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New chain, oil or not needed

Old 07-28-20, 04:15 AM
  #1  
solman
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New chain, oil or not needed

Hello,
I put a new chain on my friends bike as he had neglected the bike in storage for many years. Frozen links and rust which I could not free up.
My question is do you need to lube the new chain or is the way it shipped good to go.
New chain is a KMC 8 speed chain and my friend is just getting back to riding.
Thanks
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Old 07-28-20, 04:20 AM
  #2  
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Believe it or not that is a philosophical question. People like Sheldon Brown think the lube chain manufactures put on new chains is the best you can get, others chemically clean the chain and replace it with their own proprietary mix of lubricants, others like me just go ahead and lube the new chain when putting it on.
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Old 07-28-20, 04:30 AM
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Brand new chains are good to go for several hundred kilometres/miles before you need to worry about them. Lubricating a new chain will just make it more likely to pick up extra dirt and grit which isn't what you want.
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Old 07-28-20, 04:47 AM
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DorkDisk
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Wipe the outside of excess grease and ride the original lube.
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Old 07-28-20, 05:41 AM
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Thomas15
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To lube or not to lube.

That is the question.
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Old 07-28-20, 05:48 AM
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I just install the chain and let the factory lube work it's magic. As DorkDisk recommends, wipe the excess off the exterior.
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Old 07-28-20, 06:08 AM
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I usually just put it on and ride until it starts making a noise, then lube.
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Old 07-28-20, 11:55 AM
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Sy Reene
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Originally Posted by Moe Zhoost
I just install the chain and let the factory lube work it's magic. As DorkDisk recommends, wipe the excess off the exterior.
One caveat. If your lube of choice is going to be a wax based (eg. Pedro's Slick, Smoove, etc), it's generally considered much better to strip a chain of any oil based lubes before using. So, if you ride a new chain as it's been greased at the factory, you'll eventually have to take it back off and do the work anyway to strip/clean it, and then reinstall.
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Old 07-28-20, 12:17 PM
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The stock lube on the SRAM chain I recently purchased seemed really heavy and sticky. After a few rides I ran it through my normal chain cleaner and it was still really gross. I took it off and soaked in degreaser, scrubbed it clean and put new lube on it.

It didn't make any difference in how it rode, but it has been much easier to keep clean since doing this.
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Old 07-28-20, 01:07 PM
  #10  
70sSanO
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I’ve pretty much moved away from using wet lubes, so I strip off the factory lube.

John
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Old 07-28-20, 06:51 PM
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The SRAM 11_SPD chain I just put on had a very tacky lube, like pancake syrup. I whiped it down externally as best as possible with WD-40 to get it off than re-lubed.

Many new chains have a heavy preservative lube to prevent rust but it's not great for riding with as dirt and grime stick to it like glue.
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Old 07-28-20, 08:15 PM
  #12  
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I've been using KMC chains for several years now and, I've noticed the thick wax coating causes sluggish shifting & attracts dirt. So, I add lubricant to loosen things up. My favorite go to chain lube is red Type F automatic transmission fluid. I put it into a small 2 oz. plastic Nalgene drop dispenser bottle and place a small amount on each link. Exercise the shifters & drivetrain. Wipe off the excess. Quietest drivetrain & smoothest shifting ever. That's it. That's all. Done deal. Be good. Have fun.
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Old 07-28-20, 09:57 PM
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Agree SRAM chains can be kind of gummy. KMC maybe not quite as bad. But as a waxer, I strip them before use. I wouldn't bother lubing a new chain.

scott s.
.
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Old 07-29-20, 07:01 AM
  #14  
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The last few chains I've installed have had various amounts of lube. Some didn't need to be wiped, some needed to be run through a rag dampened with mineral spirits to remove the excess.
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Old 07-29-20, 10:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Toadmeister
The SRAM 11_SPD chain I just put on had a very tacky lube, like pancake syrup. I whiped it down externally as best as possible with WD-40 to get it off than re-lubed.

Many new chains have a heavy preservative lube to prevent rust but it's not great for riding with as dirt and grime stick to it like glue.

Sounds like the stuff they coat new brake rotors with (for your car) to prevent them from rusting in the box. Sticky and oily. Cleans right up though with brake parts cleaner....
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Old 07-29-20, 02:29 PM
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KMC recommends running their chains as-is, rather than stripping and replacing the original lube. I do that for the first few months on my hybrid/errand bike chains, but when the chain needs lube I use Park CL-1.

Park CL-1 is a medium weight oil with PTFE. It's really tenacious stuff, doesn't wash out in rain and even resists heavy cleaning with soap and hot water, and "green" spray degreasers. PTFE leaves a distinctive slippery but non-greasy film.

With this technique I may clean and lube the chain once or twice a year at most. It runs quietly and shifts well. I may change chains every couple of years.

When I relube with CL-1 I don't drizzle it all over the entire chain. I apply a single drop every few inches along the chain, maybe half a dozen droplets. Then ride. It gradually distributes itself while riding. Then wipe off the excess after around 20-50 miles.

Park CL-1 isn't one of the sexy lubes often recommended on various chain lube friction tests. In those tests it usually ranks close to dead last for some reason. But I've found it satisfactory and low maintenance for 5 years on my hybrids.

My road bikes are a whole nuther story. I've fussed and fretted with melted wax, "wet" wax, stuff like Rock 'n' Roll Gold and Absolute Dry with PTFE, etc. It's a constant battle chasing a tiny advantage. Not sure it's worth the effort.
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Old 07-29-20, 02:45 PM
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Jon Cannings on GCN says its the best lube on the market for a wet lube. However it will attract more dirt than standard lubes.
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Old 07-29-20, 02:50 PM
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I typically ride for a few hundred miles with the new chain as-is.

But I tend to prefer a lighter dry lube in general so after that I do a thorough de-grease and re-lube.

The stuff that comes on it from factory is pretty thick and durable (and a pain to get completely cleaned off). Can probably get away with riding it for quite some time.
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Old 07-29-20, 04:19 PM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by Thomas15
To lube or not to lube.

That is the question.
lube always is smoother
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