I love this chain lube but my idler pulleys are getting pretty gunked up, especially the upper one. The chain will push it out of the way so it's not interfering with the chain motion (yet). Just annoying to have to take a tool to scrap this stuff off every few weeks. If I didn't do this I think it would definitely stop the pulley from turning. I apply this after every ride about 2-3 times a week. It also builds up on the chain ring just below the teeth. Is there a better lube that doesn't build up as much? Or should I just keep using Squirt and stay on top of scraping the dry wax off? I'm sure this is all happening right after I apply it and spin the crank arms to get it to distribute better. Then it just dries on the pulleys.
Squirt chain lube - tons of wax buildup on idler pulleys
JoeMountain
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I ran Squirt for a few years on my 1500W street Ebike. No complaints. lubed every 3 days. I just knocked the buildup off every now and them.
But now I'm running Effeyyo Mariposa Drip wax. hard to find ecept directly form them. It does turn black like grease.
But here is the ZFC lube test. Costs 2x, apply 1/2 as often.
zerofrictioncycling.com.au
But now I'm running Effeyyo Mariposa Drip wax. hard to find ecept directly form them. It does turn black like grease.
But here is the ZFC lube test. Costs 2x, apply 1/2 as often.
Lubricant Testing - Zero Friction Cycling
zerofrictioncycling.com.au
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3,034 Posts
Build-up is not unheard of from Squirt.
The need to routinely clean pulleys somewhat contradicts the point of a wax lube IMO.
I never had this happening with fully refined paraffin waxes like Gulf wax. Those waxes are significantly harder and dryer than Squirt, and once pieces detach from the chain they don't adhere well to each other or anything and just fall off.
The need to routinely clean pulleys somewhat contradicts the point of a wax lube IMO.
I never had this happening with fully refined paraffin waxes like Gulf wax. Those waxes are significantly harder and dryer than Squirt, and once pieces detach from the chain they don't adhere well to each other or anything and just fall off.
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1,109 Posts
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1,719 Posts
Wax lube is awesome and does keep the drivetrain clean but you still have to do maintenance on it. Wipe it down after every ride with a cloth or shop towel, including the chain ring and idler wheels then a quick light coat of drip wax lube of your choice.
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530 Posts
After reading all your replies and thinking about it, maybe I should continue my application after every ride but apply less. I say this because what's the worse that I could happen? I have a very happy chain but will have to clean my pulleys and chain ring every couple weeks? I already have a habit formed for doing this so maybe best to keep the habit in place with a little tweak? I know right now my chain is butter smooth and quiet. I do shake the bottle before use (Good tip). I am curious if any of the wax is building up in my pulley bushings (SLX der). I'll take those apart soon to inspect.
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24,227 Posts
Unless your rides are really long and/or wet that's a mistake imo. You say what could it hurt? Unnecessary added maintenance time, dealing with extra buildup, starting threads on mtbr... 🙃
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3,410 Posts
I live in a dusty area so any and all chain lube creates build up. Through my years with oil based lubes the build up was on the chainring and cogs too. For many years I have used a small, super stiff paint stripper with plastic bristles over the whole drivetrain before I apply any lube. Nowadays I only wax for all the great reasons to use a wax based chainlube, but! Only apply when the chain gets noisy. If the wax is sufficiently down in the rollers, there is still wax in there even when the chain starts to rattle. Like some one else said, maybe add a few drops of water to the Squirt to thin it out a bit, it will penetrate the rollers better and less will be needed. I have used Squirt, UFO drip, Silca SS, Smoove etc and I warm all of them up in the sun for a couple hours before applying. I want to get as much into the rollers as possible, then I only use as much as I have too. Less money, less brushing.
DT
DT
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909 Posts
Has The Karate Kid taught us nothing? Wax on, wax off.
Squirt, Smoove - Next there will be Squish chain wax. I see a naming trend. Bicycle chain waxes need to start with "S" to be good waxes. My chain wax is called; Babybel chain wax. Its almost free, other than the cheese inside, the Coleman fuel I use to melt it (or hot dipped) and some Teflon powder I add now and again.
As a disclaimer and reminder, there is a loooong thread about chain waxes and home brew chain waxing...
![Image]()
As a disclaimer and reminder, there is a loooong thread about chain waxes and home brew chain waxing...
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1,451 Posts
After every ride? Sounds unnecessary and wasteful.
After all the replies your take away is to continue lubing after each ride? Seems pretty clear the majority are telling you to stop doing that.
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530 Posts
OK I agree. I'll tame it down. Thanks for talking some sense into me.
Same. Get dust/wax mud, little on the side plates and cassette, more on the chainring and jockey wheels for some reason. A stiff-bristled dish brush makes quick work of it and keeps thing looking pretty clean.
Edit: I suppose the chainring and jockey wheels get the buildup because the chain runs on them non-stop.
Edit 2 electric boogaloo: I think it is important to note the ability to thin Squirt with water. It gets thick pretty dang fast and despite knowing that it is water-based, it never occurred to me to thin it out with water until it was suggested here. Makes it much easier to apply and I think makes it more build up resistant.
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3,034 Posts
I've ridden chains immersed in pure fully refined paraffin wax through all kinds of conditions in dusty and wet environments. Build-up isn't anything I've ever noticed with those chains.
Practically oil-free, solid paraffin wax doesn't stick to itself well.
Nothing in a bottle is going to be as clean as hot wax. Maybe home made IPA/wax but that doesn't work as well as squirt. I'm a big fan of pure melted wax I'm just growing tired of fooling with the process. I only get an extra 10 to 15 miles out of a hot wax vs squirt anyway. That's not negligible. That's another ride without having to lube the chain but in the end I'm leaning towards squirt with maybe a few dips in the hot bath. Might as well if I'm going to clean the chain for bottle wax anyway.
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1,651 Posts
Hey Dave. Did you use the Silca drip or the hot melt? Was it worth the extra cost over the Squirt? Thanks.
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2,168 Posts
An aside ....if you're washing the bike and need to de-wax anything, hot water makes it pretty instant.
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