lubricate your chain with WD40.

[Philip Benstead]

CTC is recommending that you should lubricate your chain with WD40.

Views please

[nirakaro]

Unconvinced.
Await the deluge - this thread will run and run!

[RickH]

http://www.wd40.co.uk/wd-40-bike/

Did they specify a preference for wet or dry?



WD40 is no longer a single product but a whole range these days.

Rick.

[Psamathe]

I thought WD40 was a water repellant not a lubricant. Never realised it was suitable for lubricating chains (I've always used proper wet/dry chain lube but WD40 is a lot easier (as I always have the stuff).

Ian

[Mick F]

If you look at the piece, it's regarding an older bike or a secondhand one, and suggesting the things to look out for.

Check ................. the chain isn't sagging, damaged or rusty. If necessary, oil the chain with cycle oil or WD40, or replace it with a new one.

Sounds reasonable advice to me.

All it's trying to do is get the bike rideable.

[Philip Benstead]

I am aware of the different products

http://www.wd40.co.uk/wd-40-multi-use-product/
http://www.wd40.co.uk/wd-40-bike/
http://www.wd40.co.uk/wd-40-specialist/

but I suspect that the text written as shown the image below was directed to http://www.wd40.co.uk/ or will be interpreted by the layperson as that.

[Mick F]

I agree, Phillip.
To normal folk, WD40 is WD40.

I would've like another sentence in that paragraph, to the effect that WD40 isn't very good at all for chains, but if the chain is gunged up and stiff, it'll get it working ok. Make sure you clean the chain thoroughly and re-lube with proper chain lubricant, or better still, get a new chain bearing in mind that if the chain is gunged up and stiff, the cassette will be too.

In WD40's defence, I reckon it's good stuff to release gunged up chains!

[Psamathe]

...
To normal folk, WD40 is WD40.
...

Commercial sponsorship ? Should there be one of those "Advertisement" or "From our sponsor" texts things about singling out a specific companies product ?

Ian

[yakdiver]

Been using WD40 on my chain for years and it is a lubricant just look at their website, on my touring bike I get over 6500 miles per chain, but you have to look after it with plenty of maintenance washing in white sprite drying and spraying with WD, between maintenance a quick spray every 3-4 rides does the trick for me.

[Philip Benstead]

Yes, I have heard that from a very experience CTC tour leader, but and it a big but all most everybody on this forum look after their cycle with regular maintenance. Most lay person gives a drop of oil once in a while if you are lucky, therefore a more robust lubricant is required in my opinion.

[CREPELLO]

To establish once and for all if WD40 is a lubricant, just spray some into the plastic cap of the aerosol and leave it to evapourate overnight. Any residue will give you an idea of what lube properties it has.

Can you come back here and let us know the results?

[pwa]

I'd certainly use it to free up a gunged up or slightly rusty chain as a way of cleaning. More for its solvent properties, really. I would give it time to dry, then use a proper lube that is going to stay on the chain in the rain.

[53x13]

Whenever I've used WD 40 (spray can) on my chains it has always left a slightly silvery, metallic thin gunk on the drive train. It does seem to become a grinding paste and I've never enjoyed good chain life until I moved to a light oil substitute. Household 3 in 1 has been my weapon of choice for years now and I find it excellent in the rain and dry weather conditions.

[Mick F]

To establish once and for all if WD40 is a lubricant, just spray some into the plastic cap of the aerosol and leave it to evapourate overnight. Any residue will give you an idea of what lube properties it has.

Can you come back here and let us know the results?

Ok, you're on!
Not overnight, but I'm out all day and I've left a dish of it on a sunny(?) window sill. I'll check back here maybe this evening.

Difficult to see the level, so I placed a teaspoon in there for scale and in the hope that the liquid can be seen.

[iow]

my main use of WD40 is as a corrosion protector for motorcycles stored in a damp shed - IME the solvent does evaporate off after a while to leave an oily film. the film then dries over time to form a soft matte varnish.