Originally Posted by
Kontact
Soup is the original grease remover, and works equally well on axle grease, crude oil and fried chicken. A freewheel soaked in soapy water might not come out clean on the inside like a real solvent, but the chunks of grease that remain are unlikely to be where they should be anymore.
Heavy oil - especially Phil Wood Tenacious - is a very effective lubricant for freewheels. Freewheel bearings have the advantage of never being under a lot of friction since they are only used for coasting. So if you end up solvent soaking a freewheel, let it dry and run as much oil as you can get into it, and remember to do so periodically.
I Soaked my freewheel in paint thinner or mineral spirits is why i wouldn't recommend it. It cleaned it out so well. Afterwards I dribbled oil into the back However, the freewheel was So loud. I tried different oil but it didn't help. Thats when i did my first freewheel overhaul. Then it was too quiet. So i overhauled again, not so much grease this time and it was perfect. Ive done it to several other freewheels since.