproduct=6486

ipodrocker

i was thinking 3-1, thought there is a better lube to use for my chainset.

07Lapierre

Captain Havoc wrote: »

Gonna lose my street cred here:

You beat me to it!

Just remember not to use too much. Just a few drops (and i mean a few....8 or 9 drops)

Captain Havoc

Tenzor07 wrote: »

If your local bike shop is out of 3-in-1 you could get this instead:

www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=194&idproduct=6486

Your local petrol station will always have snakeoil 3 in 1 :cool:

Mycroft H

The cheapest naphthenic oil around. I'm another 3 in 1 user. 76 cent a bottle in Tecos. Common myth that its based on veg oil which is completely false.


Degrease and then oil. Less is more with oil.

Tenzor07

3 in 1 oil for your bike chain? What is this, the 1980's??? :rolleyes:

OP, just go into any half decent bike shop and pick up the chain oil as recommended by me earlier..

Mycroft H

Tenzor07 wrote: »

3 in 1 oil for your bike chain? What is this, the 1980's??? :rolleyes:

OP, just go into any half decent bike shop and pick up the chain oil as recommended by me earlier..

Why not? Its 76 cent a bottle, lasts for ages and is an naphthenic oil, which is designed not to sludge? I'd pay it over a 5 quid bottle of oil. Chains don't perticularly care what oil is on them as long as there is some.

Tenzor07

Dunno bout your narcoleptic oils! I won't be using vegetable oil on my bike chain for the same reasons and thats even cheaper in Lidl!

Ok Ok... If i was really stuck and had an old clunker with a rusty chain i'd whack on the 3 in 1, but with chains costing upwards of €20 ill use the specially formulated synthetic lubes out there...

steamsey

I've been using this recently http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=8756 and it seems pretty good for both road and MTB bikes.

Mycroft H

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Dunno bout your narcoleptic oils! I won't be using vegetable oil on my bike chain for the same reasons and thats even cheaper in Lidl!

Ok Ok... If i was really stuck and had an old clunker with a rusty chain i'd whack on the 3 in 1, but with chains costing upwards of €20 ill use the specially formulated synthetic lubes out there...

3 in 1 has no vegetable oil in it!

See here

And see here for what naphthenic oil is too. The tl;dr version is; naphthenic oil is a low friction oil that does not degrade into sludge. Virtually free from wax they continue to flow at low temperatures. It is entirely petroleum based.

Tenzor07

ok, bottom line here is "Household" oil, such as 3 in 1, is a vegetable oil and is acidic. It tends to gum up, wash off easily and attract gunk! As well as not properly penetrating the chain links....

cuculainn

I have started using Rock n roll chain lubricant......supposedly cleans the chain while cycling (pushes dirt out)

Have to say I find it really good

Tenzor07

cuculainn wrote: »

I have started using Rock n roll chain lubricant......supposedly cleans the chain while cycling (pushes dirt out)

This would be the opposite to what 3-in-1 oil does then!

Mycroft H

Tenzor07 wrote: »

ok, bottom line here is "Household" oil, such as 3 in 1, is a vegetable oil and is acidic. It tends to gum up, wash off easily and attract gunk! As well as not properly penetrating the chain links....

Did you even read the PDF? Where does it say there that it is veg oil based?

Actually I'll save you the hassle

Captain Havoc

If fore mentioned oil is €12 and 3 in 1 is <€1, would it not be cheaper to replace the chain with the extra wear 3 in 1 causes than go through €12 a bottle oil?

cuculainn

Captain Havoc wrote: »

If fore mentioned oil is €12 and 3 in 1 is <€1, would it not be cheaper to replace the chain with the extra wear 3 in 1 causes than go through €12 a bottle oil?

Well thats one way around it I guess!!

I just like having a shiney chain and not having to clean loads of dust/ grime off after every cycle

radiat

i started using the chain lub stuff i got from a bike shop.

the chain snapped a week later! no idea why. Went back to the 3-in-1

radiat

radiat wrote: »

i started using the chain lub stuff i got from a bike shop.

the chain snapped a week later! no idea why. Went back to the 3-in-1

Did you buy it off this guy?

thehangtenguy

Captain Havoc wrote: »

If fore mentioned oil is €12 and 3 in 1 is <€1, would it not be cheaper to replace the chain with the extra wear 3 in 1 causes than go through €12 a bottle oil?

Completely agree. As said before just apply a few drops of 3in1 and wipe off any excess.

GTDolanator

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Dunno bout your narcoleptic oils! I won't be using vegetable oil on my bike chain for the same reasons and thats even cheaper in Lidl!

Ok Ok... If i was really stuck and had an old clunker with a rusty chain i'd whack on the 3 in 1, but with chains costing upwards of €20 ill use the specially formulated synthetic lubes out there...

were not dealing with high tollerence engines here no need for synthetic stuff.Just clean and lube it more often.

i use oil for my diesel van!its fine as long as i clean and lube frequently

monkey 456

Sry if u have the 3-1 what do u do. Put it on a cloth and rub or what? And how often sud u do it??

radiat

this is a great tool:
http://www.parktool.com/product/cyclone-r-chain-scrubber-cm-5

tomasrojo

3-in-1 is fine; used it for years, and I still use it for lubricating locks and for lubricating hinges on derailleurs and cable anchor points. However, it does wash out of chains very easily, so if you don't fancy re-oiling every week, a heavier oil is better. White Lightning does good heavier oils.

(3-in-1 most definitely is not based on vegetable oil.)

tomasrojo

monkey 456 wrote: »

Sry if u have the 3-1 what do u do. Put it on a cloth and rub or what? And how often sud u do it??

Clean and dry the chain; then put a drop on each roller.

rab!dmonkey

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/technical-tuesday-chain-lube-2010.html
http://sheldonbrown.com/chains.html
I don't know what would make you think just a few drops would be enough to properly lubricate a chain. The oil needs to penetrate every roller.

tomasrojo

rab!dmonkey wrote: »

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/technical-tuesday-chain-lube-2010.html
http://sheldonbrown.com/chains.html
I don't know what would make you think just a few drops would be enough to properly lubricate a chain. The oil needs to penetrate every roller.

I'm not sure whether you're addressing me. I did say put a drop on each roller, which ties in with Step 3 in your first link: "Apply lube sparingly to each roller on both the top and bottom sides of the chain while pedaling in reverse" Perhaps you need more than one drop of 3-in-1 -- it's a while since I've used it on chains -- but one drop of White Lightning does the trick, I find.

DirkVoodoo

If you're going to insist on using 3-in-one oil, at least buy the one with a teflon additive.

deandean

+1 for 3 In 1

07Lapierre

tomasrojo wrote: »

Clean and dry the chain; then put a drop on each roller.

One drop on each chain roller? Nah.... 8 or so drops on a moving chain....after a couple of revolutions, the oil will spread to the whole chain. Less excess to clean off too.

C3PO

07Lapierre wrote: »

One drop on each chain roller? Nah.... 8 or so drops on a moving chain....after a couple of revolutions, the oil will spread to the whole chain. Less excess to clean off too.

How exactly would the oil spread ..... a process of osmosis perhaps? :rolleyes:

I think I'll stick with one roller at a time!

rich.d.berry

RPL1 wrote: »

How exactly would the oil spread

It also coats the cogs and spreads that way. If you use more oil then I do hope that you wipe any excess off your chain after application. You really do not need much oil as there is already oil on the chain, you're just giving it a bit of a top up.

07Lapierre

RPL1 wrote: »

How exactly would the oil spread ..... a process of osmosis perhaps? :rolleyes:

I think I'll stick with one roller at a time!

osmosis? ... no its even simpler than that..oil on chain, turn the pedals, chain moves so oil transfers onto the cogs, jockey pulleys and chainset...simple. works its way into the chain too. less oil to clean off, less oil attracts less dirt etc. etc.

loyatemu

anyone use TF2? I have an enormous can of it, never quite sure if its any different to WD40 which I've been told not to use.

rich.d.berry

loyatemu wrote: »

anyone use TF2? I have an enormous can of it, never quite sure if its any different to WD40 which I've been told not to use.

I was advised to use both by the guy who services my bike. This is what he showed me to do weekly:

Start with WD40 which drives out any moisture, strips greasy build up and loosens any gunge. Clean thoroughly with a rag. Also spray it on the derailleur and clean the jockey wheels by gently pinching the exposed section with the rag while spinning. Repeat if required to remove stubborn build-up.

Then, using the straw on the TF2 spray ever so gently so that the lubricant drips from the end, apply sparingly to the inside surface of the chain (the top of the lower loop). spin the chain through a good few revolutions. Flick it up and down through the cassette. Wipe chain again with clean rag to remove any excess.

After a wet spin he advised me to dry the chain with a cloth and re-apply TF2 if it there is no grit evident on the chain. If gritty then clean with WD40 first.