Proper use of canned lubricants

[Cassie]

I saw this comment on a post here recently:

 

Popeye wrote:

I went to the hardware shop, bought myself a can off lubricant (the pressure tin). These days after a wash and dry, I spray oil on all the moving parts (with that long red straw). The force of the spray force the lube into all moving parts.
The shop can grease everything when it goes in for a service

 

Now, not to offend popeye, but I was told that if you use these canned lube sprays and spray each and every moving part i.e bearings....

you actually proceed to disolve the grease in the bearings which is far worse than to not lube at all!!

 

So, any advice on the proper use of these canned sprays (Q20; silicone based sprays; WD40 etc etc.)?? WD40 is actually a degreaser, not so?

 

 

[Brakkies Sport Fotos]

I dunno, I use WD40 (BLUE AND YELLOW CAN ? )... but it stop the sqiucks

 

 

[Mackie]

I actaully use spray lubes to clean my parts before giving them a proper grease/lube with Squirt and Weldtite Grease.

[Cassie]

Yes, quite true...

I think there is a great misconception out there that spray lubes are the only solution for "re-greasing" your moving parts...when it is in fact not.

They are NOT grease and more of a degreasing agent....

 

I was happily spraying these lubes onn every part - even trying to get it into the bearings at one stage...thought it would be good for my steed!! Silly me...

 

[AndreZA]

WD40 is not a lube but a Water Displacement fluid. And the "40" comes form the 40th try to make it.

 

 

 

I use to spray Shimano oil (just normal household oil with s Shimano/Rodney Fowler(yes that is how long I've had it) label on, on everything from pulley wheels to brake arches derailleur pivot points. But I found that the more I used it, the more I needed to use it. On my new groupset I did not start doing it and never needed to do it.

[Slowbee]

would silicone spray not also work ?

 

 

[HomerSimpson]

Actually WD 40 contains a number of things:  a mixture of "light hydrocarbons" (which basically just helps spread the oil, then evaporates), some alcohol (this "displaces the water") and OIL.  So if you use WD 40 the alcohol displaces the water, the oil/hydrocarbon mixture spreads on the part, penetrating all the little nooks and crannies, and then most of the "light hydrocarbons" evaporate leaving the oil behind.  WD 40 is a pretty effective chain lube.  I've been using it for at least 7 years now (both MTB and road).  And I ride my MTB in the Western Cape.  In winter.  In the mud. I posted a picture some time ago of my MTB chain/front der after the Stellenbosch MTB mudfest last year.  WD 40 as lube and 60 km of mud with no chainsuck.

 

[Cassie]

Hmmm, that kinda blows my theory out of the water!

I'm just wondering if the oil component (and also that in silicone based lubes eg. Q20) is sufficiently suitable to lube chains. I'm referring to the light vs heavy grade of the oil involved. (maybe too light and displaced too easily?)

 

So the jury is still out on this one...

 

good observations from HomerSimpson...

[Christopher Brunsdon]

WD40 is the Leatherman of lubrication ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

... no I mean it is the 200 pound mallet you use to knock in a tack, gets the nail in but fks everything else up