Does anybody here use WD-40 on their bikes? If yes, why? If not, what do you use?
http://bikefat.com/it-is-okay-to-use-wd-40-on-your-bike-chain/
http://bikefat.com/it-is-okay-to-use-wd-40-on-your-bike-chain/
WD-40 and Your Bike
- Thread starter SkyRider
- Start date
I ride my bike all year around and it is my way of getting around. I have never used WD-40 on my chain. Instead I use a fairly thick chain oil lubricant that I purchased at a bike shop. The small bottle has lasted me more than a year. I only have to lube my chain a few times per year.
I'm not a bike tech by any means, and I get a thorough tune up twice a year at a bike shop.
I save so much money compared to taking the TTC and/or driving it is amazing. And that supports my hobbying.
I'm not a bike tech by any means, and I get a thorough tune up twice a year at a bike shop.
I save so much money compared to taking the TTC and/or driving it is amazing. And that supports my hobbying.
WD-40 is a penetrating oil not a lubricant, you a thicker oil for your bike chain. It is however a pretty good degreaser if you want to clean off old oil and it will work well on rusty valves and pipes. But for your chain you should use 3in 1 or 30 weight they will last longer and give better protection.
I heard that WD-40 is a good solvent to clean the rust and guck off your chain and sprockets but it then be washed off and a proper lube (no. not K-Y) should be applied.
I never used WD40 on my bike chain. I have heard it is not good for the bike but I can't confirm if it is true or not. Instead you can go to somewhere like Canadian Tire and get chain spray specifically made for bikes in the sports department. Walmart or other places that have bikes I think may also have it too but I just happened to see it and buy it Canadian Tire.
Price is not expensive at all only a few bucks. Same price as WD40 so why take the risk if the price is the same for either product.
I use it as a 'degreaser' on my chain. It's good at getting all the gunk off. Then I use a dry lube, which attracts way less sand and dirt.
If your chain is dirty or sticky, WD-40 will loosen the chain and clean it up a bit. Use degreaser to really clean the chain up. I use Rust-check rustproofing spray on my bike chain. It sticks well and you just need a quick squirt $10-12 a can. One can does your car and bike.
I bike to work most days, around 30 km round trip. Every Sunday I give the frame a rinse and use Finish Line 1-Step on the chain, it's a cleaner/lube.
WD 40 is not a very good lubricant for anything. Apparently, the WD stands for "Water Displacement" and the 40 was the 40'th version they came up with.
So it was designed to displace water and then it ended up being used as some sort of penetrating oil.
By and by, I just had to buy a new chain for my bike (because the old one got wet and put away wet and the thing seized up (badly) and no amount of penetrating oil would correct the problem.
The new chain is 6 links longer than the old one and the guy said, "just take out some links" and I figured, ok. Well, I'm looking at and the only thing I can see is to punch out the pin in question and then attach the chain through the gears and put the new joining pin in.
Does anyone know how to punch out one of these joining pins?
So it was designed to displace water and then it ended up being used as some sort of penetrating oil.
By and by, I just had to buy a new chain for my bike (because the old one got wet and put away wet and the thing seized up (badly) and no amount of penetrating oil would correct the problem.
The new chain is 6 links longer than the old one and the guy said, "just take out some links" and I figured, ok. Well, I'm looking at and the only thing I can see is to punch out the pin in question and then attach the chain through the gears and put the new joining pin in.
Does anyone know how to punch out one of these joining pins?
Take it from me. If you have a broken spoke, replace it before you ride. When you ride, your wheel will be off centered. Brakes will brush against the rim. You're likely puncture the tube more easily.
I don't think I would recommend motor oil as a chain lube. Probably would make a horrible mess (dripping, splashing as it rotates etc).
If you are buying oil or WD40 just get chain lube instead. They are all sold in the same store so it is not as though you have to travel around and they are all comparable in price so it is not as though you have to spend more
And you should get your spokes fixed. As mentioned above a broken spoke can rub and the spokes help balance the wheel. Also as far as I know spokes also are part of the rims structure. If you break spokes the rim is not supported properly and can warp or bend
If you take your bike (not just the rim) in to have the spoke fixed just ask the repair guys a few questions about chain lubes....if you talk to them a bit to give them the impression you need the chain lubed because you are bringing them the business of fixing the rim/ spoke they will probably just spray some on the chain for free the stuff is pretty cheap they would probably have cans of the stuff
So, I went to my local bike shop. Cost me $20 plus $1 for a new spoke to replace the one broken spoke.
