THIS grinds my gears......

[sevenfourate]

..........chain / drive-train lubrication.

Apologies if this is the 4-trillionth thread on it. But having quite a few bikes, and hoping to do alot more riding this year - i'd like to not be 'maintaining' in every spare interim moment

I've religiously been using Tru-Tension Bannaslip with Tungsten for a couple of years (?). Came recommended and is pretty highly rated [4.4/5 on amazon]. After cleaning up old. application of new and drying the drivetrain sounded GREAT. Quiet, slippery etc. And lasted for 100-150 miles before i could hear the difference. No huge issue as i'm a serial cleaner. So a quick wipe / re-lube was not too much hassle once i already had the bike upside-down. **It went on / was kind of a Grey colour; but by 100 miles was pretty 'Black' - and i'm not sure if a component of it was Oil-based. But it soon changed colour. Indicating it was changing / picking up dirt etc

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BananaSlip...9103880789-B07TWG1KTT-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

So before i went on Holiday i literally stripped the chain completely, 100% thoroughly cleaned the rear sprocket / front mech with spirits until spotless - and then lubricated with some Weldtite Dry Wax - which again had good reviews and i happened to have some i didn't know about [4.4/5 on Amazon]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/WELDTITE-D...19666-B00WKRC4FU-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1&th=1

I came back from Hols and did a 50km / 31m ride on Tuesday in the dry. And 25 miles commuting yesterday - so 56 miles total. And the chain sounds dry / noisy as heck compared to when freshly lubed. Surely this can't be normal / expected so quickly ?

*I may be getting close to new chain time (?). I'm imagining from looking at Strava mileage records; this one could have done around 1500 miles. Most of that in Winter. So i'm probably going to change that regardless at the weekend. **Rear sprocket and crank sprockets are both newer than the chain.

But how many (Predominantly 90% dry) miles should i see before seeing / hearing / noticing serious degredation of chain lubrication ?

Any / all / every thought and suggestion appreciated

 

[Chief Broom]

Im a 3 in 1 fundamentalists and couldnt be swayed by the new religion of ' Tru-Tension Bannaslip with Tungsten' I clean my chain n sprockets after every ride and couldnt say how long before it started to sound 'graunchy' but would guess it might be getting dryish after 150 miles or so. My current chain has done about 6k with my OTT cleaning regime and has no measurable wear im wondering how long it will last!

 

[a.twiddler]

GT85 and a pull through with a cloth every so often. Some may scream at this, but it has worked for me. Recumbent chains are very long and accessible so it's not difficult.

 

[sevenfourate]

Im a 3 in 1 fundamentalists and couldnt be swayed by the new religion of ' Tru-Tension Bannaslip with Tungsten' I clean my chain n sprockets after every ride and couldnt say how long before it started to sound 'graunchy' but would guess it might be getting dryish after 150 miles or so. My current chain has done about 6k with my OTT cleaning regime and has no measurable wear im wondering how long it will last!

I'm 300% OCD. Born of my Engineer mentality. And i'm happy / would love to clean and re-lube after every ride'ish. Heck; my longest rides are only 40-50 miles...so i'd be safe with that. BUT: i work long hours. And am out very early; often back very late. If im going to be commuting regularly this Summer i'd be cleaning chains at 2am or 11pm. Hence i'd like to clean / lube a little less often whilst still dulling my 'chain noise OCD'.

Also sound's like without rotating pre-waxed chains or using some amazing (Expensive ?) drip wax: 100-150 miles before clearly noticing a difference and using on 'ok' lubricant as i am - might be about all i can reasonably expect.....

**Cough** Belt drive

 

[Gwylan]

Sorry, I've become a belt heretic. Never going to win the TdF but makes my life a lot easier.

 

[oxoman]

Have nearly always used 3 in 1 however I do have some funky dry lube from somewhere as I needed it when out touring.

 

[All uphill]

I'm 300% OCD. Born of my Engineer mentality. And i'm happy / would love to clean and re-lube after every ride'ish. Heck; my longest rides are only 40-50 miles...so i'd be safe with that. BUT: i work long hours. And am out very early; often back very late. If im going to be commuting regularly this Summer i'd be cleaning chains at 2am or 11pm. Hence i'd like to clean / lube a little less often whilst still dulling my 'chain noise OCD'.

Also sound's like without rotating pre-waxed chains or using some amazing (Expensive ?) drip wax: 100-150 miles before clearly noticing a difference and using ont 'ok' lubricant as i am - might be about all i can reasonably expect.....

**Cough** Belt drive

Warning: the following contains heretical comments.

9 speed chains don't cost much. If you have to replace them after 1500 miles it's not going to break you.

A quick wipe after a wet ride with an oily cloth is fine. Check the chain wear regularly and replace as needed.

No need for feelings of anxiety or guilt.

Note: if you have been affected by this message please ask for help.

 

[sevenfourate]

Warning: the following contains heretical comments.

9 speed chains don't cost much. If you have to replace them after 1500 miles it's not going to break you.

A quick wipe after a wet ride with an oily cloth is fine. Check the chain wear regularly and replace as needed.

No need for feelings of anxiety or guilt.

Note: if you have been affected by this message please ask for help.

I have two spare decent-quality chains and multiple quick-links for that (3 x 8 speed) bike in-stock at home already. The cost isn't as issue. Hence i thought for 'no money' i'll change it regardless. Being an Engineer i have some comprehension of how much 'wear / stretch' 1500+ gritty and wet winter miles could do. And some of that wear isn't perhaps measurable with a standard "measure distance between rollers" method.

So, out with the old - in with the new along with a full-clean up of the drive-train Saturday. I'll report back with my findings. It may just help someone in the future....either way !

Cheers for your thoughts.