What chain lube do you use, and where do you buy it?

[PaviSays]

I'm off tomorrow, and I'm tired of doing summer reading.  I mean the Odyssey's alright, but I mean, it's not a 2-day book.  So I'm cleaning up the bike and finally getting around to lubing that chain.  I haven't lubed/cleaned it in *cringe* 1200 miles.  Probably the fact that I've never done it before contributes as to why it hasn't been done yet.  Any hints/tips are welcome.

So far my process:
Take it for a little ride to get everything warmed up.
Clean it off with WD40 on a rag then toothbrushing it.
Liberally chain lube.
Wipe off Excess.

Did I miss anything?
Oh, what kind of lube/where do I get it?


Thanks!

[redhenracing2]

I find that both KY and Astroglide work very well.

[PaviSays]

I find that both KY and Astroglide work very well.

Thank you.  

Seriously now people, don't do it for me, do it for the poor chain.

[Dr.Sparkie]

I find that both KY and Astroglide work very well.

goon!


i use PJ-1, blue for orings and black for everything else. it sticks to everything.

[mister]

WD40 is my cleaner and lube - weekly.

I put the bike onto the center stand and spray the chain as I spin the rear wheel. Have some old rags on the ground beneath in case of any drippage and I'm all done.

Yeah yeah... WD40 ain't a true lube... but it's lube enough, doesn't harm the O-Rings and also cleans. And in the 10,000 clicks I've been using it no mechanic has said anything about my chain. Plus, it's quick to do, cheap as and I have no flingage.

Toothbrush? Too much trouble for me.

I love the smell of WD40 in the garage 

Michael

[birdman561]

WD40 is my cleaner and lube - weekly.

I put the bike onto the center stand and spray the chain as I spin the rear wheel. Have some old rags on the ground beneath in case of any drippage and I'm all done.

Yeah yeah... WD40 ain't a true lube... but it's lube enough, doesn't harm the O-Rings and also cleans. And in the 10,000 clicks I've been using it no mechanic has said anything about my chain. Plus, it's quick to do, cheap as and I have no flingage.

Toothbrush? Too much trouble for me.

I love the smell of WD40 in the garage  

Michael

WD-40 is the juice of gods  
I live as close to the beach as you can without actually being a crab or something ......
if I didnt wipe the whole  bike down with it regularly it would be eaten alive by the salty air.
For the chain, same thing....WD-40. All the thicker stuff picks up and retains too much sand and road
grit. It will even tear a bicycle chain up. Lube that holds that stuff sort of defeats the purpose of lube.

[dohabee]

I have been using Teflon multi-use dry lubricant for several thousand miles now and I like it a lot.

It isn't sticky and it doesn't fling crud everywhere but I think it lasts longer than an application of wd-40.

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=213197-39963-D00110101&lpage=none

also it smells really good, like coconut or sunscreen 

[PaviSays]

Alright, cool.  I have plenty of WD40 down in the garage, so I think I'll clean up the chain with that and use that Teflon multi-purpose lubricant.  If I'm gonna start doing this more regularly, I think I might just switch over to all WD40.

Thanks for the help!

[impulse816]

+1 for the DuPont Teflon Lubricant. They have it for like 5 bucks at Lowe's.

Clean it up with some WD40 then apply lubricant. So easy a caveman could do it.

[PaviSays]

Yep, just got back from TrueValue/Lowe's/Home Depot/Pepboy's and no one had it.  Well Lowe's was out of stock, go figure.  I was gonna go look some more, but after I almost got hit by a bus at this intersection, I decided I should just get some lubricant and get home.  I got Liquid Wrench Cycle Chain Lube at Pepboy's and just got home.  Just about to go down and clean it up now.  I'll post some pictures, I just got a new phone with a pretty nice camera. 

[purplepeopleeater]

Paraffin or kerosine to clean (cheaper than wd40), lube with engine oil (even cheaper). WD40 will perish o rings in long term unless you need new chain due to non maintenance, selling bike, etc

[Chuck]

+1: kerosene to clean, motor oil to lube.  It's what your chain wants.  Don't listen to marketing.

[Ed500]

^ now comes another question: 5w30 or 10w30 for your chain?  

[PachmanP]

I find that both KY and Astroglide work very well.

My thoughts exactly!  Although at least to give him credit he did specify chain lube, but he could be into some kinky stuff.  It's just good we're not a beemer forum.  What do you use to lube your shaft....

That said, I use kerosene and the dupont stuff.

I read a fair amount of stuff and decided to not go with wd40 to clean as it may be bad for the o rings.  WD40 should not be the only thing you use though.  It's not really a lubricant and won't last.

^ now comes another question: 5w30 or 10w30 for your chain? 

Psh that's easy 10w40.  The real question is dino or synth!

[PaviSays]

Well, here it is before cleaning...


Here it is side-by-side with dirty clean:


While I'm at it, here's a couple other pictures...
Here's the indicators/gauges with the LEDs


And here's my rear tire:

Should I be replacing that sometime soon?

[Bluesmudge]

That looks very worn to me. How many miles are on the bike?

+1 for Teflon multi-purpose as a chain lube

[PaviSays]

That looks very worn to me. How many miles are on the bike?

Well, judging by the picture above that, I'd say about 7340.5 or so?
I don't think the rear tire has been changed for the life of the bike either...

[Suzuki Stevo]

WD40 will perish o rings

That is a myth 

[Bluesmudge]

That looks very worn to me. How many miles are on the bike?

Well, judging by the picture above that, I'd say about 7340.5 or so?
I don't think the rear tire has been changed for the life of the bike either...

*slaps head*
I'm kind of amazed a the wear of that tire in only 7000 miles. I'd say it needs replacing within the next 2000 miles but its up to you. A new tire will feel amazing though.

[NF11624]

Looks like the OEM tire... mine were the exact same after 7500 miles.