I spent 8 years lubing guide rails the wrong way until a senior guy called me out

Back when I started out in Denver, I was dumping grease on the guide rails every 3 months like clockwork. A 25-year vet named Rick watched me do it on a hot August afternoon and just shook his head. He showed me how I was over-lubing by a ton (like 3 times the amount needed) and it was actually causing buildup that made the lift ride bumpier. Has anyone else had a basic habit that a older mechanic just set straight for you?

3 comments

3 Comments

gracec1621d ago

wait you're saying more grease actually makes it WORSE not better?

max_torres4421d ago

Right. Turns out putting more grease on a squeaky chain is like pouring water on a grease fire. It just makes everything worse and now you've got a black gooey mess all over your hands and the floor. Too much lube just attracts grime and turns into a grinding paste that eats your drivetrain faster. I learned this the hard way with an old mountain bike because somebody told me to 'lube it up good'. Now I just wipe off the excess after applying and the bike runs way cleaner.

david_jones387d ago

Yep @gracec16, it's a real thing. Less is more with chain lube. I just put a tiny drop on each roller, then wipe off everything you can see.