Cycling UK Forum

When mounting a new chain do people put it straight on (sized obvs) with the grease coating - or is it best to clean the grease off?

Leave it on.

It lasts longer than any lubricant you might replace it with, and it's properly applied to the innards, between the pin and the inner sideplate, where it's most needed.

andrew_s wrote: ↑13 Jan 2022, 10:08pm Leave it on.

It lasts longer than any lubricant you might replace it with, and it's properly applied to the innards, between the pin and the inner sideplate, where it's most needed.

+1....

Brucey used to say it was the best lubrication your chain will ever have.

I'm slightly embarrassed to say that I rode over a thou Kms on a well greased new chain before needing to start my own lubrication regime. (Dry muck free conditions.) Normally, I reckon on about 300kms..

Yep best lubricant is the stuff the chain comes with

I tend to wipe the outer surfaces of the chain with a rag that's dampened with something like WD40. The original lube is very sticky, so this removes the lube from where it's not needed (and only attracts dirt) but leaves it where it is needed.

It varies. The stuff SRAM uses was supposed to be good and was identified as Gleitmo about 20 years ago, but may have changed since. The stuff Shimano uses, certainly on an HG53, will allow the chain to rust at the drop of a hat. Some KMC chains are very greasy and some are almost dry.

After suffering several rusty chains after only a couple of rides, I strip off whatever was there and oil with Finish Line wet lube.

Some of the new chains I've had recently have almost nothing on them.

The thick, sticky lube which coats some chains is good stuff but at this time of year will attract loads of dirt so you may want to clean the chain once it becomes too dirty as the muck will just act as grinding paste.

Thanks people for the input. For interest, this is a very sticky KMC (9sp)

Garry Booth wrote: ↑14 Jan 2022, 11:29am Thanks people for the input. For interest, this is a very sticky KMC (9sp)

My B'twin branded 9 spd KMC chain was very sticky too. I put it on as-is and left it like that for a few weeks until a couple of small rust spots developed on the outer plates (after some riding in wet mucky conditions), then I rag-wiped with WD40, oiled, rag-wiped without WD40. I had intended to clean the sticky stuff off the outer plates when new as gcogger recommended but never got round to it. I have a long front mudguard with flap, so it wouldn't have picked up as much muck as some chains might.

Would leave the stuff inside the chain, if you want to clean the grease on the outside because you prefer a dry or wax lube then that's usually considered ok.

The first thing I do with a new chain, is degrease it. Always have done, and will continue to do so.
Gunk, or similar, or white spirit. Clean it so you could eat with it.
Then, lube it with proper chain lubricant bought especially for the use you are going to put the chain to.
Brucey and me would disagree, and have done on the many threads on here regarding this subject.
If the stuff that's on the new chain is so good, why can't you buy it?

I reckon, that chain manufacturers put whatever-they-put-on-it to preserve the chain in its wrapping for storage and for display, and not for YOUR chain in the Real World.

Clean it, then lube it.

I only tend to thin it a bit.
When running the chain at ~200 rpm I can feel the extra drag from the thick packing grease.

Luck ........

Mick F wrote: ↑16 Jan 2022, 1:54pm ......If the stuff that's on the new chain is so good, why can't you buy it?.......

Genuine question - how do you know you can't? The stuff you buy to put on your chain is made so that you can apply it easily. In the factory they can put grease on it and in it. I've got various kinds of grease in the shed but I don't know how to use it as chain lube.

simonhill wrote: ↑14 Jan 2022, 8:21am Brucey used to say it was the best lubrication your chain will ever have.

Mick F wrote: ↑16 Jan 2022, 1:54pmBrucey and me would disagree, and have done on the many threads on here regarding this subject.

Sheldon Brown on Factory Lube:
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/chains.html#factory

Jonathan