what exactly is done with a "wash and lube"?

[Mr lee]

Took my bike into the LBS a few months ago as I was not riding it much and also wanted to take advantage of the free service that was included with the bike purchase, even though I had to pay R50 for consumables....!!!

 

Anyway since then I bought a bike cleaner and degreaser from another LBS so I could do it myself...

 

Only problem is that once I wash I only oil the chain!

 

What should I use to lube the cassette and chain gears with and anything else for that matter?

 

I do remember when receiving the bike back from the "wash and lube" that everything looked nice and shiney and oiled but forgot to ask what they used exactly :/

 

Can I use household spray oil applied to a brush and then run it over the gears or do I stay away from it?

 

[Guest notmyname]

Lube is quite the topic. You can expect plenty advice ranging from Smooove till I die to good old castrol. It all boils down to preference. But use a product that has been formulated for the purpose.

[Mr lee]

OK thanks, but what would the name of such a product be?

[Mr lee]

What do the shops use?

[Butterbean]

Depends what lube is on the chain.

 

Chain:

 

If you're using an oil based wet lube, a solvent/degreaser will work fine. Apply, clean, and rinse thoroughly. Dry thoroughly and lube again.

 

If you're using a wax based dry lube, it's a bit more difficult. Wipe down first and clean the gunk. Soak and shake up in something like paraffin and clean and dry again. Lube when done.

 

Chainrings:

 

Wipe with a clean cloth, just clean off wet or dry lube dirt and gunk.

 

Cassette:

 

Take a clean cloth (I use a t shirt) and stretch a section between the gears. Spin the cassette by 'sawing' the cloth between the gears to clean them. Alternatively strip the cassette off the free body and clean each gear throughly. Wet or dry lube should only need a cloth, no degreaser required.

 

When reapplying lubricant to the chain, apply on the inside of the chain. It will penetrate out when spinning and stays a little cleaner for a little longer.

 

Don't bother lubricating the cassette or chainrings, you'll only make them dirtier, quicker. The chain only needs lubricant in this system, and even then, only between pins and rollers.

 

Wipe off derailer pulleys (especially with the build up from dry lube) and wipe the rear and front derailers. Wipe off bike frame and and other areas you want to. Check whole bike for loose bolts or bits, and check for cracks in frame.

 

When you get good at this, it'll take you about 15 mins.

[Butterbean]

Smoove is one of the better dry lubes put there, but it's more subjective than women's looks for cyclists.

 

Basically any oil based lube works great if you're in dry conditions for most of the time.

 

Choose what you like and stick with it. They're basically all about the same in performance or price and everyone swears by something different to the next dude. Just pick one - it'll work.

[Malpiet]

Almost every shop uses different items that's how many variations we have available on the market.

 

I use items such as Mr Min and a clean cotton cloth to clean up my handlebar tape,

 

A little Mothers car wash, sponge in warm water

 

To dry a airgun and cloth

 

and to polish I use some quick detailer on a microfibre cloth

 

this is wrt a road bike.

[BMXER]

Almost every shop uses different items that's how many variations we have available on the market.

 

I use items such as Mr Min and a clean cotton cloth to clean up my handlebar tape,

 

A little Mothers car wash, sponge in warm water

 

To dry a airgun and cloth

 

and to polish I use some quick detailer on a microfibre cloth

 

this is wrt a road bike.

Dish washing soap is best. Car wash often has Polish in it - detrimental to your disks.

[Hackster]

When giving my bike a lube service, besides cleaning and lubing the chain, and cleaning the jockey wheels, I also spray a little lube (motorex) on my derailleurs' pivot points, taking care not to get overspray on rear brake disc. Then I work the gears up and down.

 

I finish by lubing the fork seals with Brunox fork oil.

[Guest notmyname]

I work in a bike shop. We use Wurth for chain lube. It's great.

That's interesting. Please do share more....

[T-Bob]

Not the same as a rub and tug then

[Mr lee]

Thanks for the feedback everyone and for the detailed explanation DragoRosso!

 

I checked just now and it is Smoove that I am using. Looks like I am going to have to start taking the chain off and soaking it then cause I have noticed that I cannot get all the gunk off with the degreaser and a new paint brush.

 

I bought a quicklink at the beginning of the year just in case my chain snapped so I could at least fix it and carry on. I will have to install it so I can remove the chain and do a proper clean.

[HowardSteele]

I use one of those 2l garden spray pump to pressurize bottles ..I used to use big red a car wash but i can't get it now so i use a similar product from the wholesale place.

I put about 50 ml of the product into the sprayer  and fill with hot water..

Pump to pressurize and while i spay on bike i use a cleaning brush to rub off dirt.

If you turn the sprayer upside down it foams i liberally foam the cluster .chain rings ,shocks and pivot points.

With the cluster and chain-ring coated in foam i rotate the crank and go through the gear changes.

Takes 5 minutes and after a wipe down with a cloth bike is good to go and get dirty again.

[raptor-22]

We use Wurth high pressure resistant synthetic lubricating oil. My bike is very happy with it. Just a quick spray on the chain let it settle then a wipe of the chain. My chains last quite a while like this.

 

 

Yes those industrial oils are more than adequate for lubing a bicycle chain. As a child I nicked my mom's sewing machine oil. Worked like a charm. to clean the chain, we siphoned a small jar of diesel from the neighbours truck......well no so much siphoned but rather just left the jar under the truck where the fuel line had a slight leak. By 6am the jar was full

[JXV]

Dishwashing liquid has a lot of salt in it and does not go anywhere near my bike. Use it if you like corrosion.

 

I also really don't favour water based degreasers for chains 'cos difficult to dry out the water that gets into the pins and rollers....so I only use paraffin to clean my chain. This way, even if not dry inside when I relube the chain, at least the lube soaks in properly and mixes with the residual paraffin which eventually evaporates. I only ever use an oil based wet lube - I just prefer it in KZN conditions but can accept it might not be the best choice elsewhere.