Originally Posted by
KC007
Hello Forum Members:
I intend to clean a bunch of oil, dirt and crud out of my Sachs Aris Freewheel on a Mountain Bike that I own. Will a new bottle of mineral spirits do the job or do I need to go with a more expensive product like WD-40 Bike Degreaser? Please help!
Kerosene or diesel also work well. I usually scrape off the worst of the crud with a small screwdriver that can get into the corners. A wire brush is also good for pre-cleaning on components that it won't damage. A stiff nylon brush helps the solvent to shift dried-on muck. When I clean a chain or cassette this way I usually finish with dish soap and rinse with very hot water, followed by drying on a radiator or stove; this can shift the last of the fine grit and leaves a clean surface for adding lubricant. When you're done leave the solvent to sit in a closed jar and most of the crud will settle out so you can use it again (or filter with a coffee filter).