The idea is to keep your chain clean, not oily as some may think. Too much visible oil does nothing to minimize friction and only attracts dirt. There are several techniques for lubing your chain properly. The Wrecking Crew recommends the following technique>>>>> First, turn your bike upside down and rest it on the seat and handlebars. Then grab the chain with a cloth and move the pedals to advance the chain thru the cloth. This removes some surface debris. Next, spray the chain or apply some lubricant. (You can alternatively use a cloth wet with kerosene or gas but this can be messy). Let the lubricant stay on the chain a few minutes and then wipe off the excess with the cloth and moving the pedals like you did before. Another great product to clean the chain is Simple Green. This is environmentally safe and not toxic in any way, and will not leave any mess! It is available at most hardware type stores.This will CLEAN the chain and prepare it for lubricating. Spray the chain with a suitable chain lube of your choice and make sure to get each roller covered. We have found that the chain lube made by ProLink works quite well and comes in a handy 4 oz. squeeze bottle. The ProLink lubricant is easy to apply, and works quite well. It is best to spray or apply it only to the chain and not the freewheel cogs or chainring. Wait a few minutes and then use a clean cloth to remove all excess oil using the pedal technique used earlier. Your chain is now CLEANED and LUBRICATED! |
