How's your chain?
#1
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How's your chain?
I noticed my chain wasn't working so well so I tried to clean it with the White lightening chain cleaner. It was too little, too late. I ended up hosing it with PB Blaster, and my chain is working again. I will say the PB blaster worked better than whatever I tried last year. Last year I ended up just replacing the chain. I think It wasn't as bad this year and / or I caught it sooner. After I finally take the winter tires off, I will clean the chain and use a proper chain lube. How is your chain doing and what will or have you done to keep it functioning? Also, has anyone else used PB blaster to free up a rusting chain?
#2
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Some folks maintain their chain slightly more frequently.
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TriFlow applied every other ride has kept the devil salt from rusting my chain. I used a $14 can of chain spray from the LBS to blast clean it after one and a half seasons of grime buildup in the middle of this winter. Shifts well, and is quite.
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My chain is actually better than usual this year. I've been dumping TriFlow on it when it starts to look bad, and that's done the trick. I think it helped that the city didn't do *** to the side streets, which I used a lot, as the main roads got too narrow for one car in each direction.
Usually I just trash the chain each winter and put a new one on, but this one might be salvageable.
Usually I just trash the chain each winter and put a new one on, but this one might be salvageable.
#5
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I noticed my chain wasn't working so well so I tried to clean it with the White lightening chain cleaner. It was too little, too late. I ended up hosing it with PB Blaster, and my chain is working again. I will say the PB blaster worked better than whatever I tried last year. Last year I ended up just replacing the chain. I think It wasn't as bad this year and / or I caught it sooner. After I finally take the winter tires off, I will clean the chain and use a proper chain lube. How is your chain doing and what will or have you done to keep it functioning? Also, has anyone else used PB blaster to free up a rusting chain?
#6
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#7
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Be very careful with the PB blaster. If that stuff gets on your chainring bolts it Will loosen them.
Thanks for the reminder fortunately I just lubed my chains last week.
Thanks for the reminder fortunately I just lubed my chains last week.
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Replaced. KMC EPT chain plating hat worn off just in time when the chain checker indicated that replacing the chain is necessary. It was getting very rusty and a bit stiff, despite somewhat regular maintenance.
New plan is to use a KMC ept in winter and normal chains in summer to get the higher expense for a fully plated chain down a bit.
New plan is to use a KMC ept in winter and normal chains in summer to get the higher expense for a fully plated chain down a bit.
#10
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Haven't lubed mine yet this year, with nearly 150 miles in. I should do that now that we're getting out of salt season.
#11
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how to clean & lube a bike chain. a bikeforums classic! the 1st of the "season"?
my MTB chain has been OK. been keeping it clean after rides then lubing. reminds me what a dental hygienist once told me about flossing. it's more about doing it, than how you do it
cue the chain pics
my MTB chain has been OK. been keeping it clean after rides then lubing. reminds me what a dental hygienist once told me about flossing. it's more about doing it, than how you do it
cue the chain pics
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The chain cleaning tool is great and thorough but it's a hassle to fill, attach, and rinse out after so I usually just use a rag. I recommend WPL's wet chain lube if you're not too dedicated cleaning your chain so often. You basically apply it and when dirt and mud get in the drive chain, just spray it off with water and it sheds it off easily. Then just reapply. No need to really "clean" it if you're in a rush. wplbike.com/products/wet-bike-lube
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was at the auto parts store to get brake cleaner to make sure my bike rotors were as clean as they should be. nearby I saw PB Blaster chain lube, with a photo of a bike chain on it! is this legit chain lube? & wonder if they dropped the "PB"? or I guess the "PB" product is completely different ...
#14
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Rusty - humid in the garage as we hit daily freeze that cycles now. I spray with rust check undercoat oil, seems to loosen it up after a couple k.
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My chain's wearing like it's made of iron.
#16
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Just checked mine a couple days ago, and it's knocking on the door of 1/8" stretch. No wonder it was starting to sound and feel a little "growly" on my fixed-gear, despite being cleaned and lubed. It's had a good long life and served me well.
#17
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Oily and not to dirty since it was the first day since I cleaned it Saturday. But a few more days and it will look like a mess, beside my daily wiping extra dirt from it. Can't wait until I ditch the wet lube for the Squirt Dry lube. Then it's a reapply once a week or after riding in rain (once it's dry). No wiping, no dirt, always clean drivetrain.
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back at it, added a little marsh mud & beach sand
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I don't prefer stream cleaning, but desperate times require desperate measures
sorry about the water blob on my lens
sorry about the water blob on my lens
#21
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@rumrunn6, why did you need to do that?
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@ noglider Mud on the chain causing chain suck (aka chain sticking to front chain ring & getting carried upward to jam against chainstay)
Last edited by rumrunn6; 05-18-19 at 07:52 AM.
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Spring is usually a good time to replace a chain.
I just replaced the chain on my Bike Friday today. I badly need to do some spring tuning on some of my other bikes, including new chains, and perhaps cassettes on the bikes ridden in the winter.
I just replaced the chain on my Bike Friday today. I badly need to do some spring tuning on some of my other bikes, including new chains, and perhaps cassettes on the bikes ridden in the winter.
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How's your chain?
On 3/29/19, @rumrunn6 wrote, and I responded:
Right now, it’s 5/28/19, 06:23 PM. @wipekitty replied most recently to the Winter Cycling Forum on 5/21/19, 05:07 PM.
So…"Happy Days a Are Here Again…"Should Auld Acquaintance be Forgot, and Never Brought to Mind…"
My chain is now officially gross. I'll replace it, whenever I get around to taking the studs off
just occurred to me, the winter forum will be going dormant soon. so sad. so used to this subforum being a go-to place for reliably, weird fun
So…"Happy Days a Are Here Again…"Should Auld Acquaintance be Forgot, and Never Brought to Mind…"
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 05-29-19 at 05:20 AM. Reason: added quote by CliffordK