Is Lube Necessary During Summer?

[Globalti]

Well I never, people must be bored!

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Just buy a new chain each ride & get ones servant to fit it, after all he's the one turning the pedals on the tandem

 

[Caperider]

I like this stuff works its well .

 

[Ajax Bay]

this stuff works its well

View: https://www.amazon.co.uk/White-Lightning-Unisex-Adult-Lubricant/dp/B0016ZXE06/

@ £10 per 100ml (in UK, rather less in the States it seems) I hope it does.
"Clean Ride™ White Lightning chain lube has become world renown (sic) because it actually repels and sheds dirt and grime from the chain and other drivetrain components while you ride." We were tempted to call it 'Snake Oil' but our market department suggested not.

 

[Jody]

I tried that stuff a few years ago. It was like someone dropped a hot candle onto the chain and seemed to do little to lubricate it.

 

[mustang1]

Actually I think @nmfeb70 might be onto something here. Earlier on I wrote that I do live lube the chain.

But now revisiting this thread, it for me thinking about a new chain: if I have a new chain installed, I wait for as long as possible before cleaning and/or adding lube. So if your chain is clean and lines similar to a new chain (difficult to do I think) then I would leave it for as long as possible.

Oz Cycle on YouTube shows how to make your own home made wax for chain lubing. And also GCN Simon on yt uses, iirc, gt85 for both cleaning and lubing the chain. (I think it was gt85 or could have been something else).

Edit: typo

 

[silva]

I never got the point of a wax for lubing. The basic idea behind a lube is a low viscosity to flow back after having been pushed away in the load cycle. A wax has a high viscosity so it just gets pushed out the first load cycle to never return. Where's the lubing then?

 

[Ajax Bay]

I do live the chain.

Don't we all!

 

[sheddy]

I believe some apply cream to their undercarriage in order to reduce friction.

 

[mustang1]

Don't we all!

THanks. I keep convincing myself what a wonderful typist I am but alas I'm rubbish.

 

[Ridgeway]

Been loads of pollen here (very visible on the cars) mainly from the rape seed fields. Noticed on my Brompton that the chain and derailleur mech was very mucky with the stuff even after little use, seems anything dusty wants to stick to our drive trains

 

[figbat]

I never got the point of a wax for lubing. The basic idea behind a lube is a low viscosity to flow back after having been pushed away in the load cycle. A wax has a high viscosity so it just gets pushed out the first load cycle to never return. Where's the lubing then?

The assumption that the wax gets pushed away isn’t necessarily valid. It’s possible the wax will remain as a layer between the surfaces, dependant on applied load and the wax’s properties. The same goes for oil.

At a microscopic level the wax will likely melt at surface asperity contact points where there is a local high temperature and form a fluid that lubricates and then sets as the pressure and temperature subside.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

Back to the OP, does it need lube?
Quite simply, yes, lube it with at least something and give it a wipe now and then.

Beyond that, if it creaks or complains, lube it a bit more.

 

[nmfeb70]

Some good tips on here in reply to my question. Following last night's ride I tried this method, I applied some GT85 to a rag and thoroughly cleaned the chain in sections of six inches, concentrating particularly on the rollers. This removed the grit and dust and left the chain gleaming. I then applied some TF2 all weather lube to the inner part of the rollers, wrapped a clean rag around it and rotated the chain anti-clockwise once.
The whole process took less than five minutes and the chain looks pristine. I'll give the bike it's weekly wash with w/u liquid (it is a degreaser after all?) and two handbushes (one for the chain & cogs to remove any excess lube).

 

[PaulSB]

@nmfeb70 excellent and sounds like a good result. As I said earlier that quick wipe works wonders after every ride. I lubed mine yesterday after two wet rides, it may or may not need doing again in a week or so.

The rag wipe is the opportunity to give the chain the very important quick check. For me maintaining a clean, properly lubed chain set is the single most important bit of regular maintenance.