Lubricant on a bicycle is an unglamorous need for moving components. For enthusiasts, though, it transcends its practical role and becomes the equivalent of fine wine in bike maintenance, where quality is of the highest significance.
Your journey will come to a screaming end if the appropriate lubricant is not placed in the correct spots, regardless of whether you pick the cheapest or most expensive choice. Here is how to apply bike chain lube and lubricate the other moving components of your bicycle.
Consequently, we will demonstrate in this article that chain lube may also be used on other moving components of a bicycle.
Here is an article on my website that you must read, its about the top 10 Best Bike Chain Lubes To Make Your Bike Faster & Smoother.
Chain:
Without Lube: A chain without lubrication will emit an ear-piercing screech and will not move smoothly. It will eventually rust, and it might break during the voyage.
Lube It: Soak a clean cloth with a degreaser, such as Muc-off MO94, TOPDOG, or FINISHLINE, which are all excellent brands on the market. Grab the chain with the cloth as you backpedal to remove filth from the rollers and side plates when your bike is on a repair stand or made upside down with the aid of the seat and handlebar of the bike.
Continue until the chain is clean. Then, dry the chain using a clean cloth and the same approach you used to clean it.
To apply bike chain lubricant, place a drop on the top of each link and backpedal for a few revolutions to allow the lubrication to work its way through. Wipe away any excess grease; otherwise, it will attract additional dirt to your chain.
Use a light, waterproof lubrication like TF2 all-weather Lube Wet Lube or any excellent brand ceramic lube.
Never Use: Motor oil includes acids and metal particles that may weaken a chain, causing it to wear more rapidly and collect more filth.
Clipless Pedals:
Without Lube: Engagement and disengagement will not be as smooth as they should be, and removing the pedals from your bicycle may be hard.
Lube Them: Put a drop of T-9 on the spring of your clipless pedal system every few rides to keep it from rusting and working well. Spread a thin layer of grease, like Park Tool Grease PPL-1 or Muc-off Butter Grease, on the pedal threads every time you install a pedal to make it easier to take it off the next time.
Never Use: Lubricate the pedal springs. You will clog the mechanism.
Cables:
Without Lube: Cables will not glide as smoothly between housings, reducing shifting performance, and they will rust more easily in moist situations.
Lube Them: Shift the rear derailleur to the simplest gear/largest cog (the front derailleur to the most difficult gear/large chainring). Then, move to the toughest gear/smallest cog without pedaling by clicking your shifter (or the small chainring in front). This creates a decent amount of cable slack and, on certain bikes, allows you to take the housing out of the slotted cable stops and completely cover the cables. Apply a few drops of T-9 to your fingers and run them down the length of the cable to coat it in a thin layer. Wipe dirt off your wires, focusing on where they go through the cable guide under the bottom bracket. On your brake cables, use the same lubrication and manner of application.
Never Use: It’s a solvent, not a lubricant, that WD-40 is. If your cables and housings are so clogged that a solvent is required, you’re better off replacing them than conducting improvised maintenance.
Pivot Points:
Without Lube: The pivot points for the separate components of your brakes and derailleurs will not move as smoothly and will rust.
Lube Them: Drip T-9 onto each pivot point (rear derailleur, front derailleur, back brake, and front brake) every few months (more if you ride in damp weather) to keep them protected and in good operating order. Wipe away any extra lubrication to avoid attracting dirt.
Never Use: Lubricant used to brake pads, rotors, or rims. If you do, you will have difficulty slowing or stopping. Also, if you get grease on your disc brake rotors or pads, you’ll need to replace them.
Derailleur Pulleys:
Without Lube: Not only will you go insane trying to find the source of that awful squeak (usually produced by neglected derailleur pulleys), but the pulleys will also not spin freely.
Lube Them:
- Use a clean rag and degreaser to get rid of any dirt that has built up on your derailleur pulleys.
- Put a small drop of Lube on the bearings in the middle of the pulley. You can use TF2 all-weather Lube or Muc-off ceramic Lube.
- Backpedal a few times, and then use a clean cloth to wipe away any grease that didn’t get into the bearings.
It can get messy, so use it sparingly.
Never Use: Grease is too heavy for this purpose, clogging pulley bearings and attracting filth.
Seat Post:
Without Lube: Your seat post isn’t a moving component in and of itself, at least not until you attempt to remove or modify it. Therefore, it is critical to maintain your seat post-oiled and to inspect it regularly so that it does not seize and get stuck in position.
Lube It:
- Remove the seat post completely.
- Wipe away any debris and old oil from the frame.
- Apply a small oil coating directly to the seat post inside the frame.
Standard bike grease will suffice but apply anti-slip or anti-seize compounds such as Loctite or 3M.
Never Use Too much grease. This could make your seat post move when you’re sitting on it.
Therefore, we hope this information has been very useful to you, and if we have missed anything, please let us know in the section below, as your feedback and information are very important to us.
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
Should I Degrease A New Chain Before Installing It?
Now comes the fun part… Most chain makers will say no, that the grease that comes with the chain is fine. Most brands of chain lube will tell you that grease is too thick and attracts dirt and dust. We agree with the latter, and third-party testing backs that up. If you want the best performance from a lube, we recommend using the cleaning method above to clean your chain thoroughly.
How Can I Extend The Life Of My Chain?
Keeping your chain clean and reapplying lube as needed will help it last longer. Give your chain a quick wipe-down after every ride to dry it off and eliminate any buildup, especially if it got wet while riding.
How Much Is Too Much Chain Lube?
Many bikers over-lube their chains. Generally, if there’s anything more than a little layer of chain lube on the outside of the chain, you’re simply wasting lubricant and risk it seeping into other sections of the bike, such as the braking surfaces or rotors.
Excess lubrication also gets up on the teeth of your cassette, chainrings, and derailleur pulleys. As a result, it becomes impossible to clean your drivetrain properly, gathers dirt, and accelerates wear on your cassette and chainrings.
Avoid this by wiping down your chain after adding lubrication, ensuring that it’s almost or scorched to the touch.
Conclusion
This article’s efficacy tends to How to Use bike chain lube to keep your parts moving smoothly and how to lubricate a road cycle chain. Several lubricants are available, including wet, ceramic, wax, and dry.
The most complex procedure for lubricating a road bike chain involves degreasing (if required), cleaning the chain until it is burnt, and then applying the lubricant while rotating it many times.
Here is an article that I have written about Why You Should Be Using Dry Bike Chain Lube? Ultimate Guide.
