Re: [CR]I have not heard (about) the ultrasonic lately...

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Avocet)

Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2006 09:27:56 -0500
From: "John Thompson" <JohnThompson@new.rr.com>
Organization: The Crimson Permanent Assurance
To: "classicrendezvous@bikelist.org" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: Re: [CR]I have not heard (about) the ultrasonic lately...
References: <44C8C48E.2000103@comcast.net>
In-Reply-To: <44C8C48E.2000103@comcast.net>


gabriel l romeu wrote:
> and I have been reading the extensive amount of posts in the archives,
> but I did not read anything about cleaning freewheels.
>
> I am willing to dump almost anything into my commercial ultrasonic
> (using a strong solution of simple green w/ degreaser) that I can get
> access for relubrication. In the case of freewheels, we used to (1970)
> spray lubrication in the mating sections (stationary and moving), front
> and back, to reduce the clickiness.
> I can imagine the interior, the two rows of bearings with the 'stops' in
> between.
> I can think of quite a few thing to do to insure rust protection
> (biosheild t6), possible lubrication from Phil Wood Tenacious Oil to
> Teflon based lubrication...
> But I still can't see it.
> Any well substantiated advice whether this is a plausible cleaning soluti
> on?

I soak mine in solvent, then blow it out of the interior with compressed air. For lubrication, I'm a fan of the Stein Freewheel Injector, which injects grease into the freewheel without disassembly. You get an eerie-quiet freewheel that way. When you start to hear a faint clicking, simply repeat the process.

N.B. Some people are concerned that grease is too thick and may cause the ratchet pawls to stick, preventing them from working. In practice I haven't found this to be a problem except in quite cold weather (e.g. < 10C).

For those conditions, I use an alternative method: clean as above, then run a good oil (like Phil's Tenacious oil) into the gap between the inner and outer body until it starts to come out the other side. Then use your finger to work heavy grease into the gaps (both sides) to seal the oil inside the body. This will also give you a lovely quiet freewheel, but doesn't last as long as the injected grease method.

--
John (john@os2.dhs.org)
Appleton WI USA