cleaning gunk
 

is there a way to clean caked on gunk easily, easily not just elbow grease... im picturing vinegar or something being useful.

What are you cleaning and what is the gunk?

an old 3 speed hub... just the lock ring thing, sprocket etc... it was really hard to get the parts off because they were caked together.

Spray with a good automotive degreaser. Rinse off with a low pressure spray of water. Don't force solvent and water into the hub. If you have a compressor, blow dry. Compressed air will blow all the crud out of and between the spoke holes.

Simple Green is good for that, too.

Brake cleaner or Simple Green. Don't use Simple Green near aluminum and be careful around plastics with brake cleaner.