jadmt

so no issues using the shimano quick link multiple times? I have re-used them 2X but have been nervous about using them more than that.

staehpj1

I am skeptical of the test. Particularly on chain/drive train component life. It doesn't match my real world experience at all.

jadmt

it does match mine. I don't ride in wet or dirty conditions and oil with T9 every 100-200 miles and keep my chain clean but my ultegra 11 speed chains get between 1000-1800 miles before they exceed the stretch limit. I started reading how people were getting 3000-5000 miles waxing which led me to that website.

SpedFast

I re-use the links until they don't snap firmly together any longer, sometimes more than 25 uses. I've never had one fail on the road on me yet. I also carry cheap knock-off links in my seat bag in case I have a failure, but haven't needed them yet. HTH NOTE: If you can push them open or shut with just your fingers and not much effort, use a new one.

PeteHski

Their test method looks thorough to me. Especially in terms of comparing x,y,z products directly in different conditions. All lubes can all work reasonably well in real life, but some products are comparatively better than others in certain conditions. I find this website great for choosing lubes and currently favour Silca SS drip wax.

elcruxio

It's true that our tours have been rather short after I started waxing. Having kids will do that. For next summer we're planning a 800km tour with the kids. If we set out with freshly waxed chains I probably need to drip wax two two three times in that time. I'm planning on using the Mariposa Flower Power as that has seemingly fared well in tests. If I don't just take a hunk of my latest purchase, Rambo Wax and combine it naphta or hexane.

Typically a drip wax is a hard wax that has been made liquid with an evaporating solvent of some sort. That way the wax can flow inside the chain and adhere to metal surfaces when applied and remain in place after the solvent has evaporated.

You get drip waxes in two main flavors. first is the water emulsified, where some dark magic has been used to emulsify hard wax with water so that the wax is in liquid form until the water evaporates. Examples of this are squirt wax and flower power. Some of these are completely biodegradable.

The second is hydrocarbon solvent waxes which use a hydrocarbon solvent capable of dissolving wax. Quicker dry times but worse for the environment. Examples are Silca super secret and white lightning clean ride.

The paraffin or wax based liquid lubes are hybrids of sorts which have significant portions of waxes mixed with oil and solvents. I'm ot sure how these work, but from wax based lubes I'd only ever use Rex Black diamond as it's relatively clean (if applied to a deep cleaned chain), it's one of the lowest friction lubes out there and it can last near 1000km per application.

Racing Dan

ZFC has a terrible habit of burying the actual test protocol and replication intervals deep inside silly long write ups, that no one reads except the headline. Not to mention the even more terrible habit of polluting the likely/possibly good data with assumptions, leading to unsupported conclusions. For instance calculating the combined savings on chainrings and cassettes based on the assumption it needs to replaced every 3 chains, no matter how long said chains last. Im betting you a months pay that's flat out wrong. Yet ppl regurgitate it as undisputed truth.

bbbean 

You don't pull your chain every week or so. This has been covered extensively in this thread.

Also, FWIW, many of us do, in fact re-use the links as long as they require some effort to snap in and snap off.

smd4

Or just use a Connex link, which can be used indefinitely.

SkinGriz

Waxing your chain only works if it’s done Brazilian style.

jadmt

I guess i got hung up on pulling the chain every 300 miles and doing the wax treatment. Maybe I misread that. I did think it was crazy that Shimano said replace the links each time as mine always seem to be solid snapping on and off after the second use.

spelger

it is not just the shimano quick link snapping in that apparently matters. mine recently failed when removing for a wax session. one of the pins came out on one half. due to time constraints i used it anyway and lived to tell the tale. i inspected the plate and it appeared to be the same on each end, meaning there was a similar recess like the other pin would engage in. it felt ok so i took the risk. 400ish miles and it performed fine. since then it is now in the land fill.

Maelochs

Hand me that irony please ....

Dictatokerr

Waxing your chain can be a game-changer! It's not just a trend. I've had less gunk build-up and smoother shifts. I use Squirt Lube, and it's been great. Give it a try!

staehpj1

I notice that the KMC 11 speed MissingLinks say reusable but the 12 speed ones say non reusable. How seriously do folks take that destinction? Do other brands make the same destinction?

jadmt

one common theme i keep reading is how much less gunk and easier shifting but I have no gunk build up on my chains and my shifting is excellent, my reason for thinking about is increased chain life.

smd4

There are people here that will tell you this is physically impossible to accomplish (I'm not one of them).

elcruxio

that depends almost completely how challenging your conditions are what type of riding you do.

pedsurgkb

Great article on this in Bicycling. Real science showing friction wear and durability of different lubricants

Mark Dominck

Seems like whatever is suggested about half the riders like and approve and half hate and don't approve. Waxing my chain I'm with the half that approve.

Racing Dan

Some links are reusable, some not. Even the reusable ones go loose after a few uses. Cant say I've had any issues with loose links, but it sure isn't reassuring mounting a loose fitting link. Its a downside to repeated off bike waxing, but just get more links. Imo you should replace reusable links about every 5 uses or about every 1000 mi if you are only hot waxing. Single use links even more frequent, but more than one use is possible.

For this reason and the faff associated with hot waxing, I tend to only hot wax before the chain go on the bike and drip wax for the duration of the chain.

Mark Dominck

I'm with you, waxing is much easier and cleaner

jonathanf2

I'm just using a small $9 slow cooker and $20 ultrasonic cleaner. The initial investment in equipment and wax pays for itself in the long run. No need to buy big bottles of chain lube or do major degreasing on my drivetrain. Everything is so much cleaner nowadays. Plus I rate the difficulty less than bleeding hydraulic brakes or setting up tubeless tires. It's that easy. I'm definitely a believer now! Lol

jadmt

decided to take the wax plunge..Amazon Silca Stripper $31 (they had a $5 instant coupon), Jenson USA Silca secret blend hot wax $32 (instant pop up 20% coupon) and SIlca super secret drip wax $25 so $88 total. I use shimano 11 speed chains so they are $42 and got around 1800 miles on my last one so if I can get a full season (7000-8000 miles) out of one chain I will be money ahead...or I wasted a bunch of money

base2 

jadmt At 7-8,000 miles, you'd be money ahead on 1 chain. At 4,000 miles (double-ish your current life) you'd be money ahead on 2 chains.

Welcome to the club! 🥳