Red dust on my chain...What is it?

[jimfj]

77 550

New chain (o ring) and new sprockets, 1000 miles ago.

This may be a stupid question,

After cleaning and lubing my chain, then riding 50-60 miles there appears a redish dust on the chain and the side stand where it comes up and under the front sprocket. There is no caked mud or crap under the drive sprocket cover and i have scraped and cleaned the area around the front sprocket. This is baffling me. Any clues as to what this mysterious red dust of doom is????? This has occured about 3 times. Basically cleaned and lubed the chain every 333 miles, +/- 2.5789 miles

[hampshirehog]

Sounds like rust, If you want to know where it's come from pop off the sprocket cover. Nothing to worry about.

[Steve]

Basically cleaned and lubed the chain every 333 miles, +/- 2.5789 miles

You are neglecting your chain.

It is supposed to be cleaned and lubed every 325 miles.

.

[tkent02]

You are neglecting your chain.

It is supposed to be cleaned and lubed every 325 miles.

.

What would you know about chains?

[Steve]

What would you know about chains?

I know that mine are lubed with engine oil and automatically tensioned.

.

[jimfj]

for the life of me I can't think of where the rust is coming from? I cleaned the bejesus out of the area under the sprocket cover. Not that I couldn't have missed something but oh well.

I thought maybe the super grease in the O rings was red and coming out or something. I am too used to the worry free shafties.

Bottom line it is kind of annoying.

[chuck hahn]

The rust is coming from the pins that run thru the rollers and from the insides of the rollers themselves..many thing its an Oring chain and they done get lubed ever. Thats total bull crap. Youve got a seriuosly rusted and compromised chain.. plain and simple.

[mrbill5491]

I had the same red dust problem once as well, turned out it was the chain. Pull your chain and check the orings, links etc if any orings are missing or links binding toss the chain. If so, would be a good time to convert to a 530 chain and sprockets if you haven't done so already.

[7981GS]

What would you know about chains?

Good one Tom!!!
That one almost got me to...

Eric

[Steve]

What would you know about chains?

I know that mine are lubed with engine oil and automatically tensioned.

Good one Tom!!!
That one almost got me to...

Eric

Keep laughing, guys, I have eight bikes at home, SEVEN of them have chains.

ONE of them even drives the rear wheel.

.

[7981GS]

Keep laughing, guys, I have eight bikes at home, SEVEN of them have chains.

ONE of them even drives the rear wheel.

.

Do Hoveround's count?

Eric

[JEEPRUSTY]

77 550

New chain (o ring) and new sprockets, 1000 miles ago.

This may be a stupid question,

After cleaning and lubing my chain, then riding 50-60 miles there appears a redish dust on the chain and the side stand where it comes up and under the front sprocket. There is no caked mud or crap under the drive sprocket cover and i have scraped and cleaned the area around the front sprocket. This is baffling me. Any clues as to what this mysterious red dust of doom is????? This has occured about 3 times. Basically cleaned and lubed the chain every 333 miles, +/- 2.5789 miles

Sounds like nice road dust
what colour is the soil up there in Kansas
In PEI the earth is a oxide red

I am a lazy man and I was you I would simply wet a washcloth with oil and slowly spin the wheel whilst gripping the chain with the oily rag.

[Steve]

Do Hoveround's count?

Eric

Nope. They have more than two wheels.

.

[bwringer]

Your chain's roached -- the red dust is rust from inside the chain.

Time to call Z1 Enterprises for a new chain and sprockets.

[Steel Toed Tank]

Isn't this a new chain with only 1000 miles on it?

Did it sit for years or something?