Is WD-40 ok to use on the chain for a bike??

Question

or is there a special lube or something else that ur supposed to use instead??

Answer 1

WD-40 is not a great lubricant. "WD-40" actually stands for Water Displacement, 40th attempt. It was the 40th formula developed to make a product to displace water and hence prevent corrosion. (see http://www.wd40.com/Brands/wd40_faqs.html)

Although it does have light lubricating properties it won't stand up to any more than very light use. There are a whole variety of lubricants for bike chains; I would say that none of them is vastly superior to the rest, no matter what the manufacturers claim. There are some formulas that are probably better if you don't ride in wet conditions ("wax"-like lubricants) and others that are probably better if you ride in wet conditions because they are harder to wash off (but they tend to get dirty faster).

The important thing is that all lubricants attract grit and dirt, so don't use any more than necessary. Apply a drop of lubricant to each roller where it meets the side plates. The side plates do not need any lubricant on them.

Answer 2

Short answer is NO. Do not use WD40 for anything but cleaning a chain.

WD40 is not a lubricant, rather it is a solvent that includes kerosene that makes it feel oily. That being said, it is fine for things like doorknobs or hinges where there is little or no pressure on the moving parts.

A bicycle chain requires a lubricant that performs under high pressure and does not pick up dirt. This rules out 3 in 1 oil, graphite, motor oil, lithium, or anything like that. Instead, the best stuff to use is a teflon or wax based lubricant. You can get the stuff in little bottles for a few dollars at a bike shop.

When you are ready to lubricate, clean the chain with your WD40, wipe it down completely, then apply the correct lubricant. If you ride only recreationally and on the road you should lube every 2 weeks of riding. If you ride in the dirt or on trails you may have to clean and lube as much as every ride depending on the severity of the conditions.

Keep in mind that the chain is your only drive. If it isn't working at peak efficiency then you are wasting your energy and damaging the remaining parts of the drivetrain.

Answer 3

No, no, no. No. Definitely not. No.

WD-40 is NOT a lubricant. You would do better off with cooking spray instead.

There are many different lubes on the market for chains, and they fall into either wet lubes or dry lubes.

Wet lubes, like Pedro's Road Rage, ProLink, or Tri-Flow work better in wet or muddy conditions, or in cases where you won't be getting dirty like on a road bike.

Dry lubes like White Lightning, Rock 'n Roll or Krytech are made up of the lubricant (usually PTFE) suspended in a liquid "carrier" that evaporates once the lube has gotten inside the rollers to do its job. Dry lubes are good for mountain bikes or dusty conditions, because they don't attract dirt.

Pick the one that works best for you, your type of riding, your conditions and personal preference.

Answer 4

ok. i don't use wd-40, however the corporate I artwork for competes with wd-40. for the reason that we make an option to wd-40, I even have merely a dash information on the product. i might decide to sparkling up some myths approximately wd-40. particular it incredibly is a penetrating oil. ALL oil is a single molecular chain and to 3 extent are penetrating oils. sturdy penetrating oil is skinny, as antagonistic to assert - motor oil (for assessment purposes). Motor oil will penetrate too, yet you are able to age in the past the rusted bolt comes loose. That has to do with the viscosity of the oil. The viscosity makes motor oil a super engine lubricant. do not attempt to place wd-40 on your crankcase. The lubricant equipment in wd-40 is generally silicone. a skinny easy accountability lubricant. are you able to lubricate a bicycle with wd-40? Technically, particular. yet you had better do it extremely generally, and particular in case you lubricate your motorcycle weekly with wd-40 you will have not have been given any lubrication subjects and you will help of their income. it fairly is the reason maximum folk have had undesirable reports with employing wd-40 on a bicycle. It would not final through fact this sort of lubricant mandatory on a motorcycle. Silicone merely slings off and has undesirable extreme rigidity residences. it fairly is the reason particular objective lubricants for bicycles have not got lots silicone in the formula. Wd-40 has a small proportion of petroleum oil too. it incredibly is thinned out by the solvent in it. Wd-40 is 0.5 solvent. it fairly is the reason it cleans. it fairly is the reason it incredibly is a very good penetrating oil through fact the solvent thins out what oil is in the product. ok. Use 2 products on your motorcycle. A purifier (solvent) to scrub and a perfect lubricant after wards. Grease is the right lubricant for bearings. in basic terms use oil on bearings that are in an oil tub. that may not a bicycle utility. which could be a hub on a Semi-Truck. in case you incredibly need to look after your bicycle, purchase some end Line products from the motorcycle shop.

Answer 5

I never let any WD40 anywhere near my bikes... You need to wipe down your chain after every other ride or so, and lube as necessary...
I like to use Pedro's Dry Spray lube for drier conditions, and Triflow Teflon spray when it is wet outside.
Clean and degrease your chain when it gets really dirty or gunked up with an orange oil degreaser, rinse and dry well, then use the appropriate lube.

Answer 6

WD 40 will work short term, but it won't protect and clean your chain and gears like a chain oil will.

You can get chain oil at any bike shop or order it online. It's not very expensive and one bottle will last most riders a long time.

Answer 7

WD-40 is OK to clean the chain with. But let it dry. Then don't put anything on it, because lubes will just attract dust and dirt causing it to have an abrasive coating. There are dry lubricants you can try, but I always keep an eye on it.

Answer 8

There is a special lube and tool that are best for bike chains, but WD works in a pinch.

Answer 9

WD-40 is excellent for bike chains. You could use a special lube, but if you have the wd-40, it will work just fine.

Answer 10

Yes, it's fine. There are special lubes you can buy.

The problem with WD40 is that you can pick up more dirt with it.

The BEST idea is to clean it with WD40, dry, and then oil with a chain lube.

However, in a pinch, WD40 will do the job. Just be sure to watch build up on the chain.

Good luck.