Please take a look at the outer plates of the chain in the attached picture, they got rusted after the first rain. Is this normal? How do I get rid of that rust?
My bike (M1100 EVO) is quite new and the chain is always clean and lubed between the roller and bushings. I never spray the lubricant over the outside part of the chain because the dealer told me that this is not necessary.
Please advise,
David
(https://www.sugarsync.com/pf/D6160770_9694230_673877)
Kinda normal. It happens, but if you'd rather have a rust free chain run, get a BRASS brush and it won't attack the metal, just remove the rust. I'm not certain if they make a chain brush (like you see with three in a channel-orientation) in brass.
Dealer screwed you on that one.
Quote from: godudi on October 09, 2011, 06:19:39 AMI never spray the lubricant over the outside part of the chain because the dealer told me that this is not necessary.
It's not.
But it will prevent (or at least delay) this kind of thing.
my 796 chain rusted up like that when it first got wet too... but then for some odd reason it stopped rusting up so much later on. in between i cleaned it a couple of times with a degreaser and lubed it pretty regularly too. now i've ridden in the rain and have put it away wet without any rust forming after.
also, how close are you to salt sources? sea or snow salt etc? that could be making it rust up a bit faster.
You want a light protective coat of chain lube on the side plates. Steel will rust on contact with water if not coated with something, The rust might come off with the lube if not too deep. If you decide to use a brass brush be careful of the O rings.
i keep a nice protective coating of black muck on the outside of my chain! ;D some things can be too clean. if i were you just use chain lube on the whole of the chain like others have said. cost to effectiveness ratio should be favourable enough.
Quote from: Roaduser on October 09, 2011, 10:36:05 PM
i keep a nice protective coating of black muck on the outside of my chain! ;D some things can be too clean. if i were you just use chain lube on the whole of the chain like others have said. cost to effectiveness ratio should be favourable enough.
This is not about cost reduction at all. I just followed the dealer and the chain manufacturer instructions. Both said to apply lub to the inner part of the chain (roller and bushing)..and now my chain is rusted, just because I was working by the book..
the following link is the maintenance instructions from Regina website:
http://www.reginachain.it/eng/use_and_maintenance/how_to03.shtml (http://www.reginachain.it/eng/use_and_maintenance/how_to03.shtml)
Dude, seriously, I don't understand how the hell you managed to lube <just> the rollers and not get at least SOME chain lube on the side plates. Or did you actively clean it off the side plates afterward?
Quote from: godudi on October 10, 2011, 06:20:10 AM
and now my chain is rusted, just because I was working by the book..
And it will continue to grow MORE rust until you somehow remove the rust that's on there and do something to prevent it from coming back.
I hose the whole chain down with Maxima wax and then wipe the whole thing down with a rag.
Leaves a film everywhere and the lube stays down in the orings & rollers
No rust on my chains.
Quote from: Buckethead on October 10, 2011, 06:30:29 AM
And it will continue to grow MORE rust until you somehow remove the rust that's on there and do something to prevent it from coming back.
I already removed it with WD-40, a rag, and a brass brush (on the outer plates only) and then I sprayed some oil, but now the plates have some grey dots where the rust grew..
I guess I will now have to wait and see if the rust stop from regrowing...
Quote from: godudi on October 10, 2011, 06:20:10 AM
This is not about cost reduction at all. I just followed the dealer and the chain manufacturer instructions. Both said to apply lub to the inner part of the chain (roller and bushing)..and now my chain is rusted, just because I was working by the book..
the following link is the maintenance instructions from Regina website:
http://www.reginachain.it/eng/use_and_maintenance/how_to03.shtml (http://www.reginachain.it/eng/use_and_maintenance/how_to03.shtml)
FYI: DID Chains instructs to lubricate the entire chain.
Regina Chains screwed you on that one too.
There are few problems that can't be cured with more lube. This is not an exception to that rule.
easy way to avoid this is to buy a colored chain. the colored ones have an nodized coating and dont rust. (at the side plates atleast)
godudi - roll down to a Lowes or similar and find some of the Dupont Multi Use Teflon spray, there's also a version of it for chains that they came out with last year
http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcycle-chain-lube/dupont-teflon-chain-saver/ (http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcycle-chain-lube/dupont-teflon-chain-saver/)
Make sure you chain is clean then give the whole thing a spray with it. Hit the side plates as part of it - you don't need to be laser precise. Having a coating of just about any sort of oil or lube on the side plates will protect them from oxidation. I recommend that Dupont stuff as it dries to a wax like consistency and won't fling off, leaving your chain well protected for quite a while.
As with any chain, regular doses of the stuff are needed to maximize the chain life. Every 300 or so miles is a recommendation I heard and follow. Using that as a rough guide and the Dupont stuff I had a chain that was in service a long while and looked way better than folks much newer chains who used oils or more goopy lubes.
Quote from: Sad Panda on October 10, 2011, 10:27:48 AM
I recommend that Dupont stuff as it dries to a wax like consistency and won't fling off, leaving your chain well protected for quite a while.
+1
It also smells like pina colada, which is a plus.
Quote from: godudi on October 10, 2011, 07:32:48 AM
I already removed it with WD-40, a rag, and a brass brush (on the outer plates only) and then I sprayed some oil, but now the plates have some grey dots where the rust grew..
I guess I will now have to wait and see if the rust stop from regrowing...
The good news is that this rust or slight pitting left on the plates after you removed the rust isn't hurting anything at all, other than maybe the appearance of the chain. And, you're probably the only one who will notice, although as owner, your opinion counts.
I sometimes hear people saying that rust is like a cancer and once rusted, steel will continue to rust. The chemical reaction for rust includes oxygen and water and in the absence of oxygen and moisture, and like San Panda says, as long as you've protected it from with lubricant, and the chain will not continue to rust.
If it still bothers you I suggest just keeping it lubed, riding it a lot and wearing out the chain so you can buy a new one.
Bob
Quote from: Langanobob on October 10, 2011, 10:36:03 AM
If it still bothers you I suggest just keeping it lubed, riding it a lot and wearing out the chain so you can buy a new one.
Bob, your picture is going in my dictionary next to genius...lol :)
Quote from: Sad Panda on October 10, 2011, 10:27:48 AM
godudi - roll down to a Lowes or similar and find some of the Dupont Multi Use Teflon spray, there's also a version of it for chains that they came out with last year
http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcycle-chain-lube/dupont-teflon-chain-saver/ (http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcycle-chain-lube/dupont-teflon-chain-saver/)
I don't think we have it here, but I will check it out again or maybe find it on ebay..
To keep rust at bay on the ultra-crappy stock chains you've gotta wipe the whole chain with lube. Spraying just the pivot points does help keep it nice and clean and is generally the way to go imo, so you've mostly been doing it right. It just doesn't keep crappy chains from getting cosmetic rust. You can spritz the whole chain, then wipe it down with a rag so it doesn't have a ton of excess or even just wipe the sides with WD40 as it won't gunk up as much as chain lube.
Sooner or later the thing to do is to put on a quality chain. The stock chains are just junk (goes for all brands I've had experience with). A DID ZVMX or ERV3 chain will stay looking pretty, be stronger and last a whole lot better than the oem one. You can generally get them in nickle or gold.
Also, FWIW, heman is a little mistaken, colored chains aren't really annodized - you can't really annodize steel so well. Colored chains will be painted or plated with something. Generally nickle or some gold colored plating. The other colors will usually be paint.
the dupont stuff works well if you don't do big miles or ride in a lot of bad weather. I found for lots of riding in lots of bad weather it just didn't stay on the chain long enough. Proper bike chainlube stays on better. if you mostly do shorter and/or good weather rides the dupont stuff is fine.
Quote from: bikepilot on October 16, 2011, 03:39:16 PM
To keep rust at bay on the ultra-crappy stock chains you've gotta wipe the whole chain with lube. Spraying just the pivot points does help keep it nice and clean and is generally the way to go imo, so you've mostly been doing it right. It just doesn't keep crappy chains from getting cosmetic rust. You can spritz the whole chain, then wipe it down with a rag so it doesn't have a ton of excess or even just wipe the sides with WD40 as it won't gunk up as much as chain lube.
Sooner or later the thing to do is to put on a quality chain. The stock chains are just junk (goes for all brands I've had experience with). A DID ZVMX or ERV3 chain will stay looking pretty, be stronger and last a whole lot better than the oem one. You can generally get them in nickle or gold.
Also, FWIW, heman is a little mistaken, colored chains aren't really annodized - you can't really annodize steel so well. Colored chains will be painted or plated with something. Generally nickle or some gold colored plating. The other colors will usually be paint.
the dupont stuff works well if you don't do big miles or ride in a lot of bad weather. I found for lots of riding in lots of bad weather it just didn't stay on the chain long enough. Proper bike chainlube stays on better. if you mostly do shorter and/or good weather rides the dupont stuff is fine.
I will never replace the ultra-crappy stock chain ever again with another new ultra-crappy stock chain!!