How to take rust off 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 susceptible to breakage. The good news is that a rusty chain is a relatively easy fix.

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!

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. Junior Tech Writer. If you have ever left a bike unattended for a prolonged period of time, especially if it is stored outside, you have more than likely found that certain components have become rusty. Fortunately, all is not lost as in most cases, a rusty chain or cassette can be restored to its former shiny self with a bit of elbow grease and the helping hand of some chemical cleaners. To try and offer a solution to the problem many of us have faced, Alex Paton aimed to find out exactly which method works best by putting specific rust cleaners up against a degreaser, baking soda and even Coca-Cola. For this test Alex is using a rusty chain, however the same principles apply to chainrings, cassettes, derailleurs or any other rusty component. The first step is always to remove the component from the bike so you can work on it in isolation. How do four very different products perform when it comes to cleaning a rusty chain? To ensure all the options are tested equally Alex is going to break the same rusty chain into four equal parts and place them in each of the chemical cleaners for one hour. At the end of the hour, each chain is agitated with a wire brush to help lift off the surface rust. Each chain is then put in a ziplock bag along with the cleaning agent and left.

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. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.

By Kevin Glenton. Updated Nov 27, This post may contain affiliate links, which help to keep Discerning Cyclist rolling. Learn more. Prevent bike chain rusting by keeping it dry and coated. After each ride, check cleanliness and apply rust-busting lubricant if necessary.

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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Do you want to shop on our UK site? Ridden on beach and sand was not washed off. Cube-Tec Graphical Kits. This did take some work with a brush too, however it did clean up the best out of all of the treated chains and with the least amount of additional effort. How do I get rust off of chain and sprocket? Back Tubeless Close. The chain should pass smoothly through the drivetrain. When properly refastened, the master link should align evenly with other links. JavaScript is disabled. Explore Our Forums. AVS Forum. Just chuck it. Get the latest, most entertaining and best informed news, reviews, challenges, insights, analysis, competitions and offers - straight to your inbox.

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.

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. GCN Tech Show. Chains with light rust and dirtiness can often be cleaned with the chain attached. This is a special link on the chain that makes it easier to remove. Break up tough rust with WD and a wire brush. Jonas was also previously sat on the Board of Directors for Bike East Bay, a bicycle-advocacy non-profit organization based in Oakland, California. Rust will dissolve and the metal will have a black coating. Watch Articles. Related Articles. As you might expect, the degreaser did not magically clean off the rust from the chain. Learn why people trust wikiHow.