BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
LOL, there are always the WD40 haters.
Wiping down Chains
- Thread starter Bugner
- Start date
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hackbike 666
Guest
Tynan said:
You may be wrong ;-)
rnscotch
Veteran
BentMikey said:
WD-40 can be used as a very effective cleaner provided you concentrate the spray on the chain, holding the nozzle about 2 inches from the chain itself. Do not depend on WD-40 to be a chain lube thou. Once done cleaning the chain wipe it clean and then add a chain oil
WD 40 is a penetrant & water displacement petroleum based solution, not a lubricant. If used as a lubricant WD-40 will over time deteriorate the chain and strip away the base metal protectant and then evaporate leaving the metal exposed to air and moisture.
BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
Sorry, that's wrong. WD40 is a lubricant, albeit a very thin one, and it does protect against moisture and other corrosive agents. I hope you'll read their website - and realise that what you wrote is an urban myth.
If one uses it as a chain lube, then it has to be reapplied often because of it's thinness. I think it doesn't really matter what you lube a chain with, as long as you do regular cleaning and maintenance.
If one uses it as a chain lube, then it has to be reapplied often because of it's thinness. I think it doesn't really matter what you lube a chain with, as long as you do regular cleaning and maintenance.
rnscotch
Veteran
BentMikey said:
What complete tosh... and i mean that in the nicest possible way
It works wonders as a light lubricant on small items like hinges, locks, and toys.
Bicycle chains, on the other hand, are far too heavy and fast-moving for the lubricating power of WD-40 to have any effect at all. Basically, spraying this stuff on your chain is worse than using no lubricant at all!
WD40 & GT85 are way too thin to be an effective lubricant on your chain.
Also, the oil that remains after the solvent carrier has evaporated is extremely sticky, so it will always attract a lot of dirt. All of this dirt will combine with the oil and mix into an excellent abrasive paste which will considerably reduce the effective working life of any drive-train.
Now using it as a cleaner that's a whole new subject
...As a kid I used to use washing up liquid on my chain !
Seemed to work well and to be honest my current bottle of lubricant smells like washing up liquid anyway.
I just clean the acumulated crud off once a week and re-oil, if I have it in bits it gets a proper clean and if the missus inst around for extra sparkleyness, bung bits in the disk washer.
Seemed to work well and to be honest my current bottle of lubricant smells like washing up liquid anyway.
I just clean the acumulated crud off once a week and re-oil, if I have it in bits it gets a proper clean and if the missus inst around for extra sparkleyness, bung bits in the disk washer.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
A bit of WD40 on a rag, let soak for a second or two, then run a crudded up chain through it - will get the crud off without touching the rollers......
TBH - I like this White Lightening Wet lube at the mo with this weather - drop on each roller, ride..... chain get's grubby - quick wipe with rag, clean...re-lub if wet ride due..... easy & quick... I check the chain every wet ride......
TBH - I like this White Lightening Wet lube at the mo with this weather - drop on each roller, ride..... chain get's grubby - quick wipe with rag, clean...re-lub if wet ride due..... easy & quick... I check the chain every wet ride......
BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
rnscotch, looks like you've learnt and improved - that's a big movement from your previous stance of "not a lubricant". Well done.
I think it's probably a rather better lubricant for bicycle chains than you give it credit for, although being so thin it's not great in wet conditions, and needs to be reapplied fairly often. I suggest you read this BROL topic:
http://www.bentrideronline.com/messageboard/showthread.php?t=44857
As for the "stickyness", it's no more sticky than any of the wet lubes, and rather less likely to haul dirt and grit into your chain. There's a reason that WD40 lubed chains are so clean and low friction, and it's because there isn't much dirt in there at all.
I think it's probably a rather better lubricant for bicycle chains than you give it credit for, although being so thin it's not great in wet conditions, and needs to be reapplied fairly often. I suggest you read this BROL topic:
http://www.bentrideronline.com/messageboard/showthread.php?t=44857
As for the "stickyness", it's no more sticky than any of the wet lubes, and rather less likely to haul dirt and grit into your chain. There's a reason that WD40 lubed chains are so clean and low friction, and it's because there isn't much dirt in there at all.
mickle
innit
- Location
- 53.933606, -1.076131
WD40 is shoot for everything except removing sticker glue from painted surfaces.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
mickle said:
What took you !!!
Late arrival you !! 
Tharg2007
Veteran
- Location
- Manchester
I might try that, I spose that's what they do, get the shoot off!!Fab Foodie said:
fossyant said:
This white lightning stuff you speak of, where would one acquire such a cycle condiment?
I have a mountain of children's soft clothes (old t-shirts, pyjamas, etc.) which are hand sized and ideal for wiping down the chain prior to re-lubing. I tend to use Baby Wipes to wipe down the bike rather than the chain for a quick clean. Otherwise Muc-off spray and wipes when I'm really serious about it. Which isn't often.
