Haibike sDuro HardSeven - Rusting

[GDW40]

Bought a Haibike sDuro HardSeven at the end of November last year. I have been using it 2-3 times a week, mostly commuting over the past 4 months. It has been excellent, however the chain and pedals started to rust up over the last month or so. Some of the chain links were seizing up and it had started to skip/slip.

I took it in for it's first service last week and they had a go at freeing the links up a bit. I had been lubing it with silicon spray from time to time and they did the same at the service. About 1.5 miles into the first ride after the service the chain snapped. It's currently in getting the chain replaced.

Is this a common problem? It's kept in the garage. I've probably used it more than I've used other bikes and I've probably used it more in wet weather than other bikes, but I've never had similar problems before. Do I need to be completely drying it and lubing it after each use in wet weather?

Thanks.

 

[mcozzy]

If the chain is rusting then its not lubricated. I wouldnt class silicon spray (gt85, wd40 etc) as a lubricant really.

 

[Fordulike]

Do I need to be completely drying it and lubing it after each use in wet weather?

I would wipe the worst of the water off the bike frame and components with a rag. Then stick it in one of these stands and run the chain through a rag to remove crud and moisture from the chain.

You don't have to lube up after every ride, but I would periodically lube every link on the chain. I do mine every 50-100 miles and use a dry lubricant.

 

[GDW40]

If the chain is rusting then its not lubricated. I wouldnt class silicon spray (gt85, wd40 etc) as a lubricant really.

Standard WD40 isn't silicone is it? Although I think they do make a WD40 Silicone product. Either way, the silicone spray I used was supplied, branded, marketed as a bike specific lubricant.

 

[Fordulike]

Standard WD40 isn't silicone is it? Although I think they do make a WD40 Silicone product. Either way, the silicone spray I used was supplied, branded, marketed as a bike specific lubricant.

WD40 are jumping on the bicycle bandwagon. I would stick with decent manufacturers such as Finish Line and Muc-Off, to name but two

 

[GDW40]

WD40 are jumping on the bicycle bandwagon. I would stick with decent manufacturers such as Finish Line and Muc-Off, to name but two

Can't remember the brand. Will take a look when I get home. Either way, it wasn't WD40.

 

[Fordulike]

Don't quote me, but I was led to believe that silicone sprays are primarily used as a rubber and plastic lubricant/preservative.

 

[mike killay]

WD 40 (Water dispersant, 40th attempt at making one) is apparently mainly kerosene and oil.
Not too sure about silicon oils, but back in my airgun days, people had trouble with silicon oil seizing tight fitting components such as loading taps.

 

[RobF]

Keeping a bike in a garage can promote surface corrosion due to condensation.

Extra ventilation in the garage may help, although I'm surprised the chain has corroded to the point of links becoming stiff and snapping.

You need to adopt a chain maintenance regime.

We all have our favourite routines.

I wipe the chain after every ride and spray it with GT85, which leaves a light lube and the chain running silently.

But it has to be done after every ride, which is a chew if you are riding most days.

In that scenario, something like what Fordulike does is more practical.

 

[GDW40]

Yep - I was just surprised it got to the pointing of rusting almost solid and snapping in the space of 4 months and a couple of hundred miles. We've got a few other bikes in the garage - a 6 year old Trek and a similar aged Specialized bike, as well as kids bikes. None of them have ever had any rust problems.

 

[Kudoscycles]

WD40 when it dries leaves a white powder which absorbs moisture and can accelerate rusting,WD40 isnt really a lubricant,its more a freeing agent.
We used to use it on the winches on race yachts to keep everything moving especially when hot but ,because of the white residue,it meant the winches needed cleaning more often,we used silicon marine grease as a lubicant but this became liquid when hot,hence the use of WD40.
KudosDave

 

[anotherkiwi]

Bad quality chain? I've had one of those, cheapest KMC bulk pack lasted less than a thousand km. I also now use Finish Line dry teflon lube.

 

[Fordulike]

Bad quality chain? I've had one of those, cheapest KMC bulk pack lasted less than a thousand km. I also now use Finish Line dry teflon lube.

Yep, I worship the stuff, as I believe it has contributed to a lack of chain wear and smooth running over the last 1700 miles.

Using their No Drip Chain Luber makes it easy to apply too:

 

[Benjahmin]

I thought that the solvent, in the likes of WD40, disolved the manufacturers grease out of chains. I agree with Dave, it's a freeing agent not a lube.

 

[trex]

don't ever use WD40 on your chain.
WD stands for 'water displacement' - that's what WD40 does. Although it has a small amount of lubricant (about 3%), good enough for household items like garden shears and locks, it's not very good as a lubricant. It dissolves grimes and dirt quite well because it's based on C10 to C12 petroleum distillates, but it strips the factory protective dry lubricant on your chain, making it rust soon afterward.
You need a fairly high viscosity lube, a rust inhibitor and anti-wear addititives in your lubricant. I have a can of GT85 teflon lube for the once a year use on my chain.

 

[Fordulike]

I have a can of GT85 teflon lube for the once a year use on my chain.

Totally agree with you there trex. I believe less is more when it comes to chains. As long as the chain is kept clear of muddy/gritty deposits, and the internals have some good quality lube on them, then there is no reason to keep chucking on more lube as you have proved.

I might extend my lubing regime to a greater number of miles.

 

[greyfox69]

Dry Lub for me every time, I do use wd40 (actually duck oil i am old fashioned) but only to free off stiff/seized parts, or on a rag as a wipe down after a wet ride................sounds like an xxx forum with this response

 

[Fordulike]

Dry Lub for me every time, I do use wd40 (actually duck oil i am old fashioned) but only to free off stiff/seized parts, or on a rag as a wipe down after a wet ride................sounds like an xxx forum with this response

and with your rather dodgy number after your name... Mmmmmmm Pornulikes instead of Pedelecs maybe

 

[Wicky]

Plus if you've ridden after they've salted the roads then that will need washing off before you store it.

 

[greyfox69]

I like it fordulike, never thought of the number it's actually the birth-sign cancer (69), but i'm liking how your mind works ,i am very surprised nobody has asked me what duckoil is?