I'm of the opinion that oil / lube is a good thing for a bicycle chain and that there is no such thing as too much,within reason of course. You can find bike lubes of all kinds online or at your local bike shop. I do mine several times each week. If it is done that often, the chain lasts longer and so does the cassette, saving money on new parts which can be very expensive on a high end bike. To ensure you have an easy, enjoyable ride, you should make sure that your bike chain is kept in good condition. No, you cannot. Does the lube smell when I lube my bike chain? STP (w/zinc … When I went to a chemical forum they recommended using aluminum hydroxide powder in oil to make an extr… Then you can easily apply the lube to your bike chain. Even after you oil something like a chain, its a good idea to wipe off the oil from non-moving parts (like the faceplates of the chain). Then, when you leave the bicycle to sit, over time, the chain lubricant becomes thick. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Depending on how you treat the substance, it can be turned into a liquid oil (silicone lubricant), a resin (silicone lining on the tube) ... Silicone spray is an excellent lubricant and can be used for your bike chains if you do not ride frequently. A clean chain and cassette runs much smoother, and lasts much longer, than a dirty one. How to Make a Long Lasting Bicycle Chain Lube: This is the longest lasting chain oil you can make.I have tried all kinds of chain oil, only one lasted more than a week for me (only two weeks). Oils that are specifically marketed as bicycle-chain lubricants are superior to non-bicycle-specific products. I did an experiment and used chainsaw chain oil on my own chain on my fixed gear bike. If can only find a heavy oil, soak all liberally, then just wipe of all surplus with a rag. Some thinner motor lube will tend to spray off the chain when pedaling. After you're finished with the chain, take a few minutes to … According to BicycleTutor.com, spray lubricants like WD-40 are too thin to have an effect on fast-moving parts like a bicycle chain. There is an ever-growing range of bike chain lubrication; wet, dry, wax-based, ceramic, lubes infused with nanoparticles, and paraffin wax, to name a few. Cooking oil for my bike chain. They do a lot of movement because they serve as a linkage between the brakes, gears, and wheels. ", "This video helped me immensely. Chain oil is thin and easily gets into the rollers and spaces between links when applied. Be careful not to catch your fingers in between the chain and chainrings! Most bike cables are made of steel and require lubing. Be sweet as. As your bicycle chain turns around the gear sprockets and pedal cranks, it creates friction. Writing professionally since 2005, Ryan Haas specializes in sports, politics and music. This is appropriate in many cases, but you should consider your normal riding conditions to find the best lubricant for your biking needs. Reasoning for using this over bikeshop stuff, its cheaper. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. ", "Thanks, it was useful and easy to follow. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the LIVESTRONG.COM "I bought a used Schwinn today. Choose a lube that’s right for your bike based on the conditions you’ll be riding it in. Related articles. You can use WD40 to clean your bike chain with no problems - but you should wash all the product away before applying a regular chain oil. NO! It is important to get a proper chain oil. $12.95 #29. Nothing unnecessary included. Generally, you’ll slide 2 pieces together around the chain, put degreaser on the bottom half, then pedal the chain backwards for 10 revolutions. If not used properly, the same lubricating compounds designed to protect and enhance drivetrain performance are inherently at odds with the very purpose for which they were created. Foaming chainsaw oil is arguably even better, but I wouldn't buy it especially, when I have plenty of motor oil already, for the car. What type of silicon lube can I use on the chain and gear spokes of my bicycle chain? As the chain rotates during a ride, flakes of the wax come off the chain, while the rollers inside the chain rotate smoothly against the layers of wax. Rain, snow, and slushy roads can wash away dry lube on a bike chain. Bicycle mechanic Sheldon Brown recommends using this type of oil after you mix it with a volatile solvent to thin it. Cables. WD-40 was created in 1953 by a small company called Rocket Chemical Comapny. But how do you get started? The chain of your bicycle is the main component that transfers the energy of your pedaling to the wheels of your bike. ", "I saw what was done. This means you’ll have to completely strip even a brand new, box-fresh chain of all grease and oil. It's best to use lubricants designed specifically for use on bike chains. A good oil won’t cost more than £10. ", "Really helpful step-by-step instructions with photos! It needs some work, so I thought I better get educated. A poorly maintained chain can hurt the efficiency of this energy transfer, making your bike ride less smooth and more strenuous! Yes. ... Muc Off C3 Ceramic Wet Chain Lube, 120 Milliliters - Premium Bike Chain Lubricant with UV Tracer Dye - Formulated for Wet and Harsh Weather Conditions 4.7 out of 5 stars 660. Lubricating a Bicycle Chain Using Paraffin: If you are properly set up, you can use paraffin wax to lubricate your bike chain. The short videos for each step were also very helpful. Bike Chain Lube . Support wikiHow by Thank you very much. You can find lube for your specific bicycle at any bike shop. Can I use generic grease on a bicycle chain? Of all the parts that make up a bicycle, the drive chain is among those that receive the most wear. Additionally, the solvents in these types of lubricants act as degreasers, stripping away any lubricant placed on the chain by the manufacturer and effectively increasing the amount of wear on your chain. Chain oil used for chain saws will work but stay far away from WD-40. Reasoning for using this over bikeshop stuff, its cheaper. I've got a mountain bike and I'm going on a ride soon but all I have is car oil. CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON. This next lubricant is a multi … Wet lube will be more resistant. A light oil is typically best for your bicycle chain in average to dry riding conditions. This article received 12 testimonials and 90% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. To ensure you have an easy, enjoyable ride, you should make sure that your chain is kept in good condition. This article has been viewed 644,448 times. The now-thin fluid penetrates easily to the innards of the chain. “thick”) it is. Some are better than others, but none are bad. It isn't any better, but if you compare the cost of 3oz of bikeshop oil, it comes close to the cost of a big can of spirits and bottle of oil. The LIVESTRONG Foundation and LIVESTRONG.COM do not endorse So, you can … Choose a wet lube if you’ll be biking in wet weather. On a regular basis, look at the entire chain by standing to the side of your bike and lifting the rear wheel off the ground. A chain oil is a thin variety of. My chain is squeaky. The mixture will better penetrate chain bearings, and the solvent will evaporate to leave the thick chain grease. Phil Wood Tenacious Oil and Tri-Flow are popular light oils among cyclists. A good rule of thumb is to clean and lube your chain whenever the chain starts squeaking, or if it’s looking gunky. You can use gear oil if you want to, it will lubricate your chain. They are often noted in “old” measures, in cP and cSt, but easily translated to SI standard: 1 mPa*s = 1 cP 1 mm 2 /s = 1 cSt. Wet chain lube is both wet (well, a liquid anyway) and for wet conditions. How good is Muc-off dry lube? At worst, it can make your bike less stable or safe. February 2010. Motor oil is a perfectly good lubricant for a bike chain. Routinely lubing your bike chain will improve its performance and prevent it from wearing out early. You apply this type of oil by turning the pedal crank backwards and squeezing out a line of oil down the chain rollers. information so easy to understand. Oil the rollers between the links only. You don't want lube being flung all over but even too much is not a bad thing. An easy way to determine how often to lube your chain is to do weekly visual check. Many riders use some type of a light oil to lubricate their chains. No, this will not lubricate the chain and will just pick up dirt. As your bicycle chain turns around the gear sprockets and pedal cranks, it creates friction. Regardless of brand, if the new chain feels overly tacky you can use your favorite lube and over-apply it to the chain then give it a thorough wipe down to remove the excess. What Should I Not Oil? Whatever kind of lube you use, make sure it's designed specifically for bike chains, and never use WD-40 since it evaporates quickly and can cause dirt and grime to build up on your chain. The same thing goes with the Finish Line Citrus Degreaser Bicycle Degreaser as they are made up of the power of the citrus components which quickly dissolves chain grunge and allows the chain of the bikes to work properly. The main advantages of the method I use (dipping the chain in hot wax) is that (once you're set up) it's fast, it's easy, and it produces a chain that neither picks u… Cooking oil is a standard lubricant in the home that is ideal for keeping away rust from metal surfaces. Prep the Chain for Dipping. Both work, but grease picks up more dirt than if you used oil. Phil Wood 4-ounce Bio Bike Chain Lube. The formula is not exact, make it thinner in the winter, thicker in summer. The wax naturally flakes off over time, meaning that you do not need to degrease the chain like you would with other oils. They generally contain Teflon ® and are designed to repel dirt and water. Go to the bike shop and get some Finish Line oil or Walmart carries White lightning oil now for bicycles. Even after you oil something like a chain, its a good idea to wipe off the oil from non-moving parts (like the faceplates of the chain). Can I put oil on it as I only have 2 options. ", "Detailed, step by step information. That’s exactly what small-time roadside cycle repairers do. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. It happens to be an air tool oil. He received his BA in Literature & Philosophy from Utah Valley University in 2015, and has been a bike mechanic since 2012. This article has been viewed 644,448 times. I wasn't sure. Sunenlyst Bike Chain Oiler Lubricator, Portable Bicycle Chain Gear Oiler Roller, Green Roller Lube Oil Maintenance Tool for All Kinds of Bikes, Such as Mountain, City, Folding 4.4 out of … Very helpful. Rock N Roll Extreme Lube, 4-Ounce 4.7 out of 5 stars 328. 3 in 1 oil is vegatable based and will gum things up. With the right supplies and know-how, your bike chain could be clean in a half hour or less. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e4\/Lube-a-Bicycle-Chain-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Lube-a-Bicycle-Chain-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e4\/Lube-a-Bicycle-Chain-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid18441-v4-728px-Lube-a-Bicycle-Chain-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"