Does your waxed chain shift differently than your oiled chain?

[bshell]

Are folks sure about their distances and durations? My waxed chains are loosened up and shifting properly in @ 300 feet.

I can't imagine accepting poor shifting for ten miles or half an hour.

[Spdntrxi]

Originally Posted by bshell

Are folks sure about their distances and durations? My waxed chains are loosened up and shifting properly in @ 300 feet.

I can't imagine accepting poor shifting for ten miles or half an hour.

what wax ? I use Silca and Rex black diamond. Shifting properly is alright, but they are not noise free until 30min later especially now since it's getting colder.

[bshell]

Silca and/or supermarket paraffin with tungsten disulfide.

Maybe a materials person could chime in -and I'm fine being wrong, but to my mind it's a solid (thin film where it's working) at room temp and once those links pass through the drivetrain a few times, that's it.

It doesn't warm up and flow with riding or get stiff with temperature changes once the links are free.

[oldguy00]

Originally Posted by bshell

Are folks sure about their distances and durations? My waxed chains are loosened up and shifting properly in @ 300 feet.

I can't imagine accepting poor shifting for ten miles or half an hour.

One thing I think I used to do wrong....maybe.....was that I was letting the wax get too hot, and when I would remove the chain, it would all run right off of it. At first I thought it was great because the chain felt loose right away, but it didn't seem to last as long before needing to be re-waxed.

I now follow Silca's advice and heat it to the recommended temp (forget at the moment), then hang it, and it requires more working in but once smooth after several km's, it lasts longer, and yes shifts perfect.

[Alistair]

I waxed the chains in all my bikes this past season and no issues with shifting (beyond a quick spin on the work stand to clear any clumps).

But new chain and cassette? That sometimes takes a spin around the block to “loosen up” regardless of wax or oil.

[Talrand]

Originally Posted by bshell

Are folks sure about their distances and durations? My waxed chains are loosened up and shifting properly in @ 300 feet.

I can't imagine accepting poor shifting for ten miles or half an hour.

Yeah, all those numbers are looking pretty wild. I'm on pure paraffin and it's at 100% shifting and sound after a couple hundred meters.

Is there any 'break in' happening after topping up with Silca Super Secret drip on? I'm thinking about getting a bottle to quickly add a bit after a wet ride that does not require a complete rewax.

[meyatt]

I use MSW and the chain is fine after about 10 minutes of riding or so (really after the first few pedal strokes it's enough to shift fine, the noise subsides in about 10 minutes).

One thing I may mention is while your chain is waxed, your chainrings, jockey wheels and cassette no longer have any kind of coating as you would with oil. I personally have never experienced a difference in shifting, but I could see there being some slight variance.

[jadmt]

Originally Posted by Talrand

Yeah, all those numbers are looking pretty wild. I'm on pure paraffin and it's at 100% shifting and sound after a couple hundred meters.

Is there any 'break in' happening after topping up with Silca Super Secret drip on? I'm thinking about getting a bottle to quickly add a bit after a wet ride that does not require a complete rewax.

I use it between full waxes and it is good to go right from the get go.

[Fat Cat]

Good grief, Man ! ! Everyone knows that waxed chains are the way God Intended ! Of course they shift better ! How could they not ? ?

[oldguy00]

Originally Posted by Fat Cat

Good grief, Man ! ! Everyone knows that waxed chains are the way God Intended ! Of course they shift better ! How could they not ? ?

Yer so funny!!!!! OMG how did you come up with that?!!

[Alistair]

Originally Posted by jadmt

I use it between full waxes and it is good to go right from the get go.

Same.

[marciero]

Originally Posted by oldguy00

One thing I think I used to do wrong....maybe.....was that I was letting the wax get too hot, and when I would remove the chain, it would all run right off of it. At first I thought it was great because the chain felt loose right away, but it didn't seem to last as long before needing to be re-waxed.

I now follow Silca's advice and heat it to the recommended temp (forget at the moment), then hang it, and it requires more working in but once smooth after several km's, it lasts longer, and yes shifts perfect.

I have not experienced any difference in shifting. So far I have had my chains cleaned and waxed by the LBS and they have been great. But from what I have read and seen in anticipation of doing this myself there does seem to be a sweet spot in the temperature. If it is too cool when you remove the chain you get too much wax adhesion and build up on the outside of the plates. It does no good there and I can see how that could affect shifting. On the other hand too hot and the wax will run out of where you do want it, resulting in shorter life

[verbs4us]

Originally Posted by Bob Ross

Your front derailleur has an adjustment screw?!?! In-line barrel adjuster near the shift lever?

Ha! I have retrogrouch gear. The more analog, the better.

[bshell]

Just for clarity, I've never tried the Silca drip wax.

I'm using melted paraffin only. Having 3 chains/3 Connex links per bike makes it so that I never need to top off for a ride. I just swap in a freshie from the rotation. I only get out the wax sauce pan when I have 4-6 depleted chains and I can do them all at the same time.

[Fat Cat]

Originally Posted by oldguy00

Yer so funny!!!!! OMG how did you come up with that?!!

I'm so ashamed. The fumes from the chain oil have been really debilitating.