chain lubes

Hey can anyone out there suggest a good chain cleaner / lube.???

I use parafin to clean and engine oil to lube.

I use castrol chanin cleaner and castrol chain wax but castrol no longer do chain wax and only do "racing" chain lube...

Wax type is best for if your riding around in all weathers as it doesnt flick off or wash of as easy

HTH

Engine oil is good, but does it fling off alot? Anyway, I use silkolene stuff, its ok but its very sticky, which means grit sticks to it. Spannerman used some castrol chain lubricant, it goes on like a wax really, that was good stuff and I noticed right away it made the chain quieter.

Wurth dry lubricant is also good stuff, but I found it washes off easily in the rain, so you have to apply it quite often. However, it dosn't make a mess of your wheel and stuff. So if you don't do alot of riding and want you bike to look very spik and span, thats a good lube to use (my dad uses it, he likes things to look pristine!)

Scoobs though make a good point, clean the old stuff off with parrafin beforehand. Dont bother with expensive chain cleaners, parraffin is cheap and works really really well

Scottoiler, and whatever I can get my hands on !!!

Engine oil, chainsaw oil ....... baby oil, olive oil ..... oil of Ulay !!! lol.

[Jayneflakes]

I have been looking through here for tips on this, on average how often do you clean your chain?

As a mountain biker I need to keep the MTB chain spotless to keep it derailing, but motor bike chains seem a bit more difficult to clean. I have access to Muc Off Cleaner and Hope Sh1tshifter which is actually good stuff.

Also that plastic cover on the front sprocket, worth removing often to clean out and lube the clutch cable? I am new to this really but do not mind getting in there with the old tooth brush and degreaser.

Originally Posted by Jayneflakes

I have been looking through here for tips on this, on average how often do you clean your chain?

After every ride.

Originally Posted by Jayneflakes

As a mountain biker I need to keep the MTB chain spotless to keep it derailing, but motor bike chains seem a bit more difficult to clean. I have access to Muc Off Cleaner and Hope Sh1tshifter which is actually good stuff.

Toothbrush and parafin

Originally Posted by Jayneflakes

Also that plastic cover on the front sprocket, worth removing often to clean out and lube the clutch cable? I am new to this really but do not mind getting in there with the old tooth brush and degreaser.

Once every 6 months will be sufficient. Expect to get bloody filthy though. It's a right carp trap.

Some swear by regular cleaning .... others not !!

I'd rather a bit of fling from a fairly loose oil, and allow the fling to take the crud off ....

If you go for a heavy wax, it'll hold the crud, and need regular cleaning .....

I've found that cleaning the chain often does more harm than good ......

...Cleaning everyday isn't an option when you use the bike everyday !!!

[Jayneflakes]

Thank you folks, that is actually a lot of help. Seems I am neglecting my poor baby a little.

Right, off to find the tooth brush, do you think she will notice if I pinch Carol's, it is electric!

i wash my chain in parraffin once a fortnight, and constantly apply lube throughout the two weeks (squirt here and there)

Often, its just a wipe over, but i will every now and then really really attack the chain

be carefull around the worm-drive thingy, you dont want to remove the grase from it. Just wipe it over to remove the crud and clean the actual pushrod itself, and get some oil on it