KTM Husqvarna frame rust: Anyone notice this on their bike?

[Shhhh]

I rode my bike on Saturday for the first time. I did my usual washing procedure after and I thought I had been thorough. I went out in the barn tonight to sit on it (it's new) and bounced it a few times and noticed a couple of drops of what looked like rusty water. I bounced it a few more times and noticed more. It was definitely water, and a little rusty. I looked around and found that the holes on the bottom of the frame were holding water.

I bounced it for a few minutes and was able to get it to drip, then blew it out with my compressor. It left this on the floor.

I've never had a bike hold water in the frame like that. Is blowing these out typical after a wash? It would be a bummer to have my frame rust from the inside out. My other bikes, one of them KTM don't do this. Bike is a 2013 150sx. Thanks.

[angstroma2004]

That's not good never noticed that on my steel frames yz

[Slackkinhard]

silicon...or epoxy

[tye1138]

I have not experienced that before myself But then again, I pat down my bike with a towel and use an high pressure air line to blow off all the rest of the water. So there is a pretty big puddle on the ground when I'm done, its pretty normal. I have never seen rust on any of my bikes, outside of the stock chain if you wash it and leave it sitting for a while, it will rust in 20 min! EEK!

[bdl507]

My 08 200 had a 3/8 hole where the welder at the factory burned a hole at the end of a weld on the lower motor mount is located on the top of the frame rail it left rust water every where before I figured it out and with three hrs on the bike my dealer did nothing so I drained it and glued it shut and put oil in it and got rid of bike the next year it probably has Toyota frame syndrome now lol

[Shhhh]

I have not experienced that before myself But then again, I pat down my bike with a towel and use an high pressure air line to blow off all the rest of the water.

I do the same thing, I guess I'll blow them out after every wash.

[Larry63r]

I use my leaf blower to dry my bikes in the winter. In the summer when it's over 100° at dusk when I wash it's not a problem. I would spray some chain lube in the holes to give it a nice coating that will stick with it for a while. I do that on my bikes in the down tube that is open just above the exhaust pipe. The front wheel throws stuff up there and it will get packed if you don't clean it out every wash.

You should take your chain adjuster bolts out and put some anti-seize compound on them. At the least use some grease on them. Water gets into the swingarm and can cause the bolts to get stuck.

[Shhhh]

I use my leaf blower to dry my bikes in the winter. In the summer when it's over 100° at dusk when I wash it's not a problem. I would spray some chain lube in the holes to give it a nice coating that will stick with it for a while. I do that on my bikes in the down tube that is open just above the exhaust pipe. The front wheel throws stuff up there and it will get packed if you don't clean it out every wash.

You should take your chain adjuster bolts out and put some anti-seize compound on them. At the least use some grease on them. Water gets into the swingarm and can cause the bolts to get stuck.

I have used my leaf blower, on the fence between that and the air chuck. The compressed air does a better job, but I get concerned that it could force water where I don't want it. So chain lube in all the holes in the frame? Uppers lowers etc.?

Since winter returned I'm planning on taking it down this weekend and greasing/lubing everything. I'll do the chain adjusters too. Thanks for the tip!

[-Biggins-]

I use my leaf blower to dry my bikes in the winter. In the summer when it's over 100° at dusk when I wash it's not a problem. I would spray some chain lube in the holes to give it a nice coating that will stick with it for a while. I do that on my bikes in the down tube that is open just above the exhaust pipe. The front wheel throws stuff up there and it will get packed if you don't clean it out every wash.

You should take your chain adjuster bolts out and put some anti-seize compound on them. At the least use some grease on them. Water gets into the swingarm and can cause the bolts to get stuck.

yeah, my bolt on the left side is stuck. It will go in, but not out. What to do???

[-Biggins-]

I wish it wouldn't have gotten messed up. And also where does the water get in the swing arm?

[Trailryder42]

I wish it wouldn't have gotten messed up. And also where does the water get in the swing arm?

Look at the bottom of the swingarm for weep holes.

[corndog]

Normal, every steel framed bike does it, but most folks don't notice. Unless you plan to keep the bike for a century, ignore it.

[timmyp8823]

yeah, my bolt on the left side is stuck. It will go in, but not out. What to do???

At least it will move. Give it a good soaking with PB Blaster and let it soak overnight or longer. If that alone doesn't work,add a little heat to the equation.

[MaxPower]

Do not cover those holes. They aren't there for lightness

[-Biggins-]

Both sides will only come out 1 inch

[Willwater]

Both sides will only come out 1 inch

Take the swingarm off and dunk it in a tub of atf and solvent or good penetrating lube overnight, you can also shoot some down in the holes in the swingarm. Hang it vertically and by morning the bolts will very likely come out. The damn things should be never seized from the factory as often as this happens. Of course there are a lot of things KTM should do and doesn't so I guess that is a moot point.

[modifier]

Even though it is probably not and issue like one poster pointed out, I think the idea of shooting some kind of corrosion protection into the frame or swingarm is a good idea and can't hurt anything. However unless you live in a year round warm dry environment sealing up all the holes is something that could cause actual damage. Cycling through hot and cold will cause condensation to form inside of the frame or any enclosed metal fabrication.

After learning this I have drilled weep holes in box tube cross members I have welded into things perhaps 5 years prior and have been amazed at how much water comes out. Not just dripping out but running out in a stream for quite some time. The 2" square tube was perhaps 1/4 full. There was no way for water to get in otherwise.

I doubt there are any stories about failed frames from inside out rust unless they were under water for quite a while, but, if you are worried about it and want to pass your KTM down to your great grand kids then buy some cavity sealer/rust preventor from an auto paint store and spray it in the holes, just don't seal up those holes. Maybe even drill a couple of extra small ones at the low points.