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Looking For Chain Lube Recommendations

Old 07-18-17, 07:52 PM
  #1  
leftjohn
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Looking For Chain Lube Recommendations

I'm sure there are other post on this but after 30min of searching, I got tired of looking. So...

I bought some WD40 all-conditions chain lube but it smells and I keep my bike in the house. Does anyone have something they recommend that doesn't stink? It's for a road bike that mainly does dry weather paved roads.
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Old 07-18-17, 08:18 PM
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I use a wax type lube, like this one WHITE LIGHTNING | Clean Ride White Lightning | Prescott Valley Bike Works Never noticed a smell, and it's MUCH cleaner in general than oil/grease based lubes. One bottle lasts eons!

Dan
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Old 07-18-17, 10:21 PM
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Tri-Flow actually smells good. Many users describe it as fruity or floral. Smells a bit like banana and mango to me.

I use the spray aerosol. Works well, easy to apply. In dry weather it lasts about a month before I hear enough chain noise to reapply. Not as rain resistant as Park CL-1 so I need to apply it more often in wet weather.

Cleanup is no worse or better than any wet lube. They all create a gunky mess. Especially when wet lubes are applied directly to the chain while it's mounted on the bike. The excess lube ends up on the front and rear gears and cogs, so they end up collecting black gunk.

If you get a chain with a quick link (like the Missing Link included with some -- not all -- KMC chains) there's less cleanup of the front and rear gears and cogs if you remove the chain and relube it off the bike.
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Old 07-18-17, 10:52 PM
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1 part chain saw bar oil to 4 parts unscented mineral spirits.
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Old 07-19-17, 07:52 AM
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Go on U tube there are so many videos on there about this subject that you end up being totally confused, so much depends on your riding style & weather conditions, how much riding you do, & how much you are prepared to spend, there is considerable amount of price difference, & how do you know the benefit
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Old 07-19-17, 08:13 AM
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Originally Posted by leftjohn
I'm sure there are other post on this but after 30min of searching, I got tired of looking.


https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q...=1500473504427


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Old 07-19-17, 09:23 AM
  #7  
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Well, I have to say that smell doesn't come up too often which is what the OP is asking about so he probably isn't going to find much help from the other lube threads. It can be a problem for many people who are sensitive to smells. My bike riding neighbor uses Dumonde Tech which has kind of a rancid Blue Cheese smell to it which almost got him in trouble with the landlord who thought he had a mold problem. Agree with Gunga Dan that most of the wax type lubes I've used over the years seem to have little or no residual smell.
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Old 07-19-17, 10:07 AM
  #8  
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chain-l. Apply once every 900-1500 miles, wipe after the first 2-3 rides, don't touch it again rain or shine
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Old 07-19-17, 10:18 AM
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+2 on the Chain-L FB that sells it is on here and is a great guy for advice AND his chain lube.

I have troubles with stinky stuff too, but never noticed an odor with chain-L. All the other lubes have an odor. (Tri-flow was always called banana juice at previous shops I worked at!) The dry lubes dont seem to hold up well on a chain anyway.

Chain saw bar oil is dirtier but has worked well for me in years past.

-SP
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Old 07-19-17, 12:15 PM
  #10  
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I, and most others, find the the WD-40 bike chainlubes smell pleasant. The smell fades quickly.
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Old 07-19-17, 12:31 PM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by mtb_addict
I'm going to say keeping toxic cancer causing chemical inside the house is not a good idea.

Even if you don't smell it, it's in the air that you breathe!

I would leave the bike outside at all cost!
That's a bit extreme, to say the least. The VOCs emitted by a bike (any bike) are extremely minimal, and a drop in the bucket as air pollution factors, indoors or out.

What you breathe will be determined more by where you live, what your house is built of, how old it is, and how well ventilated it is.

Of course, I'm talking about the bike itself. Working on the bike and applying aerosol products, ie. lubes or wax does introduce pollutants, so do so either outside, or in a well ventilated area, ie. not your bedroom in winter when windows will be closed for 2 months.
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Old 07-19-17, 12:34 PM
  #12  
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Originally Posted by speedy25
+2 on the Chain-L FB that sells it is on here and is a great guy for advice AND his chain lube.
Thanks for the kind words, but I'm not sure that CHAIN-L is right for the OP. Mechanically it's right for the bike, but it does have a marked odor of sulfur. I don't add scents to mask it, and some noses are more sensitive to it than others.

In fairness, the odor is worst during application and disappears soon enough, but the OP may still object.
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Old 07-19-17, 12:38 PM
  #13  
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Rock and Roll gold is a pretty good general purpose lube.
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Old 07-19-17, 12:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Wheever
Rock and Roll gold is a pretty good general purpose lube.
Yes, and there are plenty of good choices. The most odorless is probably a melted paraffin product of some kind, since it doesn't use a volatile solvent as a carrier. Otherwise, most do, and many use a masking agent, (more odor to hide another odor), or there is an odor in the product itself, like CHAIN-L.

If the OP doesn't want to go to the effort of using a melted paraffin, I suggest he visit a shop, and ask if he can smell the various products before deciding.

BTW - for many lubes the ONLY odor will be from the solvent carrier. This stops when it's all evaporated, which takes no more than a few hours, so the OP may be happy with something like a teflon dry lube, if he applies it outdoors and wits before bring the bike in.
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Old 07-19-17, 01:22 PM
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Noob question. How often should I lube the chain? I have a hybrid bike.
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Old 07-19-17, 01:29 PM
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Originally Posted by speedy25
+2 on the Chain-L FB that sells it is on here and is a great guy for advice AND his chain lube.

I have troubles with stinky stuff too, but never noticed an odor with chain-L. All the other lubes have an odor. (Tri-flow was always called banana juice at previous shops I worked at!) The dry lubes dont seem to hold up well on a chain anyway.

Chain saw bar oil is dirtier but has worked well for me in years past.

-SP
Seriously? You haven't noticed an odor with Chain-L? To me, my garage smelled like a machine shop when I first lubed my chain with Chain-L. Lasted a few days if I recall but the odor is gone now, but the chain still is as quiet as when it was applied
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Old 07-19-17, 01:41 PM
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Ditto, paraffin for chains. Melted in my crock pot there's only the usual slight odor of an unscented candle.

But Tri-Flow is easy and smells pleasant. Works great too.
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Old 07-19-17, 01:44 PM
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Originally Posted by redlude97
chain-l. Apply once every 900-1500 miles, wipe after the first 2-3 rides, don't touch it again rain or shine
I am a Chain-L fanboy, but since OP's question is about a lube that doesn't smell, I can't recommend it. After application, it will give off a distinctly sulfurous smell for a day or two. I don't mind it in the garage, but I wouldn't want it in the house.
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Old 07-19-17, 01:44 PM
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Originally Posted by speedy25
I have troubles with stinky stuff too, but never noticed an odor with chain-L. All the other lubes have an odor.

Really? The first chain I applied Chain-L inside was also the last. TBH, I liked the machine shop smell, but SWMBO's opinion differed.
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Old 07-19-17, 02:00 PM
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Originally Posted by RubeRad
I am a Chain-L fanboy, but since OP's question is about a lube that doesn't smell, I can't recommend it. After application, it will give off a distinctly sulfurous smell for a day or two. I don't mind it in the garage, but I wouldn't want it in the house.
thats the thing though, after a day or two it is gone and you don't have to apply nearly as often as other lubes so you aren't constantly needing to smell new solvents applied every 100 miles or whatever.
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Old 07-19-17, 02:03 PM
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Chain-L:

I still get over 3,000 miles per lube using an Small amount I call 1/2 a Drop on each link.
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Old 07-19-17, 02:13 PM
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I like the odor of Chain-L. It has hints of rosemary. But I'm actually serious. And I like the way the product works, too.

Tri-Flow smells like artificial banana flavored bubble gum.
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Old 07-19-17, 03:49 PM
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Thanks for all of the replies!

I believe I will give Tri-Flow a shot.
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Old 07-19-17, 06:47 PM
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Originally Posted by 10 Wheels
Chain-L:

I still get over 3,000 miles per lube using an Small amount I call 1/2 a Drop on each link.
Eeek! I'm going to have to give up eating steak and settle for rice and beans for the rest of my life.
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Old 07-19-17, 09:20 PM
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Originally Posted by noglider
I like the odor of Chain-L. It has hints of rosemary. But I'm actually serious. And I like the way the product works, too.
I'm glad I'm not the only one. Though I don't really notice the odor much after the application process is complete.
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