Chain lube, what works for you?

Can anyone actually show that chain lube on pre sealed o/x ring chains actually provides any real world benefit?

They are sealed, no lube gets past those rubber rings. Unless you use WD40, which would act like a degreaser and remove the good chain lube that is inside the rollers and under those rubber rings.

I sometimes notice when mates lube their chain before a ride that it collects dust and acts like a grinding paste - probably having a negative affect on sprockets and guides.

I pressed a few links out of an old chain i had never lubed and an off cut link from the new replacement chain and they looked the same inside with regards to grease. Both full of that white grease.

I am not saying i know for sure it's useless, it just seams illogical and i cant see any proof.

I have to agree with you on that DD. Not many can do both. I would have to say that a good lube would be 100% silicone base for the O-ring chain to preserve the O-rings. A good lube for non-O-ring would be a penetrating oil/lube that would get into all the little crevices and maintain a coating that will keep the metal on metal friction down like a wax, but then again wax will not penetrate as well as an oil base. So it really boils down to this.
O-ring chain could stand better with a wax or silicone to maintain the O-rings.

Non O-ring chain could stand a good lube like Tri Flow, oil or the like and a wax top coat maybe.

Sound good? I like to keep my chain as clean as can be so for an extended week end I would most likely use a loose oil and apply liberally every day.

My point was that lube is pointless because it doesnt get in past the o ring, and the lube thats in there from manufacture cant get out. So al you are really doing is lubing the external surafce of the chain. What value does this give you?

My experience of wd40 is it acts like a degrease, if it doesnt anything other than make the metal on your chain look nice, i reckon it gets under the o ring and messes with the lube under the rollers.

As i said, press apart some old links and some new ones...let make some actual comparisons?

Since the o-ring seals in lube/grease, in my feeble mind, all that is needed is something to keep chain clean, rust off and o-rings pliable for the least drag/bind free chain movement I can get.........I tried all kinds of "o-ring" lubes/waxes for a few years trying to find that perfect chain lube that kept it rolling smooth and didn't fling nasty crap all over the bike or me.

Few things I found during my time of unscientific field research:
* I hated chain wax
* Engine oil that some I knew used on chains was lower on my list than chain wax
* Quality of chain and sprockets I used seemed to make more difference in chain life and sprocket wear than what kind of lube I used.
* Engine size seemed to have more affect on chain life and sprocket wear than what kind of lube I used. (although my stock TE510 chain is still holding up well)
* Picking the best chain lube is like picking the best brand of tires or best engine oil.
* I always seemed to have a can of WD40 around for other uses, and when I ran out the "proper" chain lube figured it was better than nothing....sooooo.......

As mentioned, WD40 is a good cleaner, displaces water and slicks things up. I couldn't tell any difference in chain life/function over other specific lubes I used, so WD40 ended up being the thing I've used on my O-ring chains for well over 10yrs now. (FYI: several guys I ride with, think it's the wrong thing to use - several others also use it)
And though I can't prove it, I do not believe it penetrates past the o-ring seal. (if it does, I haven't been able to tell on my last two bikes)

My current routine: Clean with WD40. Lube with Motorex 622.

I like the liquid wrench idea. Motorex cost ~$15 a can...

The o-rings on most chains are made of Buna-N. The main ingredient of WD-40 is aliphatic hydrocarbons. They are compatable. As a gasket manufacturer I need to know what compounds affect what kinds of rubber, and WD-40 will not hurt Buna-N o-rings.

The above is a fact. The following is my opinion.

If you are spraying anything (including WD-40) on your chain and it is getting past the o-rings (with the exception of a high pressure washer up close) and washing out your lube, your o-rings have failed and you might as well have saved the money and purchased a non o-ring chain. If you soak your o-ring chain in oil and that oil is getting past the o-rings to lube the chain, the o-rings have failed and again you might have saved yourself a bit of money and went with a non o-ring chain.

Personally I clean my chain and sprockets with a low pressure water spray, and before it gets dry I spray both sides of the chain with WD-40 to get rid of the water and keep the exterior of the chain from oxidizing, the interior is taken care of by the factory lube.

Ken

Thanks Ken,

Very good info there on O-ring Chains. I was thinking in the line of all my O-ring items around my house and pool equipment. I use a Silicon lube for them so there is no distortion.

Good info, thanks again.

Gary

Ditto for me.

I like Motul's Factory Line. Also have used Chain Wax, Bel Ray etc... w/no complaints.I also like Honda's chain lube. After bike wash I'll soak it with WD40 to clean it. I read years ago about soaking the chain in Diesel to clean it but someone told me it's not good for o ring chains????
Another oil discussion... Truth be told... I love them.

It's official. This is an oil thread.

Rack em' Sincerely Jeff in Richmond. Smack-off
winner????

No I have not used it, but I have question.
What does it go on like an oil/grease, or does it dry to look like nothing is there?
The PTFE intrigues me, Teflon good be a good coating to reduce friction between the sprockets and chain.

I run x-ring chains and never lube them, just some WD-40 after washing to prevent rust. And they last forever.

Another vote for WD-40... I feel that there's no reason to lube the outside of a chain, they simply need to be kept clean. Everything that needs lube is behind the o-rings. I low pressure water wash, scrub if it gets real dirty, then WD to keep the rust off the links. It is true, Buna-N and WD live together in perfect harmony!

Well based on that:

I may have to give this one a try.

Anyone tried the drislide/ptfe and silicone sprays ?

I have used "Muc-Off" Dry PTFE chain lube. Easy to use and seemed to stay on reasonably well. That was on an earlier bike and I didn't keep that one long enough to tell whether it really made any great difference to chain life, but the chain didn't wear much over the period I had it.