650B's S40 Conversion

[Balor]

That's because for wet conditions you need a different concoction.
Try 1/3 pure canning wax, 1/3 beeswax and 1/3 marine grease.
Of course, still not as good as in dry conditions, but much better than ANY lube.

 

[velocio]

I've heard that 1/3 pure ear wax, 1/3 floor wax and 1/3 cold press virgin olive oil is much better than ANY lube. I tend to discount such opinions expressed as absolute facts, since none of us has tried EVERY lube.

In any case, I'm excited to swap the 700c's on my S40 for some 650B's. The chain can take care of itself for now...

-Jack

 

[Balor]

I mean better than any "wet" lube, of course.
And this is indeed a fact, because the trick is not in exact composition, but in consistency (kinda like silly putty) and "tack".
It will create an o-ring of sorts, that will greatly impede water ingress into friction (pin-plate) interface, something no wet lube will ever do... and neither pure paraffin wax, btw, because it is brittle and does not adhere to metal, so lacks any "staying power". So yea, I don't need to test all wet lubes to realise that none of them will really work (except as grinding paste 'base') in those conditions

I appreciate your attempt to be witty, but your recipe will also work, btw:

Olive oil is an excellent lubricant (though castor oil is better for a number of seasons, I've tried both), floor wax is basically beeswax and carnauba/candelila wax (tried both, admittedly former makes the chain stiff and seem to be suboptimal unless added is really small dose), and earwax is a mix of fatty acids and cholesterol, not unlike lanolin (minus the dead skin, but you did mention "pure" ear wax, right?) - and it is also a great lubricant, actually used in some very demanding applications. Yea, tried that as well.
Tribologic science is fun, I've spent some time reading tribology journals while doing my own research and experiments.

 

[jond]

Ear wax sandwich all round then.

 

[bladderhead]

I read that candlewax cracks and flakes off. I had a full bottle of vaseline so that went in the mix. It probably all evaporated. But it is such a quick, clean process go remove the chain and drop it in the fryer. When I can hear the chain I do it. I give my earwax to the cat. She really likes earwax. Most cats do.

 

[Balor]

vaselene is basically microcrystalline paraffin wax and refined oil - in way, it does what adding grease and beeswax does - add tack and modify consistency.
Admittedly, beeswax contains esters that should have better lubricity than petrol wax, and calcium stearate in grease ins an excellent friction modifier, yet once you get rid of abrasives and provide "some" degree of lubricationg everything else is marginal gains.

 

[bladderhead]

I actually had a good idea! I know more about material science than I think I do.

 

[McWheels]

And zoom out to the big picture, no lady or gentlemen here need apply such unctious mixture to their perineum following a prolonged and invigorating ride across the rolling prospect. (Still reading Wodehouse, can't help it, old chap)

 

[bladderhead]

Jolly convenient to have Jeeves to pick you up when the bally thing gets a puncture.