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Update: August 2022, 8,000 km, measuring 0.25% wear.
– at this wear rate I am anticipating about 15,000 km before replacement.So far waxing has saved me ONE Ultegra Chain in cost.
The cassette looks like new; it was a few thousand km old when I went to wax.
The chain rings look great and they were 15,000 km old when I went to wax.Ray of Sunshine…
I had a small issue as my Garmin died.. so I have lost some ride data, no big deal.
but it made me review the entire wax status.
still 7K+ km. Still chain is ONLY 0.25 worn. Considering I used to get 3-4K per chain this is extraordinarily GOOD!Why are you NOT waxing?
Update by Ray of Sunshine:
as at June 3, 2022.
Bike shop has my bike for a pre big trip service. They commented that my chain was only .25% (I knew that) and in good condition, the cassette is good and the front chainrings (both) were good.
so 7,000km on the Chain, the Cassette is about 8,000 km now and the front chainrings are about 20,000+ old. Not looking at replacing anything any time soon.I am begining to think that 300km between wax is mostly too short.
I obtained some liquid wax and ptfe to put on the chain on my trip, which I expect will be about 1000-1500 km. This should test the credentials of the liquid wax. the trip[ distance depends on my better half and when she wishes to join me (‘join me’ is code for stop me riding).
🙂
Done.
I may be in C’maine over weekend. If not, then let me know where to drop it or you can pick up…Ray of Sunshine…
Great questions Alyoisus,
Quick Links:
It must be a ‘multi use’ quick link. Beware some are meant for one use only.
Most manufacturers put a limit on reuse of about 5 times. I am using the same Shimano Quick Link and have re-used it 19 times (26 time as of June 2022). The Quick link shows no signs of wear or “looseness”,it still clicks together nicely. I have spare quick links for when this stops happening or other signs appear. The 5 limit may be litigation issue I do not know.
I am advised that the Connex Quick Link is both the easiest to use will last the life of the chain, but they are expensive. The Connex link does not need a tool to put on or take off, the Shimano and all other non Connex links I have seen need a quick link removal/application tool. If you buy a new Connex chain, it comes with one of their quick links (note so do the Shimano chains of late).Where to Break the Chain:
Obviously it still needs to be the right length for your gear set, that is up to you to measure. I have never seen a new chain in a box that was continuous. AS long as you have two male inner links on the chain ends and it is the right length, you are fine; the Quick link joins two inner links not outer links. If your chain on the bike is actually continuous and does not have a quick link, pick any where but make sure you take off the outer plates completely at that point, leaving two inners. See the diagrams in the entries above to work out what is an inner and outer link. Maybe just buy a new chain to start.Cleaning Before Re-Wax:
When one is about to re-wax a previously waxed chain. 2 Step cleaning. Never use solvents or soaps.
Step 1: I take the chain off, put it in hot water and scrub with a clean hard bristle brush, I do not use solvents or any cleaners as that may harm the wax-metal interface. This takes off the ‘litter’ from the chains, small bits of stuff and is not in any of the waxing advice from OZ Cycles. I do this step as it seems to keep the wax mixture clean longer. If you have mud on the chain, this is imperative as one must get all the muck off.
Step 2: I take kettle of boiling water and rinse the chain with this entire kettle; put chain in a sieve. This takes off all the old wax from the outside of the plates and hopefully from the inner parts too; the heat. This done well will likely remove the litter but I still found tiny flakes of used black PTFE on the chain if I do not remove the litter first.
Use gloves to protect your hands from the boiling water. Dry the chain before immersion in hot wax.hope this helps.
Ray of Sunshine…
Status:
Chain is now 5,600km and measures 0.25.
At this rate, it may get close to Andrew G’s 13K!Ray…
Longevity of the WAX mixture.
I replaced the mixture as stated earlier and now have new clean wax with new PTFE powder.
However, I took the old wax block and cut off the contaminated wax/ptfe part and the remaining wax is clean and clear as the contaminants fall to the bottom of the container as the wax cools. I will be able to use this clean wax again.
This means the cost of waxing is less than the original calculation as we “re-use” most of the wax, up to 80% is my estimate. Recovering about $4, making the per use cost about $0.50c.
Less for the rubbish tip too.
Ray of Sunshine…
Dear MacO’Dowd,
could not read the article without committing to the site. so… never going to happen.
however, the above responses suggest this is about, “Counter Steering”.
a good overview is at https://www.tunedtrends.com/what-is-countersteering/
talks about how Honda did research into motorcycle dynamics etc.Simply put, to turn left on a two wheel vehicle (at at not fall over pace), we lean left and the bars tend to turn right, ie counter steering. When understood it is an effective method of high performance turning, ie you push the left bar away from yourself and we turn left aggressively, we push the right bar and we turn right.
Adrian will be able to explain how aggressive counter steering on a motorcycle can help you turn faster; he was a classy motorcycle racer.
It is something to be done to achieve low lap times when racing or to simply go fast on a bendy road.
I believe it was Eddie Lawson (30 years ago) came in after a Superbike race, having not crashed but his bars were bent, that is how hard he pushed on the bars to counter steer.The phenomena if understood and practiced, can make you a much faster descender and give you the ability to avoid danger on the road aggressively without falling over.
You need to link this with weighting the outside leg of course and not over working the tire grip. Is a lot to it, buy it is the correct physics as the acticle should explain.I hope you find the article interesting.
Ray of Sunshine…
Back to Waxing:
Today, I replaced the wax mixture as I contaminated it.. (darn).However, it produced 25 uses over 6 chains which is about 7500km and about 65 cents per use or $16.00 for the mixture.
The FELT road bike chain, is about 4,500km and still measuring 0.25%. I am still using the same mulit-use quick link.
Andrew G also waxes apparently and he indicates all the benefits plus his chain is approaching 13,000 km. WOW!
I will review the old mixture to see if there is any way to recover some of it.. I am thinking there may be a way to recover most of the Wax but not the PTFE (wax is still clean looking and the contamination seems to have gone to the bottom mixing in with the PTFE, slice it off maybe).
Badger products can serve direct via their website https://www.badgerwax.com.au
they have wax, ptfe and chains, qucklinks and starter kits.
