Did I ruin my chain?
06-16-08, 06:35 AM
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Did I ruin my chain?
After taking my hybrid down a muddy dirt trail yesterday, I brought it home to clean it up; took off the chain and degreased it Sheldon-style.
After degreasing and rinsing, I put it directly on an electric stove burner to dry out.
In the past, I've done this at about 20% heat... this time it was at about 60%. Once I realized how hot it was, I took it off with tongs and set it aside to cool.
Some of the links have turned blue!
I let it cool down, installed it, lubed it, and it feels fine for a brief run through the neighborhood... but is it?
After degreasing and rinsing, I put it directly on an electric stove burner to dry out.
In the past, I've done this at about 20% heat... this time it was at about 60%. Once I realized how hot it was, I took it off with tongs and set it aside to cool.
Some of the links have turned blue!
I let it cool down, installed it, lubed it, and it feels fine for a brief run through the neighborhood... but is it?
06-16-08, 07:01 AM
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Didn't turn red-hot, did it? If it works, it's probably OK , assuming you got lube into all the nooks and crannies; if any old lube remained after degreasing, it was likely burned out. Don't know if I would feel comfortable in the long run (for severe hillclimbing, cross-country touring, etc.) unless a metallurgist told me the heat didn't do bad things.
06-16-08, 11:29 AM
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Sorta - mechanical engineer/knife maker.
You can't get true heat treating colors on steel unless you clean it to a "white" condition. What you probably did is bake off the remaining residue that was on it after degreaseing. If it's a true blue color from the heat it's what is refered to as a "spring" heat treat which would be OK. I wouldn't worry about it.
You can't get true heat treating colors on steel unless you clean it to a "white" condition. What you probably did is bake off the remaining residue that was on it after degreaseing. If it's a true blue color from the heat it's what is refered to as a "spring" heat treat which would be OK. I wouldn't worry about it.
06-16-08, 12:20 PM
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What kind of "burner"? Is it an induction top?
Most likely you screwed up the temper of the metal. Watch for increased wear rate.
Most likely you screwed up the temper of the metal. Watch for increased wear rate.
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06-16-08, 12:37 PM
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I doubt you got it hot enough to justify any concerns.
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This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.
This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.
06-16-08, 02:35 PM
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