Gearbox Rust Removal and Protection: The Hard Way or the Easy Way?
June 11, 2025
What’s your go-to solution for rust prevention when you need to shut down a gearbox? How do you remove the rust that’s already there? Cortec® is here to remind you that you can tackle these challenges the hard way or the easy way.
Rust Removal the Hard Way
Before preservation, it is important to remove any internal rust so corrosion does not continue getting worse during layup. Disassembling the gearbox for better access to each part would be time and labor intensive. The good news is that you do not have to do that.
. . . And the Easy Way
Instead, you can fill the gearbox with a solution of VpCI®-422, a USDA Certified Biobased Product, and alternately soak and rotate the gears. When the rust removal is satisfactory, the VpCI®- 422 can be drained and replaced with a dilution of VpCI®-414 for neutralization and flash rust protection. Preservation may proceed with one of the following options.
Gearbox Layup the Hard Way
One approach to gearbox preservation is to fill it to the top with oil, hoping that will create a barrier to oxidation. Unfortunately, this method can be expensive and generate an excessive amount of hazardous waste. What’s more, it leaves the very top of the gearbox (where condensation is most likely to occur) unprotected.
. . . And the Easy Way
An excellent alternative is to apply a dose of M-531 or M-535 HV (for ashless systems) at a small fraction of the gearbox volume. These oil additives contain Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors that protect metal surfaces in void spaces above the fluid level as well as below, eliminating the need to completely fill the gearbox with oil.
Make Gearbox Layup Easier on Yourself
Gearboxes can be harder to preserve than other industrial equipment, but with Cortec® products, it does not have to be difficult to restore and preserve them in an economical, common-sense manner. If you need more help with your gearbox layup, reach out to Cortec® for further rust removal and preservation assistance.
Keywords: gearbox rust, gearbox rust removal, easy rust removal, gearbox layup, gearbox preservation, gearbox corrosion, Cortec, corrosion inhibitors, biobased rust removal, how to remove rust from gearbox
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