No matter what type of rider you are or what kind of riding you do, chain and drivetrain maintenance is critical. If you're looking for performance and efficiency, a properly maintained drivetrain can help you get more results with less effort; if you want to extend the life of parts and save money, a well-cared-for drivetrain can save thousands of dollars over a neglected one.
Choosing the right chain oil certainly has a significant impact on the efficiency of the drivetrain, but to maximize the efficiency of the drivetrain and chain, choosing the right chain oil alone is not enough. Here are three common mistakes that some riders make that will accelerate the wear of the drivetrain and chain, so be sure to avoid them.
1. Don't just add chain oil to the chain
If your chain is always black, sticky, and leaves grease marks on everything it touches, you may have too much chain oil.
Whichever chain oil you choose, follow the instructions carefully-some chain oils require only one drop per roller, while other products require less. Ideally, the chain should run smoothly and quietly, but without visible oil marks on the surface. Chain oil should mainly penetrate the inside of the chain rollers; exposed lubricant will only attract dirt, which will eventually be carried into the chain and cause more wear.
If the chain is noisy or covered in grime, adding chain oil is only a stopgap measure. It will temporarily improve the ratio of lubricant to contaminants, but the problem will continue to worsen if the chain is not thoroughly cleaned.
2. Don't add chain oil before riding
The most common way to cause the chain to turn black quickly is to add oil before setting off. Most chain oils need time to soak in, and wax chain oils need more time - you should clean and lubricate immediately after riding, wait for the oil to penetrate the internal structure of the chain, and then wipe off the excess oil. This ensures that the chain oil fully soaks the chain links and lubricates the rollers between the gears.
Best practice is to clean and re-lubricate as soon as possible after each ride (especially in muddy environments). Avoid letting dirt, salt and other contaminants adhere and harden for a long time, which increases the difficulty of subsequent cleaning.
3. Be sure to remove the original grease before using the new chain
The factory grease on a new chain is not your friend. Leaving it on will significantly shorten the life of the chain (compared to a cleaned chain for the first time). This grease is designed to prevent rust and is used to cope with the long process of transportation, storage and sale after production.
If you don't remove it, you will find that your new chain is covered with road grime after a few rides. The original grease is very sticky and will quickly absorb dust, pollen, sand, etc., forming a highly effective abrasive paste that accelerates the wear of parts. Even worse, the residual original grease will prevent the good lubricant from adhering properly. Although it is a bit troublesome to clean a new chain before installation, it will be exponentially more difficult to clean it after use.
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