After spending two hours cleaning off old wurth chain lube off my chain I'm ask myself do I need to put lube back on to a sealed chain? All I've done is put a coating of acf 50 to stop it going rusty or should I be living up?
Always lube the chain. Always. Weekly. Or after youve washed the bike. Thats what I do and I get good chain and sprocket mileage. I hates doing C&S.
For the few minutes it takes to clean and lube a chain, it's not worth skimping on. I cleaned mine over the weekend with Wurth chain cleaner, and then gave it two coats of their Dry chain lube (not very dry when it goes on!). Didn't seem like there was anything on the chain after i'd coated it, but it's sorted, and i have peace of mind that i've done what is recommended. As to the benefits of applying to a sealed O/X-Ring chain, well, i'm sure everyone has an opinion. I suppose there is the theory that the lubrication is sealed internally, but lubing the chain gives it's external faces some protection from corrosion etc. Cue the debate!
Why waste money on expensive 'chain cleaner' when you can do the same thing with paraffin? It doesn't affect/swell the 'O' or 'X' ring seals and you can pick up 2.5l of the stuff for less than a tenner. That said, I fully agree with you guys about regular cleaning/lubing, I tend to get about 20k out of most decent c&s kits this way, with not a Scottoiler in sight.
I can get brake/chain cleaner in bulk very cheaply through a mate in the trade. The aerosols are poor value, which is why I buy the liquid in bottles and use a dispenser. But yes, I've used paraffin in the past with the same results, they both work equally as well.
I haven't cleaned a chain since hanging out with the slightly anally retentive Uni bike club in the 80s. Taking it off and heating it in a tin of grease - who needs that? But then chains in those days weren't O-ring. Mine gets lubed frequently and that's it. Only gets adjusted at services - doesn't need it between times and they last about 25'000 kms. I'm just not your obsessive bike cleaner. The bike has to look superficially clean but getting it spotless is a waste of my time. It won't be spotless after the next time I've used it. It's not like I'm entering it for a concours prize. I want to use the thing, not fritter away my life obsessing over it. But hey - I obsess about other things. Each to his own.
I've always used paraffin to clean the chain and like others get good mileage out of them. I wouldn't use brake cleaner as it's a solvent and might damage the O-rings. I always use a traditional lube after cleaning as the O-ring part only concerns the pins and I like to think the lube helps the sprockets etc.....and it certainly stops the side plates rusting. If you're worried about the lube getting on your wheels and looking dirty the best fix I've found is to have your wheels painted black.
