Old school mechanic told me my chain was too clean and it actually made sense

So I'm in Denver visiting my buddy at his shop last month, and this older guy who's been wrenching since the 80s takes a look at my bike. I had just degreased the chain and put a fresh wax lube on it, thought it was looking perfect. He goes 'son, that chain is so dry it's gonna eat itself alive by mile 30.' I laughed it off at first but then he showed me his own chain that had this thin layer of grime still on it. Long story short, he explained that stripping it bone dry every time strips away the little bit of lube that seeps into the pins. Now I just wipe the chain down with a rag and relube without going full nuclear with degreaser every time. Has anyone else had a similar reality check about over cleaning stuff?

2 comments

2 Comments

angela_coleman26d ago

Gotta push back a little here. I run my chain dry and clean after every long ride, then hit it with a thin drip lube before the next one. Never had a chain eat itself or snap early. If anything, keeping the gunk off lets me see exactly where the lube is going instead of trapping grit against the rollers. Might depend on your riding conditions though - are you in a really dusty area where that grime layer just turns into grinding paste?

barbara39926d ago

Totally feel you on that, it makes so much sense.