Chain maintenance and adjustment? ( Cannot find straight answer)

[clevermetal]

though there's always the fact that although oil might not be soluble in water, water can still displace the oil on the chain?

[Jashdown]

(14/01/2012 22:30)Johnnie5 Wrote:  

(14/01/2012 08:48)Jashdown Wrote:  Why would a downpour matter? It's water. Oil isn't water soluble.

ride in the rain and you will see

the water will wash away the oil from your chain

Has never happened to me, and I've ridden in heavy rain a heap of times, sometimes over 100km. My RVFs chain is rooted because externally it's always bone dry, unlike the CBRs chain.

(14/01/2012 22:35)clevermetal Wrote:  though there's always the fact that although oil might not be soluble in water, water can still displace the oil on the chain?

Ever had to search for a sump plug in an oil pan full of oil? Water didn't move the oil my hand, the water just beaded straight off the skin. It's the same deal as waxing your car and doing the windscreen, when it rains, you don't even need to use the wipers because the water beads up and rolls off straight away.

[Pronto]

I was having a think of this today. I always re lubed my chain whenever i rode my road bike in heavy rain. Only difference is that I used wax on it's chain, while the ciblet has oil.

My understanding is that oil's lower density in conjunction with the water droplets moving at speed and striking the chain, will result in water displacing the oil. Yes, it may not get rid of ALL the oil, however it may displace some parts more than others. Leaving the chain vulnerable.

If you got a high pressure hose and turned it loose on a oil covered surface, I am sure it would displace a decent amount of oil. Waxing or polishing a car may result in the water droplets beading, but after driving in the rain and or washing it a few times, the waxy coat would have degraded. Hence the need to re-wax.

If we use your logic (Not having a go at you) then that would mean that oil deposits on the road should not move after a downpour due to their insolubility in water. But we know that the oil forms a layer on top of the water after a downpour, hence why it is so dangerous.

There is my 2c....