Best Bike Chain Oil?

[Jahee]

Originally posted by: Brutuskend

Originally posted by: Jahee
Whats the best stuff to use? What is the stuff they put on it when its new? i've found that with stuff like WD40 it turns black and makes everything look messy...

WD-40 is NOT a good chain oil!

The best I have found is Boeshield t-9.

Yea i know but when i was young it was the only stuff about so just used that, kept my old bike running for a few years though, the chain and gears are still fine infact...

Anyone got any feedback on the vegatable based grease i just found?

 

[Kelemvor]

I'm supposed to put oil on my bike chain? Hmm.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Jahee
Whats the best stuff to use? What is the stuff they put on it when its new? i've found that with stuff like WD40 it turns black and makes everything look messy...

People have misconceptions about WD40. In development it was Water Displacement formulation candidate #40, hence the name. It was designed to displace water in mechanisms, not to lubricate them, etc.

I stopped buying fancy bike chain lubricants a long time ago. I keep a quart of light weight oil such as goes in engines. It's a plastic bottle and I've punched a couple of small holes in the plastic top. I spin the chain using a peddle and drip drip from the bottle to get a light coating on the chain. I place newspapers under the bike to catch any drips. After this, I take a rag and keep spinning the chain and absorb excess oil. I do that for a minute or two. Ride the bike a day or two and wipe again to get excess oil off the chain. You want enough oil to prevent rusting and to lubricate but not so much that it becomes more of a magnet for dirt than you need.

Before I do all this I remove the chain and clean with paint thinner (and a brush, in a pan), which I save and reuse. Drain and then wipe dry with a rag.

Originally posted by: Kelemvor
I'm supposed to put oil on my bike chain? Hmm.

If your chain is squeaking, it's definitely thirsty for oil.

 

[Jahee]

Just bought some of that White Lightning stuff... Its the only stuff the bike shop had so...

Its expensive! £6 for a little 4 Fl Oz bottle!

I don't have any degreaser as such, i have white spirit though, i assume that will be ok?

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: Jahee
Whats the best stuff to use? What is the stuff they put on it when its new? i've found that with stuff like WD40 it turns black and makes everything look messy...

Motorcycle or bicycle?

 

[Jahee]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: Jahee
Whats the best stuff to use? What is the stuff they put on it when its new? i've found that with stuff like WD40 it turns black and makes everything look messy...

Motorcycle or bicycle?

BMX... It says in an earlier post..

 

[Mellman]

WD40 is for cleaning your chain, not lubricating it - I use some chain wax after cleaning/scrubbing w/ WD40 - i do it every 300 miles or so if i can. This is my motorcycle, but imagine the same care on a bmx bike would do it good.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Jahee

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Jahee

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Bicycle or motorcycle?

I've had good luck with Pro Link chain lube.

WD-40 is not a good lube. I wouldn't use it at all. Get a good cleaner/degreaser and a clean the chain off, let it dry and then apply the lube to the inside of the chain and wipe off any excess.

Its a BMX, just bought one as a little runabout around town instead of using my car for short journeys... And to keep active!

Just digging through my bike stuff i found something called "Lube It" By "Swisscare Made By MOTOREX" Apparently its based on vegetable oil!

Anyone got any feedback on this product or vegetable oil based products, i don't think i've ever used it before..

Edit: Just smelled it, it smells like cooking oil! :laugh: i'm not too sure about this stuff...

Also what other points would i have to oil on it, bear in mind its a BMX so no gears or setup like that... I know how to fix bikes up but never really learnt about maintenance like this..

Pro Link is great for bike chains. You can get it for around $6 a bottle at your local bike shop which should last you quite a while on a BMX bike. I've ridden thousands of miles and maybe used half a bottle.

I'll try and pick some up.. Thanks..

It sounds like the bearings on the rear hub need some oil too, will the same stuff be alright?

You really don't need to mess with wheel bearings unless they are dried out and need to be overhauled. Then you have to disassemble the wheel and grease the bearings with a bearing grease...not chain lube.

 

[KMc]

Another vote for ProLink here - hands down. Best stuff I have ever used and by now, I think I've pretty much used them all.

 

[Capt Caveman]

White Lighting is like crack. It's great but you have to reapply it constantly.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: Thorny

Originally posted by: mugs
I used to use White Lightning when I was into biking.

If that's the kind that's the wax then it's what I use too. Wax > Oil

That stuff is crap unless you are a Mountain biker or you detail your chain every month or so (meaning you take it off the chain ring and scrub it down with degreaser).

Teflon Plus is still the best everyday lube for road bikers.

Ask most bike mechanics what they use and if they say White Lightning, then they are mountain bikers not roadies.

White Lightning is meant to gunk up over time. Because of the nature of mountain riding, this is fine and even better for the chain because the gunk can be sloshed off when dirt accumulates. Teflon Plus on the other hand is a godo dry lube which if you lube the chain 1 day before the ride, you will get maximum performance on your everyday rider.

You can always buy the expensive lube (the crap pros use), but that stuff is $$$$.

 

[KMc]

White Lighting is decent stuff, but like other wax-based lubes, it's really only designed for a brand new or completely degreased chain/drivetrain. On top of that it's fairly messy, not very long-lasting, and not really good in cold/wet weather.

 

[Jahee]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Jahee

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Jahee

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Bicycle or motorcycle?

I've had good luck with Pro Link chain lube.

WD-40 is not a good lube. I wouldn't use it at all. Get a good cleaner/degreaser and a clean the chain off, let it dry and then apply the lube to the inside of the chain and wipe off any excess.

Its a BMX, just bought one as a little runabout around town instead of using my car for short journeys... And to keep active!

Just digging through my bike stuff i found something called "Lube It" By "Swisscare Made By MOTOREX" Apparently its based on vegetable oil!

Anyone got any feedback on this product or vegetable oil based products, i don't think i've ever used it before..

Edit: Just smelled it, it smells like cooking oil! :laugh: i'm not too sure about this stuff...

Also what other points would i have to oil on it, bear in mind its a BMX so no gears or setup like that... I know how to fix bikes up but never really learnt about maintenance like this..

Pro Link is great for bike chains. You can get it for around $6 a bottle at your local bike shop which should last you quite a while on a BMX bike. I've ridden thousands of miles and maybe used half a bottle.

I'll try and pick some up.. Thanks..

It sounds like the bearings on the rear hub need some oil too, will the same stuff be alright?

You really don't need to mess with wheel bearings unless they are dried out and need to be overhauled. Then you have to disassemble the wheel and grease the bearings with a bearing grease...not chain lube.

Well i can hear the bearings like clunking about if i spin the wheel... I'm not gonna claim to know much about bikes more than basic maintenance but what would that indicate, i'd think the bearings need more oil or they're ruined?

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
White Lighting is like crack. It's great but you have to reapply it constantly.

Haha, yea but i'll only be riding about 20 miles a week if that, im just using it as a little runabout for when i don't wanna drive a couple of miles down the road to a friends..

 

[Kelemvor]

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: Kelemvor
I'm supposed to put oil on my bike chain? Hmm.

If your chain is squeaking, it's definitely thirsty for oil.

Well.. It doesn't squeak... But I've had the bike for... hold on... Gotta access the long term memory.... I'd guess... 15 years and I don't think I've ever oiled the chain.

But it doesn't get used very often either though. Ah well.

 

[KMc]

Originally posted by: Jahee
Well i can hear the bearings like clunking about if i spin the wheel... I'm not gonna claim to know much about bikes more than basic maintenance but what would that indicate, i'd think the bearings need more oil or they're ruined?

If you hold the wheel and try to move it side to side, can you feel some 'play' (movement) in the wheel? If so, a bearing adjustment is definitely needed or you will be ruining your bearings and hubs. Even 20 miles per week is going to be a short term proposition at that stage.

 

[Jahee]

Originally posted by: KMc

Originally posted by: Jahee
Well i can hear the bearings like clunking about if i spin the wheel... I'm not gonna claim to know much about bikes more than basic maintenance but what would that indicate, i'd think the bearings need more oil or they're ruined?

If you hold the wheel and try to move it side to side, can you feel some 'play' (movement) in the wheel? If so, a bearing adjustment is definitely needed or you will be ruining your bearings and hubs. Even 20 miles per week is going to be a short term proposition at that stage.

No theres no play at all actually... I bought the bike 2nd hand it had been ridden about 10 times the guys said but im not so sure...

 

[Scarpozzi]

White lightning FTW!

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Wow - there are some surprising suggestions in this thread.

Phil's is a quality product, but VERY messy and it attracts dirt like a magnet. Boeshield is, IMO, Boesh!t (at least as a chain lube), and many vastly superior products have been released since it became available. One ride on a wet day with Boeshield and your chain WILL be dry; the next day, it'll be rusty. White Lightning is OK, and was very good relative to its competitors when released in about 1994, but again, times have changed. What changed them? Progold/Prolink, which manages to combine the best attributes of dry and wet lubes, and will keep your chain lubed and reasonably clean (prolonging its life) better than pretty much anything else.

 

[KMc]

Originally posted by: Jahee

Originally posted by: KMc

Originally posted by: Jahee
Well i can hear the bearings like clunking about if i spin the wheel... I'm not gonna claim to know much about bikes more than basic maintenance but what would that indicate, i'd think the bearings need more oil or they're ruined?

If you hold the wheel and try to move it side to side, can you feel some 'play' (movement) in the wheel? If so, a bearing adjustment is definitely needed or you will be ruining your bearings and hubs. Even 20 miles per week is going to be a short term proposition at that stage.

No theres no play at all actually... I bought the bike 2nd hand it had been ridden about 10 times the guys said but im not so sure...

So, there's no play, but it makes a clunking sound when it spins? Is this a front wheel or rear?

 

[Jahee]

Originally posted by: KMc

Originally posted by: Jahee

Originally posted by: KMc

Originally posted by: Jahee
Well i can hear the bearings like clunking about if i spin the wheel... I'm not gonna claim to know much about bikes more than basic maintenance but what would that indicate, i'd think the bearings need more oil or they're ruined?

If you hold the wheel and try to move it side to side, can you feel some 'play' (movement) in the wheel? If so, a bearing adjustment is definitely needed or you will be ruining your bearings and hubs. Even 20 miles per week is going to be a short term proposition at that stage.

No theres no play at all actually... I bought the bike 2nd hand it had been ridden about 10 times the guys said but im not so sure...

So, there's no play, but it makes a clunking sound when it spins? Is this a front wheel or rear?

Yea thats right, its the rear hub.. I dunno maybe its perfectly normal and what im hearing isnt bearings, i've forgotten alot about bikes in those few years.

 

[oboeguy]

Purple Extreme on one bike, Krytech on another. I'll use White Lightning when traveling b/c they make it in just the right size little bottle.

 

[Stifko]

LPS® ChainMate? is great for lubing any kind of chain. It is like spray grease.

 

[SonnyDaze]

Originally posted by: shoegazer
I use Triflow.

I use Triflow when I know it's going to be dry conditions.

Originally posted by: Ewat
I use Pedro's ice wax... works well on my mountain bike chain

And I use Ice Wax if it's going to be wet out (after rains, trails with mudholes, etc.)

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: DonVito
Wow - there are some surprising suggestions in this thread.

Phil's is a quality product, but VERY messy and it attracts dirt like a magnet. Boeshield is, IMO, Boesh!t (at least as a chain lube), and many vastly superior products have been released since it became available. One ride on a wet day with Boeshield and your chain WILL be dry; the next day, it'll be rusty. White Lightning is OK, and was very good relative to its competitors when released in about 1994, but again, times have changed. What changed them? Progold/Prolink, which manages to combine the best attributes of dry and wet lubes, and will keep your chain lubed and reasonably clean (prolonging its life) better than pretty much anything else.

Agreed, but that stuff is a little more pricey