Rust on the chain...

[tendays]

Craig, dont' clean chain with petrol or wd40! these will damage o-rings.
suzuki instructions are to clean every 600 miles with paraffin.

I give it a scrub with paraffin and old toothbrush occasionally, maybe once a month, to get all the grit and cack out. Also I oil it usually every time I refuel, using heavy oil (cheap 80/90 gear oil), applied with a small paintbrush. Best done when chain is still warm.

If you leave it sitting with salt on it, it will be rusty in a few days. So keep it well plastered in oil in winter, and clean it more often cos excess oil on the chain will pick up more grit.

Mine both have a bit of rust now but are still wearing very well. Weestrom is still on 1st chain after 25K with very little wear.

[winxp-master]

Some good advice, i didnt know about the oil as ive always just used the lube you get in a spray can but i'll certainly be getting some oil and cleaning it more regular.

The rust is just on the side and is only a little bit here and there so it sounds like there nothing to worry about so long as i follow the advice on the thris thread.

Again, cheers chaps, much appreciated.

[davsato]

Craig, dont' clean chain with petrol or wd40! these will damage o-rings.
suzuki instructions are to clean every 600 miles with paraffin.

they all say that so they cant be held responsible if something breaks. thats why none of them give any recommendations about oiling other than heavy gear oil because they cant spend the money on testing every chain lube that comes out.
ive washed my chains in petrol loads of times till the stuff got too expensive, no ill effects. dont even have to do that these days, the snotoiler keeps it spotless now, the thin oil lubes the chain and flings off taking any crud with it. if i had to oil my chain every fuel stop and clean it every 600mi with paraffin id buy a bike with shaft drive!

[Farky]

Im suffering the same and it cant be blamed on road salt....has anyone actually seen any??

Slight rust on the side plates - I blame it on a crap Honda oem part, original done it and the replacement has also. Got 16/17k out of it with a Scotoiler.

Scotoiler is great, turn it up for winter yes, down for summer, use the red stuff for Europe/Med. Doesnt help the outsides though.

Will be cleaning the plates with a wire brush and parafin once summer spouts, followed by coating with wax spray or ACF50 to maintain rust free. Next winter I will do the same to keep the rust away. Stupidly didnt do it this year...eejit.

[StumpyFingers]

My chain shows signs of rust when it has not been used for a while.
I personally do not worry about it, as the bike gets used the oil lubes the chain, as it gets hot it flows better when still the oil gets attacked by the elements.
As long as it is only surface rust there is nothing to worry about.

[barftone]

Give it a wipe with a gear oil stained rag and then apply 80/90 gear oil. Don't forget the disposable gloves!

[Tony Varadero]

just been given my vara some tlc tthis weekend. Chain wiped with paraffin and then I applyed some chain lube. I also tryed to use some ACF50 but was not sure how to go about it...spray the whole bike with it or not...? not sure....but certainly salt and grit taking their toll on a bike out on the road 5/7....

[416cc]

Iv'e also noticed it creeping on the brake disc but for obvious reasons i don't want to be spraying anything on that apart from break cleaner so will i damage the disc if i use some sort of scowerer to get it off?

Many thanks oh wise ones.

Are you talking about rust on the disc or chain lube on the disc? A wipe with brake cleaner on a clean rag'll remove the chain lube, & a green kitchen scourer or emery cloth will remove any rust. Discs are stainless steel so it'll only be surface rust.

If the brakes are binding slightly, ignoring it won't do your discs or pads any good...they'll wear prematurely. The only way to sort this properly is to have the pistons out of the calipers, remove & clean the seals & ring lands, & to reassemble with some seal grease & fresh DoT4. It's easy to do & pretty straight forward, so long as you take your time.

[winxp-master]

Ok i spent some money (about (50 quid) on lots of nice cleaners and brushes etc.

The chain is now looking in good condition (thanks for the oil Stuart).

Took 3 cleans with bike cleaner and muchs off but got rid of grime etc, cleaned the chain and discs of rust as best i could. Plastered the chain with the oil from stuart (heavy gear oil) and also lube. gave the bike a full coating in ACF50 (man that stuff is amazing!) and just for good measure and to make sure no oil/lube or ACF50 got on the discs i cleaned gave them a nice helping of brake cleaner.

Front brake was a bit stuck from no use but a quick blast down the road pumping and holding it on soon got it running nice.

Bike looks and feels spot on again, she's now sat with a very oily chain and plastered in ACF50 so should be fine.

Thanks guys.