Ohlins stripped threads
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Good idea, I use it on all manner of non-bike things, having given up chain-drive bikes long ago.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
True, but being thick it will fill the gaps between the threads. Any dust is likely to be kept outside of the threads. Any fluid is likely to attract dust. WD40 should serve fine as a penetrating fluid, to lubricate an unprotected thread. When I next adjust my shocks I'll clean them and try my chain lube!
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,878
Likes: 1,075
From: Utah
Thinking out loud here as new shocks are on the brown truck. What about garage door lube? That stuff seems dry and no drip. Lubes chain, hinges and tracks very well with no mess and does not attract dirt. Easy spray on action. Ideal has a product at home centers
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 179
Likes: 10
From: Switzerland
I indeed put such chain lube on my threads before my latest (1100 miles) trip, and back home when I needed to adjust them temporarily for 1-up I cleaned the threads prior to moving the pre-load screw. For that we used WD40. The threads were dirty as we went through fairly dusty areas but also through a lot of rain (which might have actually cleaned off some of that dirt by the time we got back). Long story short: cleaning was a breeze and I cannot say that the chain lube hurt. But I also do not know if it in any way helped to prevent dirt from getting stuck...
One thing less preferable about chain lube: at least mine is a spray. For shock threads it's probably better to use something solid so you can use a brush to apply it. Because, how do you truly get all threads on the inside facing the bike when using a spray. You'll be spraying all over the place or miss quite a bit - and no, I will not take the shocks off every time I need to apply some sort of grease!
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
I've got so much redundant chain lube I'm always looking for other uses! All our external locks and padlocks are a recent application, as it keeps the moving parts protected and working.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 8,001
Likes: 6,905
From: NC
So, Let me get this straight. People complain about the stock air shocks as too difficult to adjust. But you'll carry WD40 (or similiar) and a rag to lubricate the threads on these expensive shocks? Or, y'all never adjust for varying loads outside of the garage?
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Don't make more of this than it really is! I've ridden longer and more miles on air shocks than my Ohlins. I never adjusted my air shocks that often, nor do I adjust my Ohlins often and I don't use WD40 on them. Short trips solo or 2-up with both air shocks and Ohlins were fine, I only readjust them for longer trips when 2-up and fully loaded.
Last edited by grbrown; Sep 21, 2016 at 06:52 AM.