Bike Forums - Rust inside frame

Bike Forums (https://www.bikeforums.net/forum.php)

- Classic & Vintage (https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/)

- - Rust inside frame (https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/1166104-rust-inside-frame.html)

Rust inside frame

Today I took apart all components of my Centurion Pro Tour project and noticed there is some rust coming from the downtube mainly (observed from the bottom bracket hole)
The Downtube has bosses for water cage above and below the tube. When I got the bike, I only had bolts on the bottom holes.

What is the best way to clean the rust from inside the tube before applying some protective oil?
I have evapo rust home and used it before with success, but I have to leave soaked for a while.

What is the best way to clean the rust from inside the tube before applying some protective oil?
I have evapo rust home and used it before with success, but I have to leave soaked for a while.[/QUOTE]

Coat hanger and steel wool.

Assuming you have removed BB, take a basic coat hanger and leaving the hook, cut and straighten ithe hanger out. Wrap steel wool around the hook. Insert into the tube and work it until rust is gone. Wipe out BB shell and ensure no wire and rust particles left.

Do not do this with BB still installed as pieces of steel wool will get caught up in the grease.

Spray in a protective oil such as frame saver or any good antirust spray. Should take only a few minutes. I have done this and attached an electric drill to the coat hanger which works also and of course is faster than doing by hand. Someone told me a shotgun cleaning rod with a brass brush works but I haven't tried that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WGB (Post 20787380)

Someone told me a shotgun cleaning rod with a brass brush works but I haven't tried that.

I bet that would be a better option than dealing with the cleanup of tiny strands of steel wool.

I’ve flushed the tubes with WD-40 to help get out the steel wool and rust remnants on one frame before, but the solvents in WD-40 probably don’t play nice with a protective oil afterwards.

I noticed the chain stays have some rust on it too, so I taped the tiny holes close to the rear axle and injected evapo rust using a syringe on both chain and seat stays.
Took the ride and did as well for the front wheel forks.
Seat stays are pretty small (well my frame is small, 49cm) so I have filled with some 40 ml each, The chain stay got some 60 ml each and the fork was like 50 ml.

Now, thinking on how I will send some hot air through the tubes to dry it out nice. I have the heat gun, so have to redirect the air flow to a tiny hole....

Seat tube has some rust towards the bottom - I can see easily. I will check the down tube with some fiber optic camera I got some time ago.
Depending on the rust amount, I will fill up with evapo rust as well. :D
Maybe seal both sides of the head tube and fill in both top and down tube at same time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by phtomita (Post 20787914)

note on evaporust- you are supposed to flush it out with water.

so once you drain the evaporust, you could fill the tube with water, swish it around and pour out, then use compressed air to dry the tube.
A can of compressed air with a straw attached for directional pressure is all thats needed to dry out all the tubes you work on. It dries the inside quickly and without rusting again.

old surface rust is in most any steel frame that hasn't been treated.
as long as its dry, it won't do any damage.

This topic has been gone over many times. There is no need to remove rust inside the tubes. In most cases it’s never an issue. For the very anxious, there are internal coatings, such as framesaver that will stop the internal oxidation of steel tubing.

Many of us have frames over 50 years old that have never been the de-rusted or preserved on the inside, yet somehow we continue to ride them with no ill effects. There are outliers from bicycles that were stored outside near salty air, a.k.a. the ocean, that are more rusty than others. Even then, most have a lot of life left in them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstateglfr (Post 20788662)

note on evaporust- you are supposed to flush it out with water.

Yes, I took the frame to the bath tube and gave a nice warm bath to it and finished to apply the Boeshield T-9 inside the frame.
And had to clean the tube that got coated with thin oil.... :rolleyes:

Brass bristle brush does a good job on the seat tube. Frame saver afterwards.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3speedslow (Post 20789338)

Brass bristle brush does a good job on the seat tube. Frame saver afterwards.

Since I didn't have brush or steel wool around, I tried a piece of scotch brite like material (green one) - it is a circular one I bought to remove stain from the shower glasses.
Worked nice :)