On Thursday, July 18, 2019 at 3:32:37 PM UTC-7, John B. wrote:
On Thu, 18 Jul 2019 07:13:01 -0700 (PDT), Frank Krygowski
wrote:

On Thursday, July 18, 2019 at 2:49:02 AM UTC-4, James wrote:
On 18/7/19 1:39 pm, AK wrote:
I spent about 3.5 hrs. cleaning my chain and everything it comes in contact with.

What a tedious job.

Used the following:

1. Engine cleaner
2. Paint thinner
3. Used toothbrush
4. Occasional foul language

I mentioned it to my friendly bike repair guy and he said many do not realize the damage a dirty chain does to the bearings etc.

It shortens their life.

I think it helped as I think I can go around 3 mph faster.

Any other maintenance tips?


Don't use the same lubricant again.

Get some candle wax (paraffin wax) and oil (paraffin oil or even EP gear
oil). Heat the wax in an old pot and mix in about the same volume or a
bit less, of oil.

Immerse your chain in the hot oil/wax solution. Let it cook for 5 minutes.

When it is al dente, remove it carefully with a pair of pliers or hook
it out with a piece of wire (like and old spoke). Careful it will be
hot. Let it drip off and cool down. Install it on the bike when you
can handle it without burning yourself.

Use a quick link (Connex are about the best) to facilitate easy chain
removal and installation.

About every 1000km, take the chain off and cook it in your wax/oil mix..

Your running gear will stay pretty clean, and any build up will be easy
to brush off, and won't go far from where the chain engages the other parts.

I agree in general with James' ideas. In my experience, wax with a small amount
(maybe 5%) oil mixed into it is the best lubricant.

I don't melt candles. I bought paraffin wax (as used for canning jelly at home)
in the grocery store. One pound costs maybe two dollars and lasts the rest of
your life. You can leave the remainder to your grandchildren. Melt it very
carefully (it's flammable) and blend in a bit of oil or gear lube. Let it
solidify and save it.

My most unusual technique is to not remove the chain from the bike. Instead,
with the bike on a workstand and with sheet metal protecting the frame and tire,
I use a low-flame torch to warm 10" of chain, crayon on the wax-oil mix, then
reheat until the wax crumbs melt and flow into the chain. Backpedal to access
the next 10" of chain and repeat. When the whole chain is done, wipe off the
excess with paper towels.

For me, this is easier than the hot pot method; but either way works.

It's very likely that one poster here will jump in and say "Never use paraffin
to lubricate a chain!" and post decades old statements from others claiming it's
not effective. He will pointedly ignore results of tests that prove this is both
the lowest friction lube, and the one that makes chains last longest. It also
keeps your bike far cleaner than any liquid lubricant.

But to be clear, if you choose instead to keep using other liquid lubricants,
you're welcome to do that.

- Frank Krygowski

The other advantage of a wax based lube, or at least my experience,
has been, that it doesn't seem to wash off in the rain.

Meh. Everything washes off in the rain. It's just a matter of time. Parffin flakes off and doesn't give you an corrosion protection. I just use the Lou method -- rise, lather repeat. I'm not going to be hanging out in the garage melting wax, particularly since most of my chains have single-use quick-links.

-- Jay Beattie.