How To Get Rid Of Rust On Bike Chain

If your bike has been sitting outside for a while, or if you alive in a wet climate, chances are that at some betoken you'll terminate up with a rusty bike chain. Rust on your chain is no good–it creates additional friction, places wear on your other drivetrain components, and makes the chain more than susceptible to breakage.

The good news is that a rusty chain is a relatively easy fix. You can either clean the rust off the chain, or–if it'due south really bad–supercede the chain all together.

Should I Clean My Rusty Bike Chain Or Replace Information technology?

Whether yous should clean your chain or chuck in the trash, is dependent on how much rust we're talking about. Are there are a few rusty spots, or is the concatenation completely covered in rust?

If the latter, information technology's time for a new chain. Fortunately, a new chain is relatively inexpensive and fairly easy to supersede yourself. If you're not comfy doing your ain work, have the bike into your local bike shop for some assistance.

When choosing a new chain, you'll want to look for i that is made for your specific drivetrain. On your rear cassette, do yous have 7 rings, 10 rings, or more than? If you have 7 gears on the cassette, for example, you'll want to get a vii-speed concatenation.

Step 1: Clean Your Chain With a Degreaser

The first step is to just clean your concatenation is you unremarkably would. If yous have minimal rust, this might be all you need to remove information technology.

Read: How to Make clean and Lube Your Bike Concatenation (It'southward Easy!)

You'll want to use a degreaser. Nosotros recommend Muc-Off Drivetrain Cleaner* or Pedro's Squealer Juice Cleaner*.

If the concatenation isn't also rusty, yous can go out information technology on the bike for this step (This is obviously the easiest option). If the concatenation needs a lot of work, however, you lot'll desire to remove the chain and really let information technology soak in the degreaser.

To do this, flip your bike upside down to balance on the saddle and handlebars, or place it in a workstand if you lot have 1. Then, accept pictures of your chain so you lot know exactly how to re-gather everything. Pay particular attention to where the chain threads thru your rear derraileur.

Once your wheel is stable and you have your photos, you'll need to expect for a masterlink. This is a unmarried link on your concatenation that looks a bit different from the others and has a special pin/slot connection. (See pic below).

Using this masterlink, slide the pin out of the slot in which it's seated. The chain will and so be free to remove.

If you chose to go out your concatenation on the bicycle, identify degreaser on a moisture material and utilise it to wipe downwards your concatenation. You tin as well spray it straight on the chain, let it sit for a scrap, and then come up back to wipe it off.

If you removed the chain, put in a bucket with the degreaser for about 20 minutes. Afterward, you'll desire to rinse it thoroughly with warm water.

Step 2: Scrub Using Steel Wool And Lime Juice

If y'all still have rust on your chain, information technology'due south time for a picayune more work. Lime juice has citric acid which helps eat abroad rust.

Use lime juice to a steel wool pad and scrub private spots of rust, until they begin to disolve.

Step 3: Rinse And Dry Your Chain

Once your chain is rust-costless, you'll want to go off any remaining residue on the concatenation. Use warm water and a bit of dish soap to thoroughly rinse the chain.

Then, dry out it using an one-time textile or towel. Leaving your concatenation wet will simply invite more rust.

Step iv: Lube Your Concatenation

The last step is to lube your chain! (If you took your chain off the bicycle, put in back on earlier this step).

Any chain lube will do, merely if you're looking for something new we really like Rock Northward Curlicue* or Tri-Flow*. With the cycle still propped upside down or in a piece of work stand, employ the lube while rotating your pedals astern so the chain does a full rotation.

Once they whole chain is well-lubed, employ a material or shop towel to wipe off any excess lube.

How To Avoid Rust In The Future

Now that your chain is rust-gratuitous, you desire to try to keep information technology that way. Rust is caused by moisture, common salt, and mud, and then continue your chain gratis of these as much as possible.

The most obvious fashion to practice this is to wipe down your chain afterward each ride and re-lube it, especially if you rode in the rain or through mud.

We also recommend that you lot leave your bike outside as little as possible. Store it in a garage or bike shed at home.

When commuting to work, enquire to bring your bicycle into your function or cubicle rather than leaving it locked upwards outside. If you do need to leave it outside, make certain you're oftentimes cleaning and lubing your concatenation.

Some other option, particularly if you live in a rainy climate or near the body of water where rust thrives, is to choose a wheel with a belt drive rather than a chain. Priority bikes* and the Spot Elevation are ii great options for bikes with belt drives. With a chugalug drive, yous never have to worry about rust or maintaining a chain.

More How-To Manufactures

• How to Clean Your Cycle in Five Easy Steps!
• How To Remove Bike Pedals
• How To Pump Upward A Bike Tire
• A Guide To Bicycle Gears

Source: https://www.femmecyclist.com/rusty-bike-chain/

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