Chain lube

[rjb]

This may be of interest to members, chain wax for wet conditions and lub for dry, plus a cleaner. Advertised for motorbikes but i cant see why it wouldnt be fine for bikes as well. Coming to an ALDI near you from tomorrow. If anyone buys the stuff do let us know how it performs.
https://www.aldi.co.uk/c/2018-02-08?sor ... d=35&text=

[fossala]

Wouldn't motorbike lube be thicker due to the speed the chain moves?

[Brucey]

motorbike lubes are (once dry) indeed usually thicker than bicycle lubes because they otherwise just get flung off. Worth noting that most motorcycle chains are 'O' ring type these days which means that the cleaners/ lube has just to keep the rollers happy, without causing the O-rings to deteriorate.

A lot of motorcycle chain lubes don't penetrate the inner workings of the chain very well, so mightn't be at all suitable for a bicycle chain; these might just create a sticky layer of gloop on the outside of the chain which helps to avoid corrosion but picks up grit like a magnet on a bicycle, all without actually keeping the chain well lubricated where it matters.

Not used these products so can't say more than that.

cheers

[freeflow]

Oooooh goody. We haven't had a thread on lubricants for days......O:-)O:-)

[mercalia]

I have been using Carlube - seems to do the job

[reohn2]

Oooooh goody. We haven't had a thread on lubricants for days......O:-)O:-)

[reohn2]

I have been using Carlube - seems to do the job

Which Carlube?

[mercalia]

I have been using Carlube - seems to do the job

Which Carlube?

oh is there more than one

says 100+ multipurpose grease on the can

[reohn2]

I have been using Carlube - seems to do the job

Which Carlube?

oh is there more than one

says 100+ multipurpose grease on the can

That's semi-fluid grease,good stuff,but I found not too good for chains as it attracted grit and road muck like a magnet.
Carlube make a full range of car lubes and products.

[mercalia]

Which Carlube?

oh is there more than one

says 100+ multipurpose grease on the can

That's semi-fluid grease,good stuff,but I found not too good for chains as it attracted grit and road muck like a magnet.
Carlube make a full range of car lubes and products.

well i dribbled it onto the chain internal bits so dont get much of that problem

[reohn2]

well i dribbled it onto the chain internal bits so dont get much of that problem

When I tried it,it remained wet and sticky,but if it works for you then it works for you.I can't argue with that but it didn't work for me,much as MickF's White Lightening dry lube didn't for completely opposite reasons.

[Tiberius]

I've tried both the WD40 chain lube and the chain wax (I got a handfull of FREE samples at a motorbike race meeting)

I found both products to be way too sticky and the chain looked a right mess in no time. I guess that they can't win, if it sticks we moan and if it flys off we moan.

Anyway, free or not, I didn't like it.

[kwackers]

I tried one of the highly rated 'wet' chain oils for the first time a few months ago and it was crap.
The good bit was the chain didn't rust because it kept it wet but it just picked up grit and crap and turned it into grinding paste. In 2000 miles it destroyed both the chain and the cassette.

I've gone back to a spray on 'dry' oil.
In the past when I've used it you just end up with a layer of gunk, thin oil wicks into the chain and the thick gunk on the outside keeps the grit on the outside with it.
Normally I'd clean the chain twice a year and it'd last 6000 miles or so and I'd need a cassette every second or third chain. The amount of crud would make Mick F faint and by the end of the winter the derailleur is just a vague outline but it all looks and works like new once cleaned.

I know I should take better care but a bike is just a tool and the cost of my time vs the cost of replacement is biased towards replacement.

[mercalia]

are there ANY greases/lubriants thant DONT attract much and still do the job? if they stick to the chain, muck will stick to the lube?

[Brucey]

are there ANY greases/lubriants thant DONT attract much and still do the job? if they stick to the chain, muck will stick to the lube?

wax lubes are meant to be better in this respect but they don't have many of the other properties required for a good chain lube (not in the UK anyway.... )

You need (clean) lube inside the chain bushings to prevent wear; the lube on the outside of the chain need not be much to do its job, which is primarily to prevent the chain from corroding.

Needless to say if you simply wipe off the excess lube (once the solvent has flashed off where appropriate) then the chain won't be such a grit magnet, regardless of the lubricant type used.

cheers