Factory lube on KMC chain sticky
09-20-20, 07:38 AM
#51
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Second paragraph. https://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/chain-care.html
09-20-20, 07:47 AM
#52
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I know that there have been countless threads on the best lube for chains, however...
I recently replaced my chain with a new KMC 10.93 chain and when I installed it, the factory lube (which many consider to be the best possible lube for the chain) seemed to be rather thick and sticky. I like to run a pretty clean chain and my go-to chain lube is the wax-based White Lightening product.
I decided to just run it with the factory lube for a while but after just a couple of typical road rides (not wet), the chain had already started to pick up a lot of dirt - more than to my liking so I did a couple applications of White Lightning, cleaning with a rag in between applications to get most of the dirt and sticky factory lube off of the surface of the chain.
Like I said, it seems to be conventional wisdom that the factory lube is good stuff but I don't personally care for it too much. I haven't resorted to paraffin waxing just yet but I may give that a try someday. I do some bike commuting so I need something that will hold up and stay clean under varying conditions.
I recently replaced my chain with a new KMC 10.93 chain and when I installed it, the factory lube (which many consider to be the best possible lube for the chain) seemed to be rather thick and sticky. I like to run a pretty clean chain and my go-to chain lube is the wax-based White Lightening product.
I decided to just run it with the factory lube for a while but after just a couple of typical road rides (not wet), the chain had already started to pick up a lot of dirt - more than to my liking so I did a couple applications of White Lightning, cleaning with a rag in between applications to get most of the dirt and sticky factory lube off of the surface of the chain.
Like I said, it seems to be conventional wisdom that the factory lube is good stuff but I don't personally care for it too much. I haven't resorted to paraffin waxing just yet but I may give that a try someday. I do some bike commuting so I need something that will hold up and stay clean under varying conditions.
09-20-20, 09:36 AM
#53
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09-21-20, 09:04 PM
#54
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So what I'm saying is that Sheldon says the black stuff is coming from wearing of steel stuff that is at least partly (if not mostly) INSIDE the chain. Tenacious grease used to 'lubricate' a factory chain, helps that stuff stick and stay there. By not using a frequent lube of some sort (many at least advertise a self-cleaning/flushing action such as RnR Gold, etc), means it stays there for (above poster ref 800-1000) for many hundreds of miles. The lack of 'pumping action' you say doesn't exist to move grit into a chain, also implies there's no pumping action to likewise move it out of the chain.
Also, I'd guess any other types of non-wear based road grit can get inside a chain if washed in thru any moisture or wet riding (eg. just a couple dirty puddles could suffice). As the water carrier evaporates, the grit is left stuck to sticky grease.
Also, I'd guess any other types of non-wear based road grit can get inside a chain if washed in thru any moisture or wet riding (eg. just a couple dirty puddles could suffice). As the water carrier evaporates, the grit is left stuck to sticky grease.
Water isn’t a problem either...at least not with the soft wax of the factory lubricant. The wax is hydrophobic and doesn’t mix with water. Anything carried in the water just stays on the outside of the chain.. Water with oil doesn’t mix either but the oil and water will churn forming an emulsion. It’s not very stable and will separate quickly but any grit carried with the water is going to be trapped in the chain.
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
