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Freewheel lubrication

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Old 05-31-20, 04:59 PM
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Freewheel lubrication

What do you use to lubricate your freewheels? Just gave 12 or so of mine a bath in mineral spirits then flushed with synthetic 5w-30 because that's what I had on hand.

What do you use?
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Old 05-31-20, 05:02 PM
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Freewheel grease?

Boom.
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Old 05-31-20, 05:43 PM
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I use Phil's Tenacious with a lighter oil to reduce the viscosity a little.
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Old 05-31-20, 05:51 PM
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I started a similar thread a month or so ago. Based on responses, I tried "Bar and Chain" oil (for chainsaws). So far it has been working great.
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Old 05-31-20, 06:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Narhay
... a bath in mineral spirits then flushed with synthetic 5w-30.
I used to do this when I first started overhauling bikes. I stopped when I realized I was flushing out all the good lube and replacing with oil that doesn't last at all.

So, I no longer flush freewheels. If they don't spin, I'll spray the most minimal (tiny and thin) amount of wd-40 in them and spin. They usually spin well right away. Maybe push some real thick, regular lube (Park Tools or whatever) into the back side ring of bearings. If they don't respond well afterwards, I toss 'em or sell.
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Old 05-31-20, 08:00 PM
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Phil Wood Tenacious Oil for me. I have a bottle specifically for this purpose.
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Old 05-31-20, 09:52 PM
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It it is a good freewheel, like SunTour or Shimano, I'll rebuild it. Yes, take it apart, corral all the tiny little ball bearings and clean it all up and grease the bearing races and put just a tiny dab on the pawls. And put it back together usually with the slimmest shim removed.

I am obsessive and don't have time to do many things that I need to do, but for this, I do it.

If I had a therapist, I sure that would be one of the many issues they would be working on with me.
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Old 05-31-20, 11:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Narhay
What do you use to lubricate your freewheels? Just gave 12 or so of mine a bath in mineral spirits then flushed with synthetic 5w-30 because that's what I had on hand.

What do you use?
Marvel Mystery oil, minimal flush, then refill with 20-50 racing oil has freed up many sticky, grindy specimen to live for years and 100's, 1000's? of miles.
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