Hokiedad4

This chain lube comes highly recommended both here and on Amazon, but I'm finding it a royal pain to use. I shake it well but as soon as I start to apply, the tip clogs and I have to shake again.

Any tips?

Wileyrat

Wow, never had that problem, maybe try running something down the tip to enlarge the hole. My only issue is shaking the stuff enough to re dissolve all the solids on the bottom.

You did remind me though that I was gong to wipe down and lube my chain before todays ride....Thanks.

edit...I thought about it, and I do tend to shake it back up, after every couple dozen links.

Kedosto

Shake it. Violently and for a loooong time. Then shake it some more. Beware if you attempt to enlarge the dripping hole -- it goes from finicky to pouring out rapidly with a very slight enlargement. Also, echoing Wileyrat, shake it during application too.


-Kedosto

Doctor Morbius

I have the quart size of Clean Ride so I draw some up into an oral syringe and apply 1 drop per roller. Haven't had any problems with application. Maybe the tip of the oral syringe has a larger diameter than the spout your using?

BlazingPedals

In keeping with the other directions on the bottle, don't use in under 45F. You could bring your bike inside to clean and lube the chain, but usually I use something messier in the winter. Anyway, WL doesn't protect very well in wet/slushy conditions.

TimothyH

Kedosto

I love the stuff, but it doesn't love me back.

It works well as a chain lube and definitely keeps the chain cleaner than just about anything else I've ever heard of. Unfortunately, it sheds constantly. Small flecks of black debris flake off the chain all over the floor of my office and on my carpeted floor of my garage. After tracking one too many black specks into the house I decided I'd rather live a full, rich life than face the wife again over a spot on the floor.

But, shake it well before and during use and you're good to go.


-Kedosto

rumrunn6

if it needs to be mixed & there's a low temp warning, then you can probably help the mixing by floating it in a plastic tub of warm water before shaking it

Ferrouscious 

I use it year round on the beater. When it's cold out, it's cold in the garage. If I need to lube the chain, I put the bottle in my pants (maturity reminder...) and work on something else. After 5 or so minutes, I then lube the chain until the nozzle clogs. Repeat.

that sounds....

autonomy

I have Finish Line dry teflon lub which does this. I turn it right side up (tip to the ceiling), then squeeze the bottle to clear the nozzle. You could squeeze either on the flat sides (pushes air out) or on the narrow sides (widens the bottle and sucks air in). Sometimes I have to do this 4-5 times.

veganbikes

Never had the problem when I used Clean Ride. Maybe try dipping the sealed shaken bottle in some warm water, that could help. You could also enlarge the hole at the tip and see if that helps.

I have used Clean Ride in the past and was our shop lube at my old shop but now currently use Finish Line Ceramic Wax Lube and haven't had any issues either.

drlogik 

I tried to like Clean Ride. It was a pain to apply for me also. I never really did get a good balance between not clogging and gushing all over the floor. I switched to Squirt and have never looked back.

Wattsup

It is messy stuff. I've used WL for a few gravel rides recently, and up until today I've had pretty good results with it. I rode through a couple of small, almost-dry mud puddles today though, and before long the chain started squeaking. I applied another coating on the chain just last evening.

I'm going to give Squirt a try, see if I have any better luck with it.

drlogik 

Wattsup,

If you try Squirt, completely clean the chain first...really deep clean as in get all residual gunk out of the links then apply the Squirt liberally the first time. I'd go so far as to start with a new chain and completely clean it of factory oil. Yeah, I was skeptical about doing that also because the factory oil is pretty darn good.

I lay the chain out on aluminum foil and hit every link joint. So far I am almost two years without a chain cleaning and I only re-apply the stuff maybe once every month or so. And after this long there is hardly any wear on the chain. It still measures close to what it did when new. Color me impressed.

It worked well when I lived in Arizona and I live in North Carolina with the humidity and it works just as well.

Wattsup

Have you gotten the chain wet? I'm curious to see how it would do when I roll through mud puddles.

drlogik 

Wattsup,

I generally don't ride in the rain and I don't do a lot of mountain-biking lately. However, the Squirt doesn't just wash off. It is fairly tenacious on damp road rides. Just about any lube will wash out in a down-pour.

Teamprovicycle

Just tap it on each link joint Tap Tap Tap !

Jumpski

I used White Lightning clean ride for years, and was always satisfied. I made the switch to Squirt here in Asia, and it's definitely a big improvement. It's much thicker, so application is a breeze.

cyccommute 

A solid lubricant like wax won't "wash off" in any event. Wax is just too water insoluble for that to happen. When people think that wax lubricants are "rinsed off at the slightest hint of water", what they are really experiencing is the high viscosity properties of waxes. The wax moves away from a surface and doesn't move back easily like an oil does. You can get some corrosion between the plates (mostly) that can cause squeaking but that's really just a minor problem.

The possible problem that I see with a product like Squirt that I see is that it is a water/wax emulsion. Whatever detergent that is being used for emulsifying the wax...and it has to be a pretty powerful detergent given how water insoluble wax is...is still there. Add water and the detergent goes back to emulsifying which means that the wax can be washed off. I'm not saying that this happens as I've not used Squirt but the possibility exists.

On the other hand, oil based lubricants do flow but they also emulsify the water which is going to sit on the metal and provide an avenue for corrosion. People think that the oil is doing a great job but it is really only masking the problem. If you ride in rain, you should any lubricant you use.

Welcome to the club! I haven't been using Squirt but I have been doing this to my chains while using White Lightning for about 20 years. I've gone about 2 decades without having to do the constant chain cleaning rigamarole. More importantly, I can handle the drivetrain without a hazmat suit.

Finally, on cleaning, "deep" cleaning isn't what most people think it is. A cup of mineral spirits in a Gatorade bottle and a minute of vigorous agitation (probably less) is all you need. Let the chain dry and lubricant it. A new chain lasts me about 3500 miles which is 3 years on some bikes and 10 years on others...depending on usage.

Wattsup

FUD!

​​​​​​​One concern I have about White Lightening is that it uses a volatile, flammable carrier. Someone lubing his bike in a basement with a hot water heater that uses a pilot light might find himself, his wife and children, his dog, and his house go up in smoke! I'm not saying that this happens, but the possibility exists.

p.s. Velonews gave very high marks to Squirt in its lubricity tests. If I recall, it came in second only to a molten wax chain bath. Also, I see some Squirt users on Amazon are getting 6500 miles from their chains!

redlude97

Molten speed wax>paraffin>squirt>>>>>WL Clean ride when it comes to rain riding. Here in the PNW the CL will start squeeking almost immediately as soon as the rain starts or if there's a lot of road spray.

cyccommute 

FUD indeed. The mineral spirits in White Lightning has a flash point of 23°C (73°F) according to the MSDS. You might be able to get it to ignite if you are using it on the pilot light but using it on the pilot light would only be slightly sillier than using it in your basement. As with any organic solvent, use it in a well ventilated area.

On the other hand, the surfactant used in Squirt is still there and still available to do what it does best. Surfactants don't evaporate.

I would be highly dubious about any claims of 6500 miles for any chain lubricant. I put claims like that in the same category as 25" trout. The mileage tends to grow with each retelling.

Wattsup

Well, there's only one way to find out. Overcome your fear of the (hypothetical) detergent issue and go get yourself a bottle!

cyccommute 

Wattsup

Why did you buy the R&R?