This blog will help you with bicycle maintenance and bicycle repair. Everything from chain lubrication to wheel alignement will be covered in time. Come back and check old postings as well since they will be revised with new information from time to time. I will also be building some special projects and bicycle restorations. Your comments and questions are always welcomed. They make this blog even better. Remember, taking care of business yourself is not that hard.
Bicycle chain lubrication and maintenance: The best and cheapest chain lube around is Automatic transmission oil. It is synthetic and a quart will last you a very long time for the price of a small bottle of bicycle chain lube. On very dry or rusted chains, apply it with an old toothbrush dipped in the tranny lube. On less needy chains, you can apply it with a non-needle syringe link by link. Always wipe any excess and make sure none of it falls on your wheel rim (this would make braking very difficult or impossible for awhile). Tranny oil works great for a lot of other things as well. Avoid using regular motor oil at all cost. This mineral oil is a magnet for dust and foreign particals on your drivetrain.
23 comments:
For sure, tranny lube is the best!
Let me tell you that I know all about trannies!
Good post dude!
Thank you, I aim to please.
I'm definately willing to try this on my kid's bikes, but is this really going to be the best thing for my (semi-)expensive racing bike? Right now I am paying a fortune for wax lube and I must say that it does a great job. But if tranny lube is just as good then maybe I'll give it a try.
Jon you might want to try it on a regular bike you have so you can judge by yourself. I won't trash using wax since I've never tried it myself and would be talking through my hat. Tranny oil has worked for me ever since I haven't been able to get my hands on general purpose Dura-Lube, which worked great. Just make sure you stay away from any mineral oils, for the reasons stated in the article.
Hey Gerry, just a minor point about web design. I'm all for using colorful speech like "lubrification", but I'd just like to point out that if you go to Google and search for "bicycle chain lubrication", especially in quotes, this post probably won't come up, because you intentionally misspelled it.
I use words like "lubrification" all the time just for levity, but on a website or a blog, you might be missing visitators.
Cheers, and it's still a great blog. Keep up the good work.
Thank you Zafner. I guess my mother tongue(french) is to blame for this. Even though I'm perfectly bilingual I sometimes interchange the two. Same goes with english words being used in french conversation. I appreciate your valuable input and I'll make the corrections.
how often should you expect to have to lube your chain? My bike is only two months old and is squeaking for some lube, which really suprised me. But then I use it every day, so maybe that's normal?
Erin, the chain is out there in the elements so it is different from bike to bike. If it squeaks, it definitely needs lubricating.
Gerry
Gerry, love your site. Very informative.
Quick question: would you (or anyone) know where can I get spare parts for 12" Huffy kids bikes? I have 2 girls' bikes and my son is now big enough to start riding. But my girls' bikes have pink accessories, so I need to change handlebar grips, seat, mud guard. Huffy.com is totally useless and so is their customer service. Guess I should just pony up $70 for a new boy's bike??? Or do you have any suggestions for a cheaper alternative?
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Mark
Hello Gerry,
Great site and it is great to see your heart to help others. I purchased a $9.99 project. It is a 1995 Diamondback hybrid that needs a little work. Most of the problem is the rust on the spokes, chain and gears. Are you saying that the tranny lube will also penetrate and remove the rust, or should I use a remover first, then use the tranny lube? Thanks.
First off Mark, I think that I responded to you in an email about this problem. If not, accessories are available at your local bike shop or Wallyworld to convert it to a more boy-like bike.
Yukon, that's a sweet deal. It all depends on the extent of the damage. When in doubt use both or do a test on a sample piece that you don't really care about if you mess up. Just lubing the parts is a great start. Thanks for reading me.
Gerry :)
HOWDY FROM CALGARY CANADA
I RIDE ALL YEAR LONG, 150 MILES A WEEK AND WINTER CAN TAKE A TOLL ON CHAINS.
I HAVE BEEN WAXING MY CHAIN FOR MANY YEARS. I USE PARAFIN WAX. YES, THE STUFF FOR CANNING AND CANDLE MAKING.
MELT AND HEAT TO 200F COIL UP CHAIN, DIP, THEN HANG AND WIPE DOWN, LET COOL.
I HAVE USED OILS AND TRANNY FLUID BUT IT IS MESSY AND DIRTY. THIS WAX IS VERY CLEAN AND LASTS ABOUT 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR. THE CHAIN ITSELF LASTS 10 TIMES LONGER AS WELL.
I HAVE USED THIS ON MOUNTAIN BIKES AS WELL AS EXPENSIVE ROAD BIKES.
IT DOESN'T WASH OFF IN THE RAIN AND WORKS VERY WELL IN EXTREME COLD.
ZAPPDOG
Thanks for the tip Larry. Just make sure you don't burn the house down when melting your wax!
Gerry :)
Hi, I was looking for tips on the internet for how to get rid of the rust on my chain, and I came upon your blog. Thanks for the help; the transmission fluid did the job wonderfully!
Always great to hear that the articles are helping people out. Ride safe.
Gerry :)
Hi Gerry
You only need two tools in life - WD-40 and duct tape.
If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.
Great little joke but
DON'T use on it on chains !!!
The WD-40 that is.
Duct tape is like the Force, it has a dark side and a light side and it holds the Universe together.
Gerry :)
Thanks for this post. I was almost ready to walk down the street to the local bike shop to buy some lube, but you just saved me some money! Now I can continue riding and stop worrying about my chain.
Ride on Kade!
Gerry :)
I have just purchased a fairly expensive new bike and purchased a can of extra dry Pedros Lube for my chain.
Was this a mistake? Now I'm so confused as what the best solution to keeping my chain nice and lubricated and clean at the same time.
Your advice is appreciated .... Thanking you in advance.
Steve
Steve, Pedro's has been around since the early times of mountain biking if memory serves me correctly. You bought a premium lube for a premium bike. Don't feel bad, it was a smart buy.
Gerry :)
Hi,
We got a new 12 inch bike for my son, He is not able to ride it as he cannot pedal it easily....Its too tight. I dont know if it is the problem with the chain or something else. Please advice. Thanks in advance.
Lisa.
Your question is way too general and I can't help you out.
Gerry
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