[RocketyMan]

I've had this exact issue happen on my bike. You have some rusty links and it's CLICKING because the roller is binding and immediately articulating once the chain binds and pulls the link.

I religiously oiled my OE chain after EVERY gas fill up...and it still only managed to last circa 20k miles. My sprockets were still in great condition...so I just said screw it..and only replaced the chain with an x-ring.

 

[RocketyMan]

20k isn't that bad. Did you clean it first every time or just oil it?

Clean it? Umm...I never took it off road or anything--so it's not like there was alot of build-up.

What i DID do was ride it all-year round, therefore, I saw alot of water use. Regardless, I made sure to oil it. It's frustrating that these chains just don't last.

One thing I do want to note, is the manual calls for gear lube being adequate. All I ever used was teflon based "spray-lubes" that come in a can. Maybe gear oil has a better additive package to penetrate the o-rings and get into the roller better than spray lubes.

Anyway...

 

[RocketyMan]

You oiled the chain... once?

If it was oiled regularly there would be zero rust.

R U S T can spell "the end"

Maybe not clear from my previous post...

I've had this exact issue happen on my bike. You have some rusty links and it's CLICKING because the roller is binding and immediately articulating once the chain binds and pulls the link.

I religiously oiled my OE chain after EVERY gas fill up...and it still only managed to last circa 20k miles. My sprockets were still in great condition...so I just said screw it..and only replaced the chain with an x-ring.

I oiled the chain after every fuel-fill up--usually. Regardless that I did this so often, somewhere in the chain it ended up rusting. Whether that be because the lube washed out or whichever. One of the things I haven't tried yet was to use gear lube.

 

[RocketyMan]

Thats what I use only and its great. If you ride alot of wet in the winter heres what happens Ive noticed. The bike goes into the garage wet and the chain will rust. They are not stainless steel, not strong enough I guess. Really you should wipe the water off quickly with a paper towel while spinning the wheel. Since its up and spinning I then spray it. I dont commute so I can see this would be a pain for folks. Like Neil Young says, "Rust never sleeps" and its bad news on a chain.

Yup I use to daily mine before pre-plandemic and my bike saw 70mph highway through biblical rainstorms. It was a pain always lubing it after each torrential down-pour ride. But I agree that it should be wiped off.

And just as you say....rust never sleeps! Took about 3 or 4 links that I couldn't fully articulate with a pair of needle nose. Downshifting from about 30ish mph to a stop I could hear the clicking change drastically as I engine brake to coast alot.

 

[RocketyMan]

The replacement chain I bought was the EK 520SRX2. So far it's been good.