we’re definitely down to a grease layer for sure. time for a degreaser!
looking better
One final round of cleaning and then drying and here we are.
Now it goes into a padded envelope where it will sit until most of the rest of the bike is working. xD Mostly, I put things back onto the bike in the opposite order as they came off.
It behaves completely normally now. It's just a bike chain. Does have some surface pitting in places but I'm not feeling any functional issue. So in that way, it's come out better than I expected, and I feel like my technique is continuing to improve. Which was the biggest point of all this, of course.
For comparison - where we started, yesterday:
@moira Have you looked into chain waxing? I’m a convert.
@MrBirch Yes, I'm a big wax proponent. I use the only hot-wax-competitive drip-on wax, and despite being drip-on it's still a wax:
https://www.effettomariposa.eu/en-us/pages/flowerpower-wax-lp
(Seriously, look how it rates on Zero Friction. It scores _so well_ and you can absolutely feel it. It's like chasing the zamboni on the ice, so smooth, so fast.)
I do _absolutely_ want to try some hot waxes tho'. I think on this chain in particular - if I decide to keep it, which is still very much in the air - it'd be a good idea. _Most_ of the crud on it turned out to be ancient grease or oils and just crud, but there was some real rust on it too, and I think the extra protection of a good hot wax would be just the thing.
oh yeah that’s a lotta grease
#BikeRepair #BikeTooter