Chain Lubing?

[leehop71]

I was watching a video from a repair shop and the technician stated that the 3 most important things that a bike owner can do, regardless of their mechanical background or ability, to keep you e-bike running good is to;

1. Keep battery charged
2. Keep tires properly inflated
3. Keep your chain lubricated

It seems to me the first 2 are probably kept up by most riders, but what about keeping the chain lubed?

Do you keep the chain properly lubed?

 

[fooferdoggie]

yes if you want the longest life and keep the noise down. I use a dry lube last about 100 or so miles so I put it on once a week.

 

[Gionnirocket]

Yes

 

[Slaphappygamer]

I’d also like to toss in

-keep your mirror clean
-do a light check once in a while
-clean brake rotors with alcohol wipes

 

[fooferdoggie]

I always forget the mirror. I use a spray bottle with alcohol works better and cleans off the calipers too.

 

[Deacon Blues]

I usual lube the chain on my bike after the third ride, unless the conditions I'm riding in are on the muddy or dusty side.
I use Rock&Roll lube, which I like a lot and I recently tried, for the first time, wax on my acoustic road bike's chain.

 

[Mike_V]

Yes

Yes, agreed.
one squirt YTD on my std. KMC chain
2023 Endurance Test

 

[Sparky731]

Yes, I clean & lube the chain every 300 miles.

There has also been lively debate about #1. My credo is to fully charge it every night because I never know how far I will ride the next day.

 

[Slaphappygamer]

I agree. #1 is very debatable. It’s also very user specific.

Maybe you never know how far you feel like riding on any given day.

Maybe you commute everyday and you know exactly how far you will travel.

I commute, so I know that I use 1.3v in 4 miles. Total commute for a day is 8 miles. Roughly 2.6v. I charge my bike when I see 46v during heavy load. I charge on Wednesday evening and some time on Sunday.

 

[Sparky731]

I agree. #1 is very debatable. It’s also very user specific.

Maybe you never know how far you feel like riding on any given day.

Maybe you commute everyday and you know exactly how far you will travel.

I commute, so I know that I use 1.3v in 4 miles. Total commute for a day is 8 miles. Roughly 2.6v. I charge my bike when I see 46v during heavy load. I charge on Wednesday evening and some time on Sunday.

My daily rides are usually 30-45 miles. I ride almost exclusively in Turbo mode.
For my type of riding a daily charge works best, although I know I exceed the 500 charge cycles in less than 2 years.

 

[DaveMatthews]

Yes.
I use Squirt wax lube. Every 2 - 3 weeks I wipe the chain and re-lube.
Now over 4000kms and the chain checker shows little to no wear.

 

[PDoz]

Have you done the maths?

Chain lube = $35 aus for 450 ml ( a year)
A chain costs about the same.....I sometimes wonder if it makes more sense to just replace the chain early ( before it stretches and starts damaging sprockets).

I'm NOT fanatical about cleaning / lubing , in fact this morning I lubed my wifes chain and realized it'd been a year since last lube! The emtb gets a superficial clean and lube before any multiday trips, plus about once a month. Kids bikes - even less. I have a 2004 giant that would be lucky to get lubed annually -10 sp chain, I think it's still the original! Admittedly I replace my 12 sp chains 1/2 x a year - as soon as they get sloppy on the shifts, around 0.5 % wear ( with 3 chains to a cassette )

There was always debate about how much difference lubing a chain really makes - especially off road where the lube arguably attracts grit. The uban myth is a farmer ran 2x motorbikes, one chain dry, the other lubed - zero difference in wear but a bit more noise.

 

[smorgasbord]

cleaning caked dirt and oil on cassette and ring gear my 1500 psi electric pressure washing ritual did not remove.

Hmm. Technically, your hub, suspension pivots, motor & battery, and anything else that gets hit with a 1500psi pressure washer needs an IP56 or IP66 (second digit is what matters for liquid) rating. I'd be concerned that not all those components are up to that spec.

Muc-off sells a bicycle-specific pressure washer that avoids the narrow, high-pressure jets which aren't "bearing and suspension friendly." Personally, I'd worry about using a full on 1500psi pressure washer on my bike unless I was really really careful what is and isn't in the line of fire.

 

[Gionnirocket]

Have you done the maths?

Chain lube = $35 aus for 450 ml ( a year)
A chain costs about the same.....I sometimes wonder if it makes more sense to just replace the chain early ( before it stretches and starts damaging sprockets).

I'm NOT fanatical about cleaning / lubing , in fact this morning I lubed my wifes chain and realized it'd been a year since last lube! The emtb gets a superficial clean and lube before any multiday trips, plus about once a month. Kids bikes - even less. I have a 2004 giant that would be lucky to get lubed annually -10 sp chain, I think it's still the original! Admittedly I replace my 12 sp chains 1/2 x a year - as soon as they get sloppy on the shifts, around 0.5 % wear ( with 3 chains to a cassette )

There was always debate about how much difference lubing a chain really makes - especially off road where the lube arguably attracts grit. The uban myth is a farmer ran 2x motorbikes, one chain dry, the other lubed - zero difference in wear but a bit more noise.

I definitely notice chain gurgle at the chain ring if I go more than 200mi (less with bad weather)which I find annoying so I lube.

 

[PDoz]

I definitely notice chain gurgle at the chain ring if I go more than 200mi (less with bad weather)which I find annoying so I lube.

I'm mostly riding rocks, so am unlikely to hear the chain , but can FEEL the difference when shifting if the chain gets worn AND dry . I used to start lubing more frequently at this point, but when I realized how expensive good cassettes are , I just replace the chain. I've been doing this for a couple of years now, with 3 high end mtb's between myself and the kids, plus 4 x midrange bikes. So far, I get at least a year out of chainwheels, and about 2 out of cassettes - ie no discernible difference to when
i was washing / lubing every ride.

I know on motorbikes, as soon as the chain starts showing signs of wear ( stretch) , I replace them - but these are x ring chains, with the internal lube sealed . Once they start stretching they rapidly deteriorate and can ruin sprockets. I'm starting to think the same applies on push bikes ( at least mtb , where grit gets into gaps and turns into grinding paste )

 

[Gionnirocket]

Even with a garden hose used at low pressure which I find more than adequate I spray perpendicular to seals.

 

[mfgrep]

Yup. I frequently lube the chain. Typically every 60-100 miles....which is a lot of lubing. I find it somewhat cathartic. It really takes me about 5 minutes. The drivetrain is shiny clean at all times....and quiet as a mouse for the first 60 or so miles. I use a very light and dry formula which doesn't last long.....but which also doesn't attract grime and muck. It is worth the effort imo. That first ride on a fresh lube.....call me crazy.....but so good.

 

[Gionnirocket]

Yup. I frequently lube the chain. Typically every 60-100 miles....which is a lot of lubing. I find it somewhat cathartic. It really takes me about 5 minutes. The drivetrain is shiny clean at all times....and quiet as a mouse for the first 60 or so miles. I use a very light and dry formula which doesn't last long.....but which also doesn't attract grime and muck. It is worth the effort imo. That first ride on a fresh lube.....call me crazy.....but so good.

I concur...
The difference is noticeable especially on that first ride

 

[dodgeman]

I lube my chain every 100 miles.

 

[mfgrep]

I lube my chain every 100 miles.

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