rusty chain

Clancy1066 · 12-27-2007, 1:27 AM

Hi peeps,
I bought a new honda 125 a couple of months back. I gave the chain a basic waxing with something the bike shop sold me. The inside of the chain is rusting, is that normal after only a few months and would good old fashioned grease be the best thing to put on the chain?
Thanks.

Renegade929 · 12-27-2007, 2:46 AM

soak it in diesel, scrub it good - then dry and wax it

MoMan · 12-27-2007, 6:55 AM

I agree. Soak in kerosene, diesel, or WD40 and scrub it real well with a nylon detailers brush or a grunge brush. If a chain is clean, and kept lubed, it shouldn't rust.

Twincam · 12-27-2007, 2:29 PM

UK suffers from really bad weather, the air has so much moisture in it that many types of metals get affected by it.

If your still in doubt, go down to your local bike shop and ask them if they have some for sale - talking is free..

macker · 01-01-2008, 1:29 PM

an old tip is to boil up some waste oil not bubbling and put the chain in it for a couple of minutes works a treat but if its an o or x ring chain this makes it worse when the chain is cleaned and lubed up then apply chain wax sweet as.also its best to lube your chain after a decent ride

rokitt51 · 01-01-2008, 1:32 PM

WD40 that thing and ride the nutz off it. You will notice a decrease or a total loss of the rust.

dattaway · 01-01-2008, 5:30 PM

If the rollers are rusted, they will ride it out and eventually wear evenly at the expense of sprocket life.

If the links are rusted, watch out for cracks. Rust often likes to channel pin holes through the metal and seed cracks. If your chain breaks, it would make an awesome whip.

THE JESTER · 01-01-2008, 6:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rokitt51

WD40 that thing and ride the nutz off it. You will notice a decrease or a total loss of the rust.

Using just WD40 will remove any lube that you have left on your chain as it's a de-greaser .So yeah WD40 it and you may see a total loss of rust as your chain over heats and goes as tight as a bow string and snaps ,no chain no rust problem solved !!

dattaway · 01-01-2008, 6:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE JESTER

Using just WD40 will remove any lube that you have left on your chain as it's a de-greaser .So yeah WD40 it and you may see a total loss of rust as your chain over heats and goes as tight as a bow string and snaps ,no chain no rust problem solved !!

WD40 isn't exactly a residue free degreaser. I wouldn't use it to wash windows or anything. It leaves behind... an oil film!

THE JESTER · 01-01-2008, 7:00 PM

Yeah but would you use it as a chain lube ? that residue will not stand up to the heat generated in the chain and will dry out very quickly leaving a bone dry chain.

Doomwitha929 · 01-01-2008, 7:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE JESTER

Using just WD40 will remove any lube that you have left on your chain as it's a de-greaser .So yeah WD40 it and you may see a total loss of rust as your chain over heats and goes as tight as a bow string and snaps ,no chain no rust problem solved !!

If you have an O,X or any of the new ringed chains that come lubed all you have to do after wasking your bike is to wipe it down with a rag sprayed with WD40 or CRC power lube to remove moisture and prevent rusting. Ringed chains are designed to retain the lubrication. The same effect that prevents the lube from escaping out of the O rings prevents it from soaking back behind them if you try and lube it. I don't know why people think the o rings only work in one direction. One of the bike mags a few years back did an article on this. According to Tsubaki you just wipe it down as stated above after washing. I did this for years on my ZX6R, GSXR 750SRAD with a 520 conversion and my 929 also with a 520. Never had a prob with the chain tighening, breaking, rusting, over heating etc.

THE JESTER · 01-01-2008, 7:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doomwitha929

If you have an O,X or any of the new ringed chains that come lubed all you have to do after wasking your bike is to wipe it down with a rag sprayed with WD40 or CRC power lube to remove moisture and prevent rusting. Ringed chains are designed to retain the lubrication. The same effect that prevents the lube from escaping out of the O rings prevents it from soaking back behind them if you try and lube it. I don't know why people think the o rings only work in one direction. One of the bike mags a few years back did an article on this. According to Tsubaki you just wipe it down as stated above after washing. I did this for years on my ZX6R, GSXR 750SRAD with a 520 conversion and my 929 also with a 520. Never had a prob with the chain tighening, breaking, rusting, over heating etc.

I agree with what your saying , my point was that WD40 by it's self is not a chain lube for motorcycles and the post I refered to gave that impression to the newbie who started this thread.

Doomwitha929 · 01-01-2008, 7:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE JESTER

I agree with what your saying , my point was that WD40 by it's self is not a chain lube for motorcycles and the post I refered to gave that impression to the newbie who started this thread.

yeah if you spray down a chain with wd40 its gonna last about an hour. Washes all the lube right out of it. I use WD40 to clean my wheels and any place that gets chain lube on it. It wipes lube right off wheels and platic without damaging it. Just dont get it in your tires and go for a ride.

dattaway · 01-01-2008, 11:24 PM

I use WD40 between gas fillups. The dark oil film on the rollers lasts at least 150 miles. Several drops of motor oil seems to last twice that. With all weather riding and salty winter roads I usually get around 23,000 miles on 525 chains and the bike with the 530 chain isn't giving up yet. I'm starting to believe the orings just give it up due to old age and oxidation.

rokitt51 · 01-01-2008, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE JESTER

Yeah but would you use it as a chain lube ? that residue will not stand up to the heat generated in the chain and will dry out very quickly leaving a bone dry chain.

I have been using W Dizzle fizzle for more than 2 yrs now, i have had not one problem with any of the chains on my bikes. My RC had over 15000 miles on one chain with WD40, notta problem. Your chain retains its lube because of its O or X rings.

bjay51d · 01-02-2008, 1:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rokitt51

I have been using W Dizzle fizzle for more than 2 yrs now, i have had not one problem with any of the chains on my bikes. My RC had over 15000 miles on one chain with WD40, notta problem. Your chain retains its lube because of its O or X rings.

i always heard wd was bad for oring chains

rokitt51 · 01-02-2008, 2:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjay51d

i always heard wd was bad for oring chains

I dont remember where

, but i have read online that it was good for the chains, that is the reason i gave it a shot. Hell everyone is going to have their own opinions anyway. But in my eyes, the WD40 hasn't done anything to wear my chain any faster. I used to use the factory chain lubes and waxes but it soooo dam messy.

919hooligan · 01-02-2008, 3:26 PM

Honda recommends 80 or 90 wt. gear (can't remember which) but I just use the little bit of motor oil left over after I change the oil in the bike. For light, regular cleaning (every 500 miles) I wash the chain with hot, soapy water and let dry for a few. Then I wipe it with a rag with a little WD sprayed on and then put on the motor oil. Works great if you don't mind the oil that slings off. I just ride a mile or so and then wipe off any excess that has slung off the chain. It's usually not much. If I've neglected it to the point it has started to rust or won't come clean I use kerosene to clean it. WD-40 won't hurt an o-ring chain at all if you don't spray directly on the chain. Once a chain is worn and the rings don't seal it will remove the grease from behind the rings.

Twincam · 01-02-2008, 4:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 919hooligan

Honda recommends 80 or 90 wt. gear (can't remember which) but I just use the little bit of motor oil left over after I change the oil in the bike. For light, regular cleaning (every 500 miles) I wash the chain with hot, soapy water and let dry for a few. Then I wipe it with a rag with a little WD sprayed on and then put on the motor oil. Works great if you don't mind the oil that slings off. I just ride a mile or so and then wipe off any excess that has slung off the chain. It's usually not much. If I've neglected it to the point it has started to rust or won't come clean I use kerosene to clean it. WD-40 won't hurt an o-ring chain at all if you don't spray directly on the chain. Once a chain is worn and the rings don't seal it will remove the grease from behind the rings.

Should you clean a chain regular or can you keep applying more?

What do you suggest, prop it up on the paddock stand and clean it?