Rusty bolts

ride_whenever

Titanium bolts.

father_jack

Replace them. Or just buy a new bike as you'll get new stem bolts with a new bike.

softlad

ride_whenever wrote:

Titanium bolts.

or stainless steel...

ride_whenever

You often get surface rust with SS bolts.

softlad

ride_whenever wrote:

You often get surface rust with SS bolts.

if your stainless steel bolts are rusting, then they are not stainless steel. You might get some ferrous particle contamination on the surface of stainless, but nothing which will cause the stainless material itself to rust...

kettrinboy

i,d use Ti bolts on the stem as stainless steel bolts when used with aluminium stems can react with road salt and seize solid if they are not greased, some types of stainless (magnetic) will rust slightly because of their higher iron content as compared to the non magnetic stainless which is the type generally used for bolts and screws.

ride_whenever

You get galvanic corrosion between most metals, you need to use an appropriate grease for the bolt and material.

sungod

the hex key scratches the plating and then they rust, same thing often happens with screws

get a can of acf-50, put a smidge in the hex recess, it'll clear the rust and keep it away

you'll need to reapply if you give the bike a full wash/clean, otherwise it lasts ages - mine was ok all through last winter