I bought a “workshop” sized (500ml) bottle of chainlube as it worked out quite a lot cheaper, however it doesn’t have a dropper top like the smaller bottles. What’s the best way of getting it onto the chain? Can’t see how I’d get it into one of the smaller dropper bottles without a tiny funnel and a lot of patience. Could use a syringe, but that would only get me about 1/3 of the way down the bottle. What am I missing?

Decant some of it into a more usable bottle?

What mattyfez said lol

Pour it into a disposable cup and syringe what you need from that?

Or just do the jam jar trick?

How do mechanics lube chains?

Step 1) Wave Park chain checker tool at customers bike.

Step 2) inform customer that their chain is “dangerously worn”.

Step 3) Remove old chain sell and fit customer an Ultegra chain for full RRP (but graciously waive labour costs)…

Step 4) “Inspect” brake pads for wear…

Can’t get it into the old lube bottles because the ‘dropper’ section is not removable. Might try the kitchen supplies place tomorrow, see if they have some sort of sauce bottle that might be suitable.

I managed to get the top off my Finish Line Dry Lube bottle with some pliers.

Rock and Roll bottles have removable lids, so do finish line – the the answer is probably get hold of one that does and decant. (I’ve probably got 10 or so with a dribble left in across various bike bits boxes so I never struggle too much.

Stans 2oz fluid bottle .

Is this actually a topic for discussion? I guess so!

as others said put it into a smaller bottle (use pliers to take off the cap)

if doing the lubing properly?

-after cleaning the drivetrain
-drop of lube on each chain roller bushing (do the lower section between chainring and rear mech lower pulley wheel)
-wait for it to sink in
-rotate the chain to expose the next section (start at the powerlink or joining pin for reference)
-repeat until chain is done
-then backpedal bike through a clean rag to remove excess and work the lube into each roller bushing

if in a hurry? (i.e. customer brings their bike in for 1st free service 20 minutes before closing time)

-put the bike in a middle gear (good chainline)
-backpedal bike whilst drizzling lube onto top of chain at rear cassette
-not too little, not too much
-dry lube is great for quickly cleaning surface gunk off the chain
-then backpedal chain through clean rag to work it into the roller bushings and remove excess

What am I missing?

cookeaa – Member
Pour it into a disposable cup and syringe what you need from that?

Or just do the jam jar trick?

How do mechanics lube chains?
Step 1) Wave Park chain checker tool at customers bike.

Step 2) inform customer that their chain is “dangerously worn”.

Step 3) Remove old chain sell and fit customer an Ultegra chain for full RRP (but graciously waive labour costs)…

Step 4) “Inspect” brake pads for wear…
Do I detect a slight bitterness towards bike mechanics…? 😉

One drop at a time.

When I was a mechanic we used GT85. Even in the fancy LBS I started in we never used anything more fancy than GT85 on customers bikes.
Its as much about the essential essence of Teflon smell as lubrication.

Thus.

Its as much about the essential essence of Teflon smell as lubrication

Mmmmm smell that dermatitis :/

Do I detect a slight bitterness towards bike mechanics…?

Nah just general cynicism and light trolling, I don’t use bike shop mechanics, haven’t for many years, I have my own opposable thumbs…

…essential essence of Teflon…

Tell me Have you ever seen a Bicyle shop mechanic drink a glass of water?

@cookeaa

bike mechanics run on this stuff

Look on eBay for dropper bottles.

You can get up to 500ml plastic bottles with dropper tops.

I managed to get the top off my Finish Line Dry Lube bottle with some pliers.

Thank you! Had given it a quick go by hand but hadn’t budged so assumed the top was fixed, now got it off with some pliers, so all sorted now.

Thanks for the helpful (and not so helpful) responses.

I bought a gallon of Finish Line Cross Country lube 15+ years ago, should see me good for a year or two more. 🙂