Rusty Chain

[Paul_L]

Ok, i'm an idiot.

went out for a ride a few days before christmas and due to being in a mad rush, didn't clean chain after the ride. Then a combination of burst pipes at home and having flu all through christmas it slipped my mind. Yesterday i got the bike out to clean it and was taken aback by how rusty the chain had become. Also several links had seized.

I went through several cycles of wiping / brushing / oiling / repeat and all the links are now free and most of the rust has been cleaned off, but some is still there.

I could kick myself, but enough of the beating myself up, what's the best advice? To keep cleaning / wiping / oiling and gradually the rust will go, or is it a lost cause and the chain is already damaged?

 

[summerdays]

How new is the chain ... maybe it has "stretched" anyway and is at the point of needing replacing?

 

[Broadside]

The stiff links will never free up as smooth as they were before the corrosion set in so you may get occasional problems with the chain skipping. Also you are clearly annoyed with the corroded appearance, for the sake of £15 I would replace the chain. Depending on what chains you use of course buy the KMC 9sp I use is about £15.

 

[Paul_L]

How new is the chain ... maybe it has "stretched" anyway and is at the point of needing replacing?

It's done about 1200miles.

 

[Norry1]

I'm in the same boat - bought a brand new cheap Ridgeback mtb before xmas and did one wet, muddy ride along the canal. Bike hasn't been touched since and the chain is either very muddy or rusty. Gonna give it a clean soon and assess the damage.

Martin

 

[snorri]

Christmas stress, 'flu', burst pipes, and now your chain is giving you angst. You've gone through a bad phase and need a boost to take you into the New Year.
Get yourself a new bike, you know you want to, and after what you have come through, you deserve it.

 

[Paul_L]

Christmas stress, 'flu', burst pipes, and now your chain is giving you angst. You've gone through a bad phase and need a boost to take you into the New Year.
Get yourself a new bike, you know you want to, and after what you have come through, you deserve it.

dunno 'bout that but i've just ordered a new chain so that will have to suffice for now.

 

[lowrider73]

With all that snow, ice and slush recently, my chain has had a battering. What, I do, is use a chain bath, which gives the chain a good clean. Then use a chain lube. Then, the chain is like new. Hope, I guess it depends on how old and the condition of your chain.

 

[Banjo]

Try cleaning it by soaking in a tin of degreaesar give it a good shake and scrub. thoroughly rinse ,dry ,lube and refit it,Keep your new one until the spring.

 

[Paul_L]

Try cleaning it by soaking in a tin of degreaesar give it a good shake and scrub. thoroughly rinse dry lube and refit it,Keep your new one until the spring.

that's a good idea. thank you for that.

 

[Norm]

I'm with MrP and Banjo. I wouldn't fit a new one now anyway, but it's probably just surface rust and the links will free up with use.

As for a chain being like new after you've degreased it, that only really happens if you bathe it in lube. Lubing the surfaces doesn't get oil back inside the rollers, which is where you need it most.

 

[JDP]

I've just given my new bike a clean after commuting in the snow/slush and it looks better for it but at the time I only had a can of Halfords Bike Maintenance spray handy to put on the chain.

It says that lubricates the chain as well as cleaning it but does anyone know whether it is any good or am I better getting a tube of wet lube instead?

 

[PJ79LIZARD]

Rusty chain, take it off leave it soaking in old engine oil for a couple of days, hang up to drip dry, bang it back on. Jobs a good un!

 

[Davidc]

Mr P, Norm and P...Lizard all get my +1.

It happens, rust is a fact of life, but the work is done by the rollers. At that mileage I'd make sure the chain wasn't worn out (using a guage) but apart from that if the links have freed OK then I'd go on using it.

 

[mickle]

Davidc is right. Get a chain wear indicator on the chain - it's the only way to establish how far gone it is..