Chains

[Kram]

Lube or Wax?

am in need of purchasing some chain stuff today...

do i go for a spray on lube, or a wax?

Edit: also how much are torque wrenches??
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[Psychonaut]

I got a torque wrench from argos 15 quid
I use spray on lube but am told wax is better

[Sheepy1209]

Can't say about chain lube (I'm waiting for replies with interest).

I bought a 'micrometer' torque wrench yesterday for £24.99 - but you can get them cheaper.

Cheap ones tend to have a scale with a pointer - you have to watch the position of the pointer and stop turning when it reaches the right point on the scale.

It's much easier to go for a 'micrometer' type - on these you dial in the torque before you start, and the wrench releases itself when you reach that torque - much easier, and less chance of over-tightening.

[Psychonaut]

Yea with my wrench I twist the bottom till it points to the desired setting thet when I use it it "pings" when you have reached the desired torque. I think the make is Challenge, its only a cheapie but it'll do for the amount I'll use it

[Zoffo]

There isn't a torque wrench that covers all the torque settings on a bike. You usually need two.
according to my Honda manual I need to be able to cover 8 m/n to 110 m/n (or is that Ft/lb whatever) and I've never found a single wrench that covers this range.

As for chain lube get a Scotoiler but make sure it's fitter right and that you know how the fooka works. Amazing how many people whinge about them not working then you find out they've been filling the reservoir through the breather tube or something.
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[Danny]

I just cover the chain in engine oil and then apply chain wax.

[oldgit]

I'm not sure that you actually need to oil sealed chains, only the older type of standard chain. As I understand it 'O' and 'X' ring chains are sealed link chains and don't require any oil. What they do need is protection from dirt and corrosive stuff like salt. So, when I fit a new chain I use wax on it to seal the crap out. During the winter I also periodically clean the chain (paraffin and then degreaser), dry it off and re-wax it - works for me. The problem with oil or grease based products is that the dirt and grit sticks to them, creating an abrasive paste that wears both the chain and sprockets.
Conversely I believe that oiling also has a bit of a cooling effect on chains, and I know from experience that auto chain oilers do make the chain last longer, but I think they use a thinner, not-so-tacky mixture with continuous small applications of oil, and mine still sprayed oil over the back wheel no matter how I adjusted it.
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[map]

FWIW Draper do a good small torque wrench that's ok for most bike bits except the really big ones like those holding on the wheels. It's the 3/8" drive starting at 10Nm, cost around £15-£20 from what I remember (try this search from eBay). The Argos one will be ok for the bigger sort of stuff.

If you get a chance before buying a torque wrench see if you can set it up and put it in a vice to test the 'break' action. On some I've seen it either doesn't happen or is such a small click and feel you can miss it.

If you're very rich then you could go for the Snap-On one shown in 'The Long Way Round' that actually beeps at you at the correct setting

HTH
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[Walloper]

Profi dry lube for the chain.
Wax grease and oil is a fu(ker to remove for 'correct' chain maintenance. Grit sticks to it causing wear to rollers and sprocket teeth.

Profi Dry lube every couple of tanks works.

Or a Scott oiler, coz it's another innovation from the North that works.

Main thing is clean chain lasts longer. And will require less maintenance.

Torque wrenches are fickle things so if you must, buy a good one. Not much for £30.00< out there.
I only trust compendent tools at work so why compromise on the one thing I love?
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[DAF]

Scottoiler works for me so happy to recommend that.

Spent a fair amount of time looking for a torque wrench recently - found a couple of useful links in the course of my search if anyone's looking;

https://www.tooled-up.com/MicroCategory.asp?CID=30&SCID=324&MCID=1590&referrer=google

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/search.asp?q=torque+wrench

[Jrod]

I have a scottoiler but its not fitted. The wire that comes off the end of it, where does it go? anywhere with 12v thats only on when ignition is??

[DAF]

[Jrod]

Ahh so its not a wire, its a pipe for vacum. Intresting.


I should look and try to fit it sometime.

[map]

[feef]

I rarely use a torque wrench when working on the bike...

I had the rear wheel off my mate's bike to do his wheel bearings, and happened to have a torque wrench handy... my "that'll be fine" estimate with my arm and spanner (not to be confused with the toothpaste) was almost spot on when I checked it with the torque wrench.

no harm in checking a torque wrench, but it's not crucial..

it's like cooking.. once you get used to it, and know what you're doing, you don't have to have all measurements exact.

a
(rebuilt a GPZ engine without a torque wrench, including head bolts)
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[mchaggis]

I find 3 in 1 Lube to be much better than Castrol Chain Wax. The latter dries out far too quickly, attracts grime and dust like crazy, and is a bitch to clean.
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[colin1]

i use spray on grease, not a light oil spray
i have heard that wax is fine in the dry but not if you are gonna use it in the wet
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[MarkyPancake]

I currently use a grease spray, but will try a different product/brand once it's empty.

A good tip is to lube the chain after a ride, so that it's warm and soaks up the lube better.

[Psychonaut]

My cleaning regime is wash the bike and dry, put on paddock stand and clean chain. Ride around the block with a dry chain to warm it then back on the paddock stand and put new lube on. Don't know if I'm thorough enough cleaning the chain though really difficult to get it spotless as the old lube is so sticky. Do you all use chain cleaner and a rag or is there a better way (thought about a brush but don't want to damage the o rings) I read somewhere that WD40 was good but can damage the o rings over time

[G]

O and X ring chains do need lubing.

I use old engine oil myself, and have a loob-man fitted to my TRX, which seems to be working very nicely.

[fozberry]

[quote="Drummer"]Lube or Wax?[/quote]
I lube my chain in a couple of ways. I put a drop of normal engine oil onto each of the O rings to keep them nice and lubricated, then spray on some chain wax to help keep water away and prevent rusting etc.

Quick hint for applying chain wax - many people recommend that you spray them on after a ride while the chain is warm as this will help melt the wax and get a better spread. Personally, I never get round to doing this, so what I do is spray the wax on, then rub it in with my hand - the wax melts at body temperature, so it gets into all the nooks and crannies very nicely this way. Wear surgical gloves when you try this though!
[quote="Drummer"]also how much are torque wrenches??[/quote]
Dunno about prices really, but I'd recommend getting one. You'd be surprised how often you over-tighten bolts without a torwue wrench!

fozberry

[AcIdBuRnZ]

I use Wurth Chain Wax

Great stuff.
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