Those who love riding bikes may like the cycling but not so much the maintenance. Or you forget that bike chains need regular maintenance to continue working correctly and extend the life span.
The day may have come when you look at your bike before a ride and see a rusty chain. Does it mean you can’t ride your bike?
Generally, you can ride your bike with a moderate amount of rust (less than 50%) on your chain without damage. However, rust weakens the bike chain by reducing its mass, so after a lot of rusting, the chain may no longer be able to support the weight it once held.
The truth is it may be okay for a while, but a rusty chain can be unpredictable and unsafe as it could snap mid-ride. But, you can remove the rust by cleaning and degreasing your bike chain as long as there aren’t holes inside your chain’s metal.
Suppose your bike chain has been rusting away for more than 6 months and is more than 50% covered in rust, then it’s time to replace the chain. If you ride the bike with that amount of rust, the bike chain could break because the metal is significantly weakened.
Although if you clean your bike chain and remove the rust and the metal is still strong and doesn’t appear damaged, your bike chain is safe to use and could last you many years if you regularly maintain the bike chain.
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How Long Does It Take For Bike Chains To Rust?
A bike chain may start to see signs of rust in as little as 4-5 days. If your bike is kept outside, this will happen a lot faster. But if you are regularly cleaning and lubricating the chain, it should prevent rust from forming. Keeping your bike indoors is another great way to stop rust.
Most bicycle chains are made from plain carbon or alloy steel, but some are nickel-plated to prevent rust. Therefore, modern bike chains shouldn’t rust if they are coated. Nonetheless, most bike chains are made from thin metal, which becomes weak once rust appears.
Can A Rusted Chain Slow Your Bike Down?
A rusted chain can slow your bike down, losing 25 – 30% of the performance and speed of your bike. The rust makes the bike chain, derailer and cogs stiff and difficult to move. You will work harder to pedal on a bike with a rusty chain.
Additionally, a rusty bike chain can ruin your bike. It affects gear shifting and can even damage the drivetrain. The most dangerous aspect of cycling with a rusty bike chain is what happens when it does snap. It could cause you injury, particularly if you’re pushing down hard on your bike pedals.
The rust affects the chain’s integrity, so it can’t take the tension as you pedal like it usually would. One day it will prove to be too much, causing the chain to snap.
Making it dangerous for you if you are on the road or even a rougher country trail because it can result in you suddenly losing control of your bike. It could put you into heavy traffic or into a ditch, which can leave you injured with no way home.
How Do You Fix A Rusty Bike Chain?
There are two things you can do to fix your rusty bike chain. The method you choose depends on how far gone your chain is. The first is to clean it thoroughly and then lubricate it. The second is to replace it if your bike chain is more than 50% covered in rust or if it’s had years of neglect.
How To Clean Rust From A Bike Chain
You can buy a chain cleaning device that you attach to the lower part of the chain. As you turn the cranks backwards, you draw the chain through brushes and a degreasing bath. (Find my favourite chain clear here from amazon)
You can also clean a bike chain by hand. It’s more affordable but is also messier. Necessary items include two nailbrushes with stiff bristles, aluminium foil and a degreaser. Experts recommend the foaming type because it makes less of a mess.
You want to spray the degreaser all over the chain. The nail brushes should be clamped around the chain side-to-side and then top to bottom.
Now, turn the cranks backwards to move the chain through the brushes.
Use the aluminium foil to rub any stubborn rust away, or wrap the aluminium foil in the brush to remove rust from those hard to reach areas. Rinse it clean with cold water, and then lubricate with chain oil and spray.
How To Replace A Bike Chain
A worn and rusty chain may be stretched, and the bushings start wearing away. The chain won’t correctly mesh with the cassette sprockets and chainrings and will cause it to slip and stop shifting. Typically a bike chain will cost between $10 – $50.
The chain should be replaced before the sprockets and chainrings start wearing down. A chain that is 75 percent worn down should be replaced. You can use a chain gauge to measure wear and tear (link here from amazon).
Once you understand how to replace a bike chain, you can get the job done in as little as 15 minutes. You will need a new chain and a chain tool to do the work. (Here’s a complete chain replacement kit from Amazon).
- The first step is to remove the old chain. You can sometimes do this easily if it has a quick link, which is a two-piece link. You can squeeze the quick link together to unfasten it, and that will split the chain.
- Most chains will require you to use a chain tool to push out a pin to split the chain. To do this, put the links between the tool’s teeth, twist, and the pin will pop out.
- Now you are going to clean and check your cassette and chainrings. Make sure the teeth are in good shape. They will look like a shark’s tooth if the chain wears them. Scrub the cassette and chainrings with a cleaning solution.
- It’s time to thread the chain. Shift to the smallest chainring and sprocket. Take the chain through the front derailleur case and put it across to loop it over the rear cassette. Now, go around the upper jockey wheel on the derailleur.
- Be careful to stay inside the divider between the plates.
- You will need to cut your new chain to the right size. Pull the ends together where they join below the chainstay. You want the longest length that will still give tension on the rear derailleur. The internal link will need to be joined to an external one.
- To cut to size, use the chain tool and put the link you are working on between the jaws. Turn the handle so that the pin pushes the link’s center.
- Join the ends of the chain and slot them. Take the pin and push it into the chain to secure it.
- Put the link with the pin into the chain tool and turn the handle to drive the pin home. The pin should be almost flush with the outer link plate. You want it to be exactly flush. Remove the chain tool and you just replaced a bike chain.
How To Prevent Rust On A Bike Chain
You may have to lubricate the bike chain after every ride if it is rusty. Eventually, it will look newer with additional care after every ride.
Otherwise, it would help if you lubricated your chain once a week. Use a cloth to catch the extra lubricant and wipe away dirt in the chain.
There are good, inexpensive bike chain lubricants available on Amazon, and muck off is my favourite bike cleaning kit. It’s excellent for removing and dirt and mud even in all the small joints on your chain. The lubricant and chain degreaser is the best on the market. Use them once a week to prevent rust and to keep your chain in good condition.
Keep your bike dry and store it inside if possible. Water and air are the elements that make your bike chain rust the quickest. Therefore, limiting the bikes exposure to those elements extends the life of the bike chain.
Can You Use WD40 On A Bike Chain?
Don’t use oils like WD40 or GT85 on your bike chain because they are solvent-based lubricants. These are bad for your bike because they will eventually produce grit which will clog your chain.
Bike chains are too heavy and fast-moving, which makes WD40 the wrong type of lubricant. WD40 will remove the good lubricant and oils from your bike chain, and you will be left with metal on metal which can damage all the chain and cycling components.
However, WD40 have now created a bike range of lubricant and oils (link here). Therefore, use the bike-specific WD40 and not the standard all-purpose WD40.
Does Vinegar Remove Rust From A Bike Chain
In order to avoid rust from spreading during storage or transport, you can soak your bike chain in vinegar for a few hours before using it again. Vinegar contains acetic acid that is very useful in removing rust from metal surfaces.
Unfortunately, the acids found in vinegar cannot dissolve rust that has already formed on a metal surface like in your bike chain link and sprockets. If you leave the bike chain submerged for too long, some of the vinegar’s acetic acid may eventually be absorbed by the metal, which can leave rust spots on the metal.
If you do not have vinegar at home, then Coca-Cola can also be used to remove rust from bike chains. Just soak your bike chain in a tub of Coke for 5 minutes to 1 hour for it to take effect before rinsing with clean water. The phosphoric acid found in Coke can dissolve rust in a very short time.
If you have the budget, you can use a commercial rust remover to dissolve any rust on your bike chain before cleaning it thoroughly with water and soap and then oiling it to prevent future damage. (Link here)
Conclusion
It doesn’t take long to keep your bike chain in good condition. Roughly, you can clean it in about five minutes. Spending a little bit of time to clean the chain will extend the life of your bike, prevent expensive repairs and keep you riding safely.