How to Clean and Lubricate a Chain
Frequent chain cleaning and lubrication will help keep dirt off your chain and prevent wear.
Regular cleaning and lubrication of your chain will help prevent your drivetrain from wearing out. You should clean and lubricate the chain when it is dirty, dry or begins to sound noisy. If you ride every day, you should clean and lube the chain at least once a month.
Chain Lubricants
I don’t recommend using either motor oil or 3in1 oil to lubricate the chain. Motor oil is too heavy and won’t fully penetrate the rollers, and 3in1 oil is vegetable based and will gum up the chain. I also don’t recommend using wax lubricants because while they don’t collect as much dirt, they are a lot of hassle to apply correctly, and wax is simply not as good a lubricant as oil. I do recommend mineral based chain oils like Finish Line Cross Country or Phil Wood Tenacious Oil because they do the best job of fighting corrosion and don’t wash away when they get wet.
Chain Cleaning
For cleaning, first shift the chain into the smallest sprocket on the rear. For average dust and dirt, wipe the chain clean with a solvent soaked rag. The easiest way to do this is to hold the chain still at the rear derailleur cage while firmly wiping the lower run of the chain. Then move the chain backward and wipe again until you’ve wiped the entire length of chain. Wipe between the rear sprockets using either a rag or a sprocket cleaning tool. Then clean all of the front chainrings on both sides.
Chain Lubrication
Shift your gears into the middle sprocket both front and rear. Remember that oil does a good job of spreading itself, so try not to over-apply the lubricant. Lubricate the inner circumference of the chain, on the side that faces the sprockets along the top of the lower run of the chain. Run the chain backwards while dropping oil down both sides of the rollers.
Shift through all of the gears to spread the lubricant evenly through the drivetrain. Then use a rag to wipe off any excess oil.
Related Links
- Jim Langley: Cleaning Your Drivetrain
- Park Tool: Chain Cleaning
- Sheldon Brown: Chain Maintenance
- Bicycle Torque Specifications
Recommended Tools
- Park Tool CB-4 Bio ChainBrite
- Park Tool CG-2 Chain Gang Chain Cleaning System
- Finish Line Wet Chain Lube (Cross Country)
- Phil Wood Tenacious Oil
- Park Tool CC-3.2 Chain Checker
- Park Tool CC-2 Chain Checker
Categories
Discuss this topic in the Bicycle Repairs and Mechanics Forum
Schwinn meridian fork replacement
Lastest post 9 hours agoHi I want to replace the fork on my dads schwinn meridian. I’m looking for one with suspension. What size is the fork I should buy? I been looking on internet for the fork size but couldn’t find anything. Thanks in advance...
Read moreZipp 182 hub bearing replacement
Lastest post 1 week agoI'm going to replace the bearings in my Zipp 182 hub (rear wheel). Both the SRAM website and this article (https://www.slowtwitch.com/Tech/Hub_How-To_-_Zipp_182_3300.html) recommend against replacing the freehub body bearings, and that instead the whole freehub should just be replaced. I can only find one supplier and a replacement freehub costs more than I paid for the wheelset. The freehub bear...
Read moreFox 36 Grip Rhythm weird clicking sound ?
Lastest post 2 weeks agoWeird clicking sound. I dont think it affects performance but its really anoying. It doesnt only happen in the beginning of the stroke but also once it settles into sag and i compress it further i can still hear it. My question is what could be the cause of this and also, will it be an expensive repair ? Thanks Here is a video of the clicking sound: https://imgur.com/a/GWxkq04...
Read more12 year old carbon bike - Galvanic corrosion? Is this safe?
Lastest post 2 weeks agoHey guys, Recently bought a carbon bike that's quite old, noticed when I got it home this corrosion at the front deralliuer hanger. The frame itself is otherwise in great condition, including carbon forks which I have inspected. Is this a serious structural concern and should I be keeping this bike only on the indoor trainer? Thoughts? IMG20211114131221.jpg (Size: 62.01 KB / Dow...
Read moreBrifter reccomendations
Lastest post 2 weeks agoI'm looking for brifters that will be compatable with shimano grx 600 rear derailleur running shimano rd-rx812 11-42t 11 speed cassette that can operate mechanical disc brakes. I think the standard grx 600 brifters can only do hydraulic and I'm not keen to change the brakes. Perhaps 105 ST-5800 would do the job?...
Read moreSpecialized hardtail shock for fork?
Lastest post 3 weeks agoI have an old aluminum frame specialized hardrock with disk brakes and 26" wheels. The shocks are rusty and crap now. Anybody know a replacement fork that can fit, keeping the geometry same? *I mean to trash the shocks and use a normal fork instead. Thanks...
Read moreBroken derailleur
Lastest post 3 weeks agoI bought a broken-up mtb as a little rebuild project. Its a Vitus Nucleus VRS. The derailleur on it is broken and I am looking for a replacement. the bike has a 1x10 with an 11-46T cassette. According to the bike manufacturer website, it comes with a Shimano RD-M6000-GS. but on Shimanos website it says that only goes to 42T. so just confirming that it should be fine since the bike manufacturer ...
Read moreTrek Fuel EX 8: changing some bearings
Lastest post 4 weeks agoIm looking to replace my headset on my 2021 trek fuel ex 8 but I’m struggling to find which ones I need to buy has anyone done this before and what bearings did you try? More info: The bearing itself did have a code but I’m not sure what it really means: (THMR040 1-1/836 DEGREES X 45 DEGREES BO and THMR019 1.5 36 DEGREES X 45 DEGREES C 0) trek also has a few bearings on their website but it w...
Read moreRockshox Judy Coil Spring Concern
Lastest post 4 weeks agoHi everybody. I recently bought a second hand rockshox judy fork, it has a coil spring and I cannot find a lot of information about it online. I bought it because I couldn't find a lot of options for a 9qr mm wheel set, and I have a question, is it possible to convert that fork to an air one? As far as I know the stanchions and the body is basically the same as the solo air version, the difference...
Read morebottom bracket type
Lastest post 4 weeks agoHey i have this old road bike im repairing but the bottom bracket broke and i dont know what fits. So please help me most bike shops around my area are ****** xD. IMG_20211019_194134.jpg (Size: 41.25 KB / Downloads: 103) IMG_20211019_194215.jpg (Size: 40.85 KB / Downloads: 103) also here is a gdrive link : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1--jnL_bToLt7sCxmr0X6QlUbQnl...
Read moreDisalligned cassette/chainrings by wheel replacement
Lastest post 1 month agoI swapped my old wheels for a Vision team 35 comp sl on my relatively old roadbike Trek road series 370 (1995ish). This has caused the cassette and front chainrings to be disalligned; in the largest three rear chainrings in combination with the smallest front ring, the chain falls of now often. I already used an spaces because the bike is 8 speed. Do I need more spacers or is there some other solu...
Read moreHow to replace rear shock spring
Lastest post 1 month agoHow do I take the spring off my rear shock?...
Read moreWant to convert my 2012 salsa Fargo 2 to a 1x drivetrain. Can someone help?
Lastest post 1 month agoDoes anyone know if the FSA comet 27/39t crankset with FSA external bearing bottom bracket can be converted to a 1x chain ring? I am unable to find any information anywhere....
Read moreV Brakes just won’t adjust properly
Lastest post 1 month agoSo I have a problem adjusting the V brakes on my bike. If I set them up so the pull on the lever feels normal, the wheel is won’t move because the pads are already on contact. If I set them up so the wheel will spin freely, then the they are so mushy that fully pulling the lever barely has any effect. I’ve tried a few things: checked the housing and cable, checked for points of flex / wobble i...
Read moreWD40 on chain?
Lastest post 1 month agoHi, new here. Do not know much about maintenance, that is why I need an advice on chains. I have KMC chain on my hybrid and someone told me that I can use a bit of WD40 to keep it running, clean it from dust and whatsoever. He also is not very bright in terms of bike knowledge so I am doubting his claim. Probably WD40 is not good for lubing the chain or keeping it clean, right? There is need for s...
Read more
