Whats the Best Lubricant

[rgh]

Hi, I have just bought a new e bike,whats the best lubricant to use on the Chain please.?

 

[eddieo]

KY jelly

(Oop's wrong forum)

 

[rgh]

You need the AR*SE BANDIT FORUM.

 

[eddieo]

You think? sheltered life or what, and no need to shout

Buy GT85 Spray Lubricant 400ml from our Repair Kits range - Tesco.com

that was hard....

 

[rgh]

Sorry eddie. Thanks for link,that's nice and cheap to.
with bike being new should I still use it on the chain.?

 

[eddieo]

I use it regularly cant do any harm and hopefully prevents wear.....

 

[Old_Dave]

should I still use it on the chain.

+1 with wot eddieo said..

Its called maintaining it before it may of needed it, lol (preventive maintenance)

 

[tillson]

I've used GT85 and other silicon based lubricants, various chain waxes designed for dry and wet weather, mineral oil, synthetic oil and grease. By far, the most effective and best all round lubricant is a pot of grease. If you are careful and put the grease into the chain links, it lubricates well for a long time in all weather conditions, doesn't make a mess keeps the transmission quiet. It tends to harden and fall off the chain taking any grit with it after a while. I'll never go back to these fancy bike lubricants after using grease.

 

[steve.c]

Hi All.I use motorcycle chain spray as its anti fling and lasts for a long time also a quick spray of Tool Stations Silicon spray for the water and I also do the electrics as well and its a lot cheaper than WD40.
Regards Steve C

 

[flecc]

Like Tillson, I'm a firm fan of grease for chains, but I only use it on single speed or hub gear bikes. For derailleurs I prefer something very thin like GT85 since it helps to keep the cassette and rear mechanism idlers clean.

 

[rgh]

Thanks guys for your suggestions much appreciated.so it looks like GT85 is the one.
I will see if I can half inch one tomorrow from Tesco.

 

[103Alex1]

Thanks guys for your suggestions much appreciated.so it looks like GT85 is the one.
I will see if I can half inch one tomorrow from Tesco.

Went down to my local Tesco superstore earlier to get some too .. not on the shelves ! .. free delivery to store for collection next day off that link though .

Using Shimano Wet Lube on the chain itself.

 

[rgh]

Thanks Alex.I will try that also as its a good price

 

[Deleted member 4366]

When you get a new chain, it's already greased, so should be ok for the first 100 miles or so unless you use it in the rain. There's loads of patent chain-lubes that have all soerts of gimmicks to explain why they're better than other ones and also help persuade you to give up your hard earned cash.

If you want to save some money, get a litre of Hypoid 90 gear oil for about £3.50, and it'll last longer than your bike. Each time your chain looks a little dry or after you clean it, drizzle a bit more on. It's thick enough that it doesn't immediately drip onto your nice patio, and it'll gradually work its way into the rollers where it's needed and not sit on the outside like the foam sprays. It's also thick enough to stay on the chain and keep working, unlike thinner oils that drip back off or spray off all over your trousers when you start pedalling.

 

[103Alex1]

... and I also do the electrics as well and its a lot cheaper than WD40.

What electrics do you use it on, Steve ? Everything electrical bar the battery connectors seem to either be integrated into an LCD display or hidden in the frame of my bike so not sure if there is something that I should be 'treating'

 

[mike_b]

Hi,
We have found that hypoid gear oil(car gear box oil) is good for chains and general lubrication,it is thick enough not to fling but is thin enough to get between the rollers and side plates of the chain ,unlike grease that tends to stay on the surface

 

[jerrysimon]

I think a wipe down of the chain every couple of weeks (especially in the winter) and then a re lube helps prevent wear. I tend to use wet lube but I may now try plain old grease as some have suggested here.

Regards

Jerry

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Grease doesn't get into the rollers where it's needed to prevent wear. If you want to use grease, you have to boil it in a bath of grease - yuck!. I used to do that on my motorbike before they had O-ring chains.

 

[rgh]

Thanks again guys for more good tips.I thought with it being a new bike it wouldn't need doing for awhile but I was thinking as you suggested d8veh about all the rain and snow that I will be out in,so the Hypoid 90 gear oil sounds perfect and at that price I wont bother to half inch it.

 

[flecc]

Grease doesn't get into the rollers where it's needed to prevent wear. If you want to use grease, you have to boil it in a bath of grease - yuck!. I used to do that on my motorbike before they had O-ring chains.

I like grease from new on single speed and hub gear bikes because it keeps the manufacturer's grease in and is an effective shield against gritty dust access. As it hardens and flakes off, it takes the dirt away with it.

Oils can keep chains cleaner, especially the thin ones, but oils also dissolve out the installed grease. Any oil that can get into the bearing surfaces also carries in the fine road grit in as well to form a grinding paste.

Lubricating exposed chains is really all a compromise with no method completely satisfactory. In my experience only two things work well, the hard work method of the cleansing wash followed by the hot grease oilbath method you mention, or best of all, the fully enclosed chain that dips its lower run into an oilbath all the time as on the old Sunbeam bike system. The chains and sprockets on those seem to last for ever and avoid all the routine chain maintenance work. Not nice for taking out the back wheel though.