Yesterday I did my first chain de-grease using the MSW method of repeated applications of mineral spirits and alcohol. Oh man what a difference, the chain at the end was looser and smoother than any I’ve seen before. This got me to thinking about the factory grease that chains ship with.
If it’s well known that this grease is ‘slow’ and that we should strip it before applying lube, then why is the grease on there in the first place? Chain companies could probably sell the chains for more money if they were ready to lube and we didn’t have to fill our garages with fumes for a day to get the grease off. And they could probably save money on the manufacturing process by not applying the grease in the first place.
The only things I can think of are that
(1) Maybe the grease is essential for the manufacturing of the chain?
or
(2) Maybe without the factory grease the chains will rust more easily when sitting on the shelf? No one wants to buy a rusty chain
or
(3) Maybe that factory grease is really good for some cycling application unknown to me?
Does anyone know? I’m curious.