What happens if i don lube my chain

When wet, that acts like a grinding paste so cleaning a chain and then relubrication is very important. Carb cleaner, for example, is the worst thing you can use as it can make the seals baggy. Then dry and lubricate the chain. So the message is clear; cleaning and lubricating your chain is vitally important. Is chain lube necessary, or is it just a scam?

By John Milbank. Is chain lube a scam? What does a chain lube maker say? Wack in Germany What do the chain manufacturers say? All this does is allowing the oil to carry the surface dirt inside the chain, where it will form a grinding paste that wears away your chain in no time. Accelerated chain wear also means accelerated sprocket wear. So the repeated quick oiling soon becomes very expensive. This comment will cause a stir. I'm not a mechanic or one to fiddle with my bikes, I just ride.

Before mtb'ing I raced enduro motorbikes. I was told only ever to use WD40 as a chain lube, so after every race I'd blast the bike with a high power jet wash, spray with WD40 to displace and then spray again before my next ride. Nearly every weekend I rode in wet boggy Wales with nothing other than WD40 as a lube.

Never snapped a chain once. But now having read all of the debates about this product, for my mtb I use it to dispel only then I lube with currently a dry lube as I'm in Morocco. Final motto. I have done thousands of miles on chains that I just cleaned with a liberal squirt of WD40 every miles.

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Create a free Team What is Teams? Learn more. How often should I lube my chain? Ask Question. Asked 11 years, 2 months ago. Active 10 months ago. Viewed k times. How often should I be lubing my chain? Improve this question. Kevin 2, 4 4 gold badges 29 29 silver badges 31 31 bronze badges. Russ Warren Russ Warren 1, 2 2 gold badges 11 11 silver badges 10 10 bronze badges. Add a comment. Active Oldest Votes. Hints: Wipe your chain off before you add more lube. Is it greasy? Wipe all that schmutz off until it's looking dry.

Add lube while rotating cranks. Tips: Lube the night before you ride: this gives the lube a chance to 'spread'. Wipe the excess off immediately before you ride - but not until dry as above. Improve this answer. Wiping is not always best thing to do, because you can unintentinally take dirt from outside where it is harmless to the inside.

The chain might look clean, but a lot of dirt would be inside. Best thing to do, IMO, is to remove it, submerge in some solvent I use kerosene , and shake vigorously.

I did some longevity testing and found solvent bath and relubed chains had a noticeable shorter life compared to wipe-lube-wipe. To clean your chain you can either use a chain cleaning tool, I use this one from Park Tool which is excellent: source: parktool. Glorfindel 1 1 gold badge 5 5 silver badges 12 12 bronze badges. Richard Tasker Richard Tasker 1, 12 12 silver badges 16 16 bronze badges. So I can minute bike ride to the local shops then spend 30 minutes cleaning the chain?

I agree if you have been out in the mud, or a long trip on dust roads. If you like me are commuting to work each day on dry asphalt I think cleaning it each day is a bit of overkill. Thanks for the powerlink tips. Note that many of the powerlink-type gizomos aren't reusable! Show 7 more comments. Kevin Kevin 2, 4 4 gold badges 29 29 silver badges 31 31 bronze badges.

Can't specifically damage it, but if you oil a chain etc just before you ride- it will attract more dirt, which will cause more damage. So, I'd suggest oiling after a ride, rather before. Mindcontrol Mindcontrol 1 1 silver badge 5 5 bronze badges. I think maybe pushing it for wet lubes.

To apply bike chain lube, deposit a drop on the top of each link as you slowly backpedal for a few revolutions, so the lube has a chance to work its way in. Use a light, waterproof lube such as Boeshield T-9 Waterproof Lubricant. Lube Them : If your clipless pedal system has a visible spring the area where your cleats engage into the pedal , apply a drop of T-9 every few rides to keep it rust-free and working well. Never Use : Grease on the pedal springs.

This will result in a nice amount of cable slack, and on some bikes, allow you to slip the housing out of the slotted cable stops and coat the cables thoroughly. Wipe dirt from your cables, paying special attention to where they run through the cable guide underneath the bottom bracket. Use the same lube and method of application on your brake cables. Without Lube : The points on which the individual parts of your brakes and derailleurs pivot will not move as smoothly and will invite rust.

Lube Them : Drip T-9 onto each pivot point rear derailleur; front derailleur; rear brake; front brake every few months more if you ride in wet conditions to keep them protected and working well.

Never Use : Lubricant on brake pads, rotors, or rims. Lube Them : Wipe off any built-up grime on your derailleur pulleys with a clean rag and degreaser.

Then apply a small drop of lube, such as Phil Wood Tenacious Oil , to the bearings at the center of the pulley.

It can get messy, so use sparingly. Lube It : Fully remove the seatpost.