How to take rust off bike chain

Alex Paton takes a look at four very different bicycle cleaning products to see which one will work best at removing rust.

Last Updated: January 25, Fact Checked. This article was co-authored by Jonas Jackel. Jonas has over 20 years of experience managing bicycle retail stores and has operated Huckleberry Bicycles since Huckleberry Bicycles specializes in servicing, repairing, and custom building road, cross, gravel, touring, folding, and e-bikes. Jonas was also previously sat on the Board of Directors for Bike East Bay, a bicycle-advocacy non-profit organization based in Oakland, California. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

How to take rust off bike chain

This Instructable is inspired by a tip from Uruwaza: Secret Everyday Tips and Tricks from Japan seen here , a book that we keep around the office. Flipping through it one day, I noticed that they had an interesting method for removing rust from a bike, and I thought I'd give it a try. Working with Jessy , we took a tip from the book in another direction and successfully removed the rust from bikes quickly and easily. We used it on the chain as well as the other metal parts, and it worked well; however, after discussing with some bike experts and receiving comments about it, it has been determined that using it on the chain is a little risky. If you properly clean off the acid by rinsing and drying thoroughly , it should be fine, but remnant acid could weaken the chain. So be careful! For this Instructable, you'll need: Citric acid : We used some lime juice we had leftover in the fridge, but any citrus-y juice will work--lemon, lime, etc. According to Urawaza , the citric acid reacts with the iron oxide rust so it can be removed. Abrasive : We used steel wool, but anything gritty to help remove the rust will do. Paper towels or an old rag. To clean. A bike.

Surface rust, buildup, and crustiness can all be removed so your chain runs like new. You should only use a specially formulated bike lubricant for this purpose. Toss it.

Rust on your chain is no good—it creates additional friction, places wear on your other drivetrain components, and makes the chain more susceptible to breakage. The good news is that a rusty chain is a relatively easy fix. Are there are a few rusty spots, or is the chain completely covered in rust? Fortunately, a new chain is relatively inexpensive and fairly easy to replace yourself. On your rear cassette , do you have 7 rings, 10 rings, or more? The first step is to simply clean your chain is you normally would.

Rust not only affects the appearance of your bike chain, but it also affects how it performs. We will teach you how to use the right tools and techniques, so you can get your chain looking and performing like new again. Act now and start riding without fearing the rust! Wondering which bike wheel size is for what height? Click here to know the answer. One of the most important things to do when cleaning your bike chain is to make sure the chain is in good condition. Make sure not to lose any of the screws that secure the link together! If you detect a master link on the chain, just unlink it for quick removal. Use simple degreasers and a brush for these steps.

How to take rust off bike chain

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may earn a commission. Also, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Removing a bike chain to clean it can be really tricky and time-consuming. Step 1 — Clean the chain thoroughly using a brush, and then a degreaser and rag. Step 2 — Apply a rust remover. Wait for a set period of time and then wash off.

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I found it works good on lots of things besides clothes. Sign up. Replace the chain in the drivetrain. When breaking up large amounts of rust, you may need to wipe the surface periodically so you can see how much rust is left on the surface. Have the new super aero time trial helmets gone too far? Back We're Muc-Off Close. If your bike chain is severely rusted, replacing it entirely may be best for the health of your bike. More About joshf ». The EvapoRust is reusable, so save it. Lime juice contains a good amount of sugar. STEP 5: At this point should now be left with a sparkling clean chain. A bike. Do you want to shop on our UK site?

By Kevin Glenton. Updated Nov 27, This post may contain affiliate links, which help to keep Discerning Cyclist rolling.

Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games. In the runner-up spot is Coca-Cola. Share Share Share Share Share. According to Urawaza , the citric acid reacts with the iron oxide rust so it can be removed. Then there is some rust the next day. With a belt drive, you never have to worry about rust or maintaining a chain. As you might have expected, the winner from this test goes to the rust remover. Many small errors can be corrected with your fingers while the chain is still on the bike. With the wire brush, a lot of the surface rust did start to work free, however Alex does point out that it seemed more likely that it was the action of the wire brush that facilitated this rather than anything he could attribute to the Coca-Cola. Of course you are! Alex Hunt Junior Tech Writer. Alex writes for the GCN editorial tech with a passion for all things bike tech. Jonas Jackel Owner, Huckleberry Bicycles. When you factor that in, using a dedicated rust remover might not seem like the natural choice after all. Rub the steel wool on the bicycle.