Unknown Red Fluid Stain from Head Tube

[Rock Harder]

Hello all,

I just discovered these forums a few minutes ago and am a first-time poster. I have a 2022 Parlee RZ7 with Crane Creek bearings in the headset and bottom of the headtube. I discovered the stains on my bike and they appear to be from a fluid, rather than a grease. I thought it might be hydraulic brake fluid, but I have SRAM disc brakes which use brown DOT-3 fluid, not Shimano red mineral oil. The brake levers are fine so I don’t suspect it to be brake fluid.

It appears while I was riding some type of fluid leaked from inside the front of the headtube. Some fluid dripped upwards (from air flow against bike while riding), while most traveled around the circle of the fork and down. Some dripped down both forks, while a lot dripped along the downtube. This fluid stained the bike. I loosened the fork and stem, and didn't see any type of red fluid anywhere. I haven't removed the bearing ring at the bottom of the fork however. Maybe that would reveal more?

Any idea what the fluid might be and if something might be mechanically wrong with a part? Also, any ideas how I can remove the stains? I tried using regular soap/water, wax and grease remover, and 70% isopropyl alcohol, but none worked. I messaged Parlee and they are stumped. Thanks for your input!

 

[Gillstay]

I wonder if its had red rubber grease put in around the sealed bearings to stop reactions between metals etc.

 

[wafter]

How bizarre

If it's actually stained the paint it seems like a pretty strong solvent. I can't think of anything you should find on a bike that would do that; other than non-mineral brake fluid perhaps. Have you given the brakes a thorough once-over? Are they routed anywhere near the staining? The fluid might be brown but it could stain a different shade..

You might try T-cut / a mild cutting compound to try and reduce the staining; since it's evidently penetrated the finish.

 

[Rock Harder]

How bizarre

If it's actually stained the paint it seems like a pretty strong solvent. I can't think of anything you should find on a bike that would do that; other than non-mineral brake fluid perhaps. Have you given the brakes a thorough once-over? Are they routed anywhere near the staining? The fluid might be brown but it could stain a different shade..

You might try T-cut / a mild cutting compound to try and reduce the staining; since it's evidently penetrated the finish.

Thanks Wafter for the input. I did flush the brakes before, though I cant recall if the brakes felt soft afterwards. Perhaps you may be on to something. Maybe it was some DOT-3 brake fluid that leaked and stained a different color after drying. The front brake line is internally routed down the head tube on the way to the fork.

I'll cautiously try T-cut. The stain has definitely penetrated the paint.

 

[Rock Harder]

I wonder if its had red rubber grease put in around the sealed bearings to stop reactions between metals etc.

Gillstay I'm not so sure it was a a red grease. I didn't see any type of grease inside the headtube. The staining material likely was very liquidy to have flowed down like this.

 

[brommieinkorea]

Rust Rouging ? Red soda pop, or some sort of mixed energy drink, Kool aid?

 

[brommieinkorea]

Never seen rust look like that, Kool Aid then?

 

[Rock Harder]

Are my three photos viewable to anyone? They say zero views on all of them.

 

[wafter]

Thanks Wafter for the input. I did flush the brakes before, though I cant recall if the brakes felt soft afterwards. Perhaps you may be on to something. Maybe it was some DOT-3 brake fluid that leaked and stained a different color after drying. The front brake line is internally routed down the head tube on the way to the fork.

I'll cautiously try T-cut. The stain has definitely penetrated the paint.

Cool; no worries

In my limited knowledge the brake fluid seems like the only thing you might find around a bike that could potentially cause such damage; the cable routing through the head tube also potentially supports this idea given the location of the staining. Possible perhaps that some fluid escaped during the flush and ran down the outside of the brake line into the head tube..?

Good luck with the T-cut; hopefully the stain's not penetrated too deep into the finish!

Oh, I can see the photos and definitely clicked on a few to get a better idea; so not sure what's going on with the "zero views" thing..

 

[Paulus]

Are my three photos viewable to anyone? They say zero views on all of them.

The pics are there for all to see.

 

[Mr Celine]

Rust Rouging ? Red soda pop, or some sort of mixed energy drink, Kool aid?

Irn Bru? Completely unremovable from carpets.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Did the stains appear after any servicing or other action? Is there anything you can connect it in terms of time?

 

[silva]

It has to be that brake fluid (DOT-3), see https://carfluidguide.com/is-brake-fluid-bad-for-paint/

 

[geocycle]

Where’s the rest of the mechanic?

Seriously, that does look a mess and I think Wafter might have it with brake fluid.

 

[Rock Harder]

After dropping the fork and looking in the stem, I couldn't find the exact cause. My guess is like Wafter, Silva and Geocycle think, that it was DOT 3 brake fluid. I did a brake bleed sometime before, so that is the best guess.

I was able to remove the stains. Alchohol and wax/grease remover didn't work. Resorted to an electric buffer and several polishing compounds made for stain removal. Took several hours as the stains were very resistant to removal.