Should i derust my bike chain with citric acid before i apply lubricant? Or just hit it with lubricant?
Also, i only have MoS2 at home, can i use that instead of WD-40 too?
by chemistryGull
Should i derust my bike chain with citric acid before i apply lubricant? Or just hit it with lubricant?
Also, i only have MoS2 at home, can i use that instead of WD-40 too?
by chemistryGull
16 Comments
chains are so cheap I doubt it deserves the time wasted in derustig. just buy a new one. i’m more worried about the cassette.
IMO with chains it is two types of rust:
– Surface one when you can just lubricate it and ride.
– Structural one when it is too late to clean/derust or whatever because the damage is done and nothing will revert it.
Not sure at which stage you are, looks kinda in the middle. Try just cleaning it with WD-40 or something of the sort. Then degrease it and apply proper lubrication (WD-40 is not it). Or just get a new chain.
Upd: Also chain looks very used. Might be time to replace it either way.
No. Just use a proper BIKE CHAIN LUBRICANT.
NOT WD40 or MoS2!!!
I would, bit it’s a bit of a mission
Please route that chain properly
Probably best to replace the chain as it looks a little beyond surface rust to me and start lubricating properly from here on out…The cassette looks like it might be suffering more then just surface rust so I would probably replace that as well if you can.. but the main take away is:
surface rust = lube it properly and go.
anything beyond surface rust = replace it, lube properly and go.
save yourself money in the future by ensuring parts are lubricated and cleaned properly, it will make them last much longer. replace your chain regularly so you won’t have to replace the more expensive parts of your drivetrain too often.
Do not use wd40, use bike (wet or dry) oil or even better imo; wax. (wax will make cleaning easier and generally makes parts last longer before needing replacement)
If you don’t have one yet also get a [chain checker tool](https://www.parktool.com/en-int/product/chain-checker-cc-4) and replace chain in time (i do it around 0.6 but certainly before 0.75 however some do it at 0.5 already, it also depends on preference, the chain and speeds etc)
your chain looks pretty used so it could be stretched out and might need replacing anyway regardless of rust.
Never derust a chain.
Just lube it.
If you want to make a good job of it, wash it in mineral spirits / petrol / gasoline, then lube it.
But really, just lubing it will be fine.
For the amount of time you use it, don’t bother, just oil it, gear oil is best (thicker) or any engine oil lying about.
Freaking change your chain man.
Oh ffs, people pay ungodly money for all those colourful, gold, bronze and rainbow chains and here you are, rocking a cool “vintage” coloured chain and you’re unhappy 😀
Seriously tho, if the chain is not worn/stretched and it’s only lightly rusted over, give it a good cleaning, probably no need to use rust remover. If anything, vinegar bath would probably do the job, just make sure to rinse and oil it straight away after that.
Any lube is better than no lube. WD40 is not the best, but a lot better than nothing. It has light oil in it.
Destroy it with 🔥
I dunno but it looks, strangely enough, maybe ok after a proper lube with a real chain oil. Judging by the pulley wheel assembly this is a fairly inexpensive bike. If you just ride here and there or short commutes what do you need? Performance or reliable enough? I guess the later. If you lube the chain and it stops creaking in those gears it occasionally the creaks in now, will you have the functionality you need?
Of course, new is better and safer than old
I take you’re on a really tight budget
1)Wipe chain. 2)Buy some wet bike lube, lube chain-a drop per roller. 3)Ride bike
Repeat step 1 to 3 every 100km or if chain squeaks.
4) buy new bike in the future
I’d just wait for it to snap.