Rusty chain help

[Scott Douglas]

I was given a big front throw mower the other day. Old, but in fairly nice shape as it's been garaged, for the most part, for the last 25+ years. I got the engine running yesterday and had intentions of using it on my edger, but the gas tank is too big to make the switch feasible.
So, in light of that, I've decided to give a go at getting it operating again. Before working on the engine I removed the main drive chain. It is all rusty but none of the links are 'stuck'. It will wrap over your finger easily. I'd like to remove the rust in the least environmentally damaging way possible. I've read that soaking it in vinegar will do the trick.
Anyone here tried that?



BTW, the engine fired up with just a check of the plug and oil and a little starting fluid. Seems to run just fine, no smoking either.

[wdfifteen]

Pic of the overall machine? Please?
I would not worry about that amount of rust. Oil it good, and if you can get it off soak it overnight in oil.

[MBAtarga]

Evaporust

Before:


After:

[cstreit]

I wouldn't worry much about it. Lube it up good. The moving bits will clear themselves up.

Clean it after a few uses and relube. It will sort it self.

[Scott Douglas]

Wow, that evaporust is pretty amazing stuff.
I'm going to try putting the chain in a pie tin and pour some vinegar over it, let it sit a while, then pull it out and lube it up with some oil.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

I've used an ultrasonic cleaner to try to get rust off of chains, and although it worked well getting stuck links freed up, at the end of the day, there was always more rust coming off of it. It never got clean.

In the end, oiled it and went on my way. Always worked well.

[Evans, Marv]

^^^^^ This. The lubed, moving contact parts will clear themselves of rust and the rest doesn't make a difference. I do like Evaporust though. It does a really good job. If you want a "good looking" chain, you could use that.

[Zeke]

Wow, that's wide cut model. Nice. I used to take my go kart chains and soak them in light oil over heat for an hour or so. Actually out in the hot sun will work (if we ever get any) and a lot safer.

[sammyg2]

After the vinegar treatment, you'll have to completely soak the chain in oil for a while so it can get to the inside of the chain where it is needed.

[Evans, Marv]

With vinegar or Evaporust, I think I'd do a good water rinse followed by a liberal blast of WD-40, followed with a good oiling.

[flipper35]

A good chain lube after Evaporust. Chain lubes are a penetrating lube to displace the Evaporust.

[Evans, Marv]

Good to know.

[Scott Douglas]

So this morning I took off all the chains and put them in white vinegar to soak a while. I pulled the idler/tensioner pulleys off too and lubed them up good. Went over the chains with a brass bristle brush and wiped 'em off good before dousing them with my garage door lube Blaster stuff. Got out my dad's old grease gun and hit the zerks. Put it all together and pulled the cord. Started right up. Ran almost as quietly with the only the main chain turning as it did without it even on. Engaged the reel clutch and it slowly came around to turning. From the looks of the bed knife it is touching the full length and probably just needs to be run some more to knock the rust off the blades.
The differential on the rear axle freed itself up before even starting the engine, which was nice since I wasn't sure how it was going to react with power. Lifted the handle bars and engaged the drive clutch and the rear axle turned as it should, both wheels powering forward. I guess I need to plan an oil change sooner than later if I'm going to run this much more.
It is one heavy beast of a mower. I think it out weighs even my McLane front throw.







Thanks for the help guys. This has been fun.

[wdfifteen]

That is one heavy duty reel mower! WOW!

[Scott Douglas]

Yes it is. The jack shaft is pretty amazing as there's two clutch surfaces on that big sprocket. You can motor around without the blades turning, or you can turn the blades without moving. You can see in the picture that the engine is running.