Things You'll Need:
- Rag
- Bike Lube
- A New Bike Chain (if Old One Is Rusty)
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Step 1
Place the bicycle over newspapers or in a place that can get dirty.
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Step 2
Lean the bike against something so that the pedals can still turn freely.
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Step 3
Hold a rag under the chain to prevent lube from dripping onto the wheel.
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Step 4
Using a bike specific lucbricant drip a drop on oil onto each roller of the chain. It is best to apply lube to the part of the chain that touches the gears. Avoid lubing the gears of the bike, they don't need it and excess lube can cause them to wear out quickly.
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Step 5
Slowly spin the pedal backwards while continuing to drip lube onto the chain.
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Step 6
Once the chain in covered entirely in a thin coating of lube stop lubing!
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Step 7
Grab the chain lightly with a rag and spin the pedals backwards. This removes excess lube that can attract dirt and wear out your chain.
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Step 8
Wipe any excess or splattered oil off the bike with a rag paying special attention to the rim.
Comments
thermalfinder said
on 7/7/2008 Summary on chain maintenance in order of importance:
1. A good quality chain (Wippermann ConneX)
2. Clean often (200 mi.) using a chain cleaner (Park Cyclone) and compressed air.
3. Use bike chain lube (Finishline Cross Country) and ONLY after cleaning. Wipe off excess.
Anonymous said
on 8/28/2006 Anything other than Teflon will pick up and hold too much road spray during your ride. Teflon stays on the chain for a good long time, attracts/holds very little dirt, and comes in both a dry (every day riding) and wet (long distance training rides) so there always an option for you. I've used WD-40 and other oils and in my opinion they actually do more harm than good. Teflon is by far the way to go.
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 Don't use 3in1 oil, it just drips off so it's no good! The best thing to use is "Chain Wax". It's great stuff! It comes out as a spray, then turns to a wax once on the chain. You can also use it on motorbikes, so it will stay on even in the rain.
Anonymous said
on 6/30/2006 3-in-1 oil is a no-no, it attracts too much dirt. The instruction here, to saturate your chain with it, or with any other oil for that matter, is bad advice guaranteed to lead to a very dirty, and thus quicker wearing, chain.
Since the only part of the chain that matters, in terms of lubrication, is the rollers, I'd suggest (as many who are experienced would) placing a drop on each roller. Yes, it's more time consuming, but doing it this way results in cleaner chains that retain their usefulness longer, not to mention the aesthetic qualities that clean chains afford. After oiling in this many you'll still wipe off the excess oil on the chain with a rag while back spinning the pedals.
As to which oil to use, though wax is the cleanest, it's a very poor lubricant when the chain is under stress. Depending on the type of riding you do and the conditions in which you ride (wet, dry, etc.) I'd go with Prolink or any other dry type lube, unless your riding is under, typically, wet conditions. For that, Triflow may be better.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 I use 75W90 synthetic gear oil on my bike chain. I actually use the oil in my Jeep differentials, but it works on bike chains just as well. Good stuff, you can actually feel the difference, it does not wash off in water and it does just fine in the summer and on -40 degree days.