Chain Cleaning with T-9 - How Often?
 

So, I'm up here in Boston for another mild winter. We have been having some rain, but our snow fall total this winter is currently less than one inch. It's been clear and cold and not much even as far as ice on the road or sidewalk. There is occasional black ice but it usually clears by the evening. Obviously, they are putting down chemicals to treat the roads.

Question: how often should I be cleaning the bike chain?

I've been trying to spray down the bike chain with T-9 every other week, but one of my New Year's resolutions is to clean it every week. Is that too much? I guess I should back up and add that this winter I installed a new bike chain after about 2500 miles of "moderate" wear on the original chain. And when I cleaned the chain this week I noticed a touch of rust on a replaceable strap near the derailer (something to make note of in the spring).

Any comments?

If your chain starts squeaking, you should have re-lubed it sooner. ;)

I've had pretty good luck with T-9 just re-lubing it after rainy rides, but I don't know how that translates into winter schmuck. It seems to work well as a rust preventative and lubricant. The biggest problem I have with T-9 is trying to wipe everything clean -- I usually end up scraping jockey wheels clean with a screwdriver halfway through the life of the chain.

Every weekend?
 

Or, when you worry about having not done it often enough?

Sounds like you'd go with a different solvent? As far as those jockey wheels, if they go, I pretty much need a new chain, right?

T9 is really a lubricant, not a cleaner. I'm sure it will dissolve some grease but White Lightening is certainly going to clean more effectively.

My experience is that T9 is a very poor chain lubricant. It lasted about 80 miles in good weather and had to be reapplied. Just about any chain lube will do better than T9.


-Tim-

Thanks, what about bad weather, like snow or rain?

I had (and have) much better luck with T9. It lasts me about a month, 400 miles or so, and stays on through light showers or damp roads. Heavy showers (the kind that wash any lube right off) are a different story, of course. No experience in snow -- I like to play bumper cars with 3,000 pounds of steel padding.

Fresh T9 lube is also pretty good at loosening/dissolving old, dried up T9. I put T9 on the inside of a chain, spin it a few times, and then wipe, wipe, and wipe. It looks pretty clean by the time I get through. Wipe it again after tomorrow's ride, and even more comes off. Then I just ride until the chain needs cleaning and/or re-lube.

What builds up on the jockey wheels may (emphasis on may as opposed to will) dirty the chain up and wear it out sooner, although my observed chain life is similar with T9 to any other lube I've used, and better than some of the dry lubes. Scrape it off when I see it and keep riding. Measure the chain periodically for wear, there is no proxy.

I`ve heard that Cleaning with Marvel Mystery Oil is good, Followed by lubricating with a good chain oil is the way to go??

I know it's silly to get into those "best chain lube" debates, but I think T-9 is pretty awful. It seems to be less viscous than water. Try something thicker.

Perfectly ok, I'm pretty open to suggestions, actually. What's your suggestion?

This month is pretty tight so I'll probably try to use up what's left of the T9. But when it runs out, I'll make a note of it and try out your suggestion.

I like Chain-L. It's very viscous and lasts a long time. It's a small company, run by a guy who's been in bikes his whole life.

Many thanks

I don't know how long it will last in the wet. I tried it during the summer and gave up after a few applications so never got to try it other than dry conditions.

Its good for inside shifters and similar.

I use Chain-L. In the winter lasts about a month, including rides through heavily salted slush. Pretty good, I'd say.

I recommend fully degreasing the chain, then reapply wet chain lube, rather than apply an all-in-one solution to "clean, lube, and protect" like T-9. I use WPL (Whistler Performance Lubricants) bio-solvent degreaser, and then their wet chain lube. It's more work but worth it in the end for your drivetrain.

I did look up WPL after your suggestion. I noticed it claims to be bio-degradable. Do you happen to know why they can make that claim?

Thanks, I will mention it to my mechanic the next time I see him