The Chain Rescue......

     So, one evening, being bored of the usual offerings from the TV, I looked at a random link on YouTube, to a guy going by the name of Delboy's Garage, about using distilled white vinegar to remove rust. Now I am a doubting Thomas, however, always open to new and easy ways to achieve my goal.
     Being the proud owner of a rusty chain, I have 2 choices, buy a new one or see if I can recover teh old. Guess what, I opted for door number 2! of to Walmart and parted with 82 cents and got some vinegar.

With one of a recently 'acquired' plastic tubs filled with the quart of vinegar, i rolled the chain and, along with the split link, immersed all, to 'cook'. It was around this time the mystery of disappearing Tupperware arose. My wife swears that our daughter is taking them for college.....
     After 4 days, not the weeks that Delboy left his very old and rusty chain, i opened the tub:

     As you can see, it is true, as Delboy says, this
looks like a lasagna, unfortunately, it smells a lot like a Victorian public toilet.
     I remover the chain, and washed it off with a hose, then, filling a bowl with a dilute solution of Mean Green and water, proceeded to clean up the chain. Using a combination of a wire brush and a spattering of exercise, not unlike taking 'Jean-Luc' to warp speed, cleaned the chain. I must say that my chain was in a lot better condition than the one on YouTube. So the rollers were not rusty or pitted, and i trusted Delboys' assessment of the rubbers. That being - they are robust and hold up to the vinegar. I must concede, that the resulting chain is very nice, not 'brand-new,, but never the less, more than good, and certainly keeping me to my mantra of 'Repair, Restore, Replace'. And the vinegar is way cheaper than the most budget of chains.
     Every link has been looked at for wear and rolled, the chain is good again, very little signs of wear, looks like was replaced and then the bike left in the yard. As can be seen, the chain came up good, and is now in my wife's missing Tupperware, with a light coating of CRC to tide it over until I need to fit it on the bike:
     The chain is good, i forgot to take a final picture, the one here ->
is prior to final cleaning and treatment. I have to say that I am impressed with the results, not to mention my amazement at home chemistry projects!

     Well, I do hope, if nothing else; you can see nothing ventured, nothing gained. My next installment will be the Assembly of the front suspension and attaching to my very glossy and black frame, along with the rear units and swinging arm. And this month my big project purchase is going to be tires (tyres - for the British among us). Am looking at around $220.00 for the pair.
     Until the next time, spanner responsibly, ride safe and enjoy.