[dc]A[/dc]fter my Chain-L review some time ago, I've had a number of discussions with various people about the best way to lube a chain. While the traditional “dab it on, let it sink in, wipe off the excess” does work, there is a better way to do it, resulting in better penetration of lube and longer duration between applications. With that said, keep in mind that I lube a chain (using this method) on average of every 6 weeks or so, which typically means about 900-1100 miles of use.
Let's cook a chain after the jump…
Raid Your Kitchen
If your significant other is not a cyclist, or if she's not on board with utilizing good quality kitchen appliances for bike maintenance, you may want to wait until she's out of the house to do this. Before warned.
Essentially, what I was told a while back by one of the creators of Chain-L was to remove the chain from the bike, lube it and then stick it in a toaster oven for a few minutes. The action of heating the lube and chain causes the lube to be “sucked into” the rollers, ensuring deep penetration. After doing this a few times, I'm a full on believer, and I'll detail the process here:
Remove and Clean
The easiest way I've found to accomplish this feat is to place the chain in an old takeout container (soup works well, or in this case, shredded parmesan cheese) with some very dilute Simple Green (10-1 water to degreaser) and shake the bejeezus out of it. Then rinse with clean, cold water, each time shaking the chain well to ensure all the grease, grit and grime are out of it.
After cleaning well, I wipe down repeatedly with a clean rag and then place the chain on a tray in the toaster oven to dry all the water out of it. A few minutes should be all you need to dry it completely.
Lube It Up
This step should be self explanatory, but I'll explain it anyway. Leaving the chain on the tray, add a single drop of Chain-L (warm lube works slightly better, but it's not really necessary) to each roller. You can smear it over the roller with finger if you like, but this is again unnecessary, as the lube will be taken up by the chain in very short order.
Be smart: you should know that the chain (after being in the toaster oven for a few minutes and being made of metal) is likely hot to the touch. Don't burn your
Bake It
Yes, the toaster oven in my workshop used to be in my kitchen. Like any sensible female, my wife would be displeased if I put an oily chain into the kitchen toaster oven and smoked up the house a bit.
With the chain still on the tray, slip it into the toaster oven a second time, setting it to about 350 degrees and timing it for about 3-4 minutes. You'll definitely know when it's done; the excess lube will begin to bubble and smoke very slightly, and it will be quite aromatic. You'll get an eu de gear oil in your garage. This is why I don't recommend doing this in your kitchen (or at least wait until your significant other has vacated the premises.)
Wipe and Reinstall
Once the chain has cooled enough that you can handle it, you can wipe the side plates quickly with a rag before re-installing the chain. Once the chain has been re-installed you can more vigorously wipe down the side plates to ensure as little debris as possible makes its home in your drivetrain.
By utilizing this method, I've found that there is far less excess lube on the outside of the chain to splatter on the rear wheel or the rest of the drivetrain. The lube seems to penetrate the rollers far better as well, which extends the time in between lubing.
Give it a try and see if you notice the difference. But don't blame me when someone gives you hell for ruining their toaster oven…
