How do you lube chain on ebike?

[Pedal power1972]

Hi I am curious on how others lube there chains on these ebikes.
I’ve been lubing a section as a time, lift the rear wheel up spin the cranks a little and do another section until I have lubed all the chain…
Tbh it’s a bloody ball ache so I am wondering what others do

 

[RebornRider]

I follow this sequence:

1. Clean chain with Park CM-25 (my Cyclone broke)
2. Rinse well
3. Blow dry with compressed air
4. Put bike on stand in garage
5. Unplug battery connector
6. Stick allen key in chainring bolt
7. Stick capillary tube from TriFlow bottle into Muc-Off Dry Lube bottle (fits!)
8. Run pedals backward very slowly, put 1 drop of lube on each chain roller (at the cassette)
9. I start with quick link to make it easy to tell when I've hit every link.
10. Let lube dry overnight

Edit to say that step 8 sounds a bit OCD, and maybe it is, but it only takes about 2 minutes. And it minimized the mess.

2nd edit to say you could skip step 6 by running pedals forward, but I have some hand disabilities. Backwards is easier for me.

 

[RipGroove]

In a stand, pedal as normal, squirt on lube, same as I would a normal MTB.

 

[Pedal power1972]

good replies
Inserting a Allan key in the chainring bolt allows me to use pedals and move the chainring backwards?
I feel I need some sort of compressor esp after a wash it’s always good to dry the bike down esp in winter.

 

[RustyIron]

I feel I need some sort of compressor esp after a wash it’s always good to dry the bike

Or not, because compressed air will force water and particulates into seals, bearings, and bushings.

 

[2WheelsNot4]

Or not, because compressed air will force water and particulates into seals, bearings, and bushings.

Will it though ?. Or is this a guess.
I would think it would take a lot of pressure to do that. We use air pressure in cleaning off engineering machinery, and i've never heard of it pushing water or oil/grease for that matter in or out of sealed bearing.

As to bushings, sooon as it rains or you ride through water that will put water into them, so i wouldnt think its a particular issue.

 

[RebornRider]

Or not, because compressed air will force water and particulates into seals, bearings, and bushings.

Don't you wash your chain before drying it? I do.

Do you assume that no water gets under the rollers when you wash your chain? I don't.

Do you try to inject compressed air into seals, bearings, and bushings by blasting them at point blank range? I don't.

 

[Tim1023]

Inserting a Allan key in the chainring bolt allows me to use pedals and move the chainring backwards?

Yup. But put some tape toward the bottom of the key so that you don't damage the crank arm.

 

[SteveTTT]

Allen key to the chainring works, but a reusable cable tie is just as good, and kinder to the finish on your cranks.

 

[Mike C]

Mark the master link (or whatever you call it) with a spot of bright colored paint which indicates a starting point for lube. Turn the bike upside down. Start lubing at the master link and turn the cranks whichever way they will go until the master link appears again. I lube through the cycle twice then run the chain a few more times around and wipe excess off the chain. Easy. No work stand required. No cable tie required.

 

[nepper]

Allen key to the chainring works, but a reusable cable tie is just as good, and kinder to the finish on your cranks.

View attachment 96870

This is sorcery and I love it! Thanks a billion times!

 

[Pedal power1972]

Ty for all your input, reusable cable tie works well I see I will try this method

 

[Clean]

Go old school BMX-stylee and turn the bike upside down so it sits on its saddle and the grips. You can then turn the cranks until your heart’s content, lubing as you go.

Works. A. Treat.

Those with bike preservation OCD can pop something under the saddle and grips to prevent gravel rash.

Simples.

 

[Gardcol]

Hi I am curious on how others lube there chains on these ebikes.
I’ve been lubing a section as a time, lift the rear wheel up spin the cranks a little and do another section until I have lubed all the chain…
Tbh it’s a bloody ball ache so I am wondering what others do

Flip it upside down.

 

[Clean]

Flip it upside down.

Think that’s what I just said!

 

[Gardcol]

Think that’s what I just said!

Hahaha, sorry I don’t always read the whole thread!! You’re spot on though, my saddle is pretty rough but it’s a mountain bike after all.

 

[Clean]

It’s a lot worse when it’s a forty year-old Élina Lightning Bolt OSBMX Saddle worth four hundred quid!

 

[Mike C]

Think that’s what I just said!

So did I. Does nobody read the posts?

 

[Downhillr]

Hi I am curious on how others lube there chains on these ebikes.
I’ve been lubing a section as a time, lift the rear wheel up spin the cranks a little and do another section until I have lubed all the chain…
Tbh it’s a bloody ball ache so I am wondering what others do

As other members said use Allen key in chainring bolt to turn car ants backward… or here’s tool I use since it doesn’t mark up cranks, has choice of key size as well:

eBike Drivetrain Tool

If you own an eBike then you’ll know that cleaning and lubing your chain is a tricky business, as the crank doesn’t spin backwards like a regular bike unless it’s flipped upside down. But this can scratch components, or if you use an Allen key in your crank bolt it can get stuck in the bolt, or...

us.muc-off.com

Little spendy but hey it’s cool tool/toy

 

[Downhillr]

As other members said use Allen key in chainring bolt to turn car ants backward… or here’s tool I use since it doesn’t mark up cranks, has choice of key size as well:

eBike Drivetrain Tool

If you own an eBike then you’ll know that cleaning and lubing your chain is a tricky business, as the crank doesn’t spin backwards like a regular bike unless it’s flipped upside down. But this can scratch components, or if you use an Allen key in your crank bolt it can get stuck in the bolt, or...

us.muc-off.com

Little spendy but hey it’s cool tool/toy

Sorry, “car ants” is apparently Apple-Spell for “cranks”!

 

[Onetime]

I have 2 chains that I wax, (with Molten Speed Wax) and rotate every 100 miles. No oil needed, and no messy oil and dirt on the drivetrain. Easy peasy.

 

[BeBiker]

.. and turn the bike upside down so it sits on its saddle and the grips.

Unfortunately my bike will then sit on the Control, Display, Garmin and Headlight.

 

[Kilham5]

On the mobility ebike, I just turn the chainring backwards with my fingers and lube a section at a time, don't really understand why regular lubing on eMTB's gets so complicated.

I rotate and hot wax my road, cross and gravel bike chains.
Make my own wax recipe with a dash of of PTFE and Molybdenum Disulphide rather than pay for Silka or Molten for the same thing.

I may adopt hot waxing to my MTB and mobility eMTB's when they are ready for fresh chains.
It's not complicated at all , once you get into the routine.

Use gold quick links on silver chains (and silver links on gold chains), so you can see them easily.

It has been suggested that I am a bike nerd

 

[mak]

Isn't it just easier to turn the crank backwards with your hand, a lot of overthinking goes off with this topic. A bike stand is the only way to look after a bike properly .

 

[LePaddy]

I hot waxed the chain after cleaning it... I used oz cycle for guidance (https://youtube.com/c/stevenleffanue) . I did it last weekend and only did 100km since but it is holding well.

 

[LeeS69]

Lidl still have some bike stands in store at £29 (my local one did a couple of days ago anyway) - they aren't fancy but it works for my orbea and other bikes - if worried about the strength of them you could just use it to raise the back wheel.

 

[nepper]

This topic was so good for me. Ultimately I copied the Muc-Off ebike drivetrain tool. I drilled a hole to a round wood block and glued hex bit to it. Thanks to the Rex Racing waxes (Domestique and Black Diamond) I have to relube rarely. Now those moments are much nicer thing to do. I'm too lazy to rise the Rise to service stand

 

[JetSedgwick]

Allen key to the chainring works, but a reusable cable tie is just as good, and kinder to the finish on your cranks.

View attachment 96870

a great idea that never occurred to me...derp

 

[Downhillr]

Isn't it just easier to turn the crank backwards with your hand, a lot of overthinking goes off with this topic. A bike stand is the only way to look after a bike properly .

Not with ebikes

 

[Dave_B]

Just put it in a bike stand and pedal forwards. simples.
I put my bike in a stand to clean it, rear wheel off the ground. Don’t really understand why people don’t thing of just pedalling forwards rather than backwards ?