650g rear spline advice, please?

[Charlie G]

I've got the new rear spline for the wheel and the Honda moly 60% grease but there is lots of crud to clean up. It's like bees wav with metal bits. I concerned about damaging the bearing, rubber bushings, and o-ring with the solvent. Do any of you have recomendation on what I should use to clean or how fussy I should be? Do you replace the O-ring very often? hank for your comments!

Charlie G.

[Charlie G]

Another picture for your viewing pleasure. Thanks.

cg

[BassCliff]

Hi,

You're supposed to clean in there?

As long as the bearings are the sealed type, I wouldn't worry too much. I just sprayed some Simple Green around and wiped out the worst of it, then a paint brush or air hose to blow out the smaller bits. I've never even thought about changing the O-ring on the pumpkin. Perhaps I should read the manual and see if there is a factory recommendation.

Should those rubber bushings be replaced once in a while? Hmmmm.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Nessism]

Hi,

You're supposed to clean in there?

As long as the bearings are the sealed type, I wouldn't worry too much. I just sprayed some Simple Green around and wiped out the worst of it, then a paint brush or air hose to blow out the smaller bits. I've never even thought about changing the O-ring on the pumpkin. Perhaps I should read the manual and see if there is a factory recommendation.

Should those rubber bushings be replaced once in a while? Hmmmm.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

Simple Green is corrosive to aluminum. Only use that stuff if you are going to rinse with water afterward. Other than this detail, I agree with Cliff. Knocking off the big chunks is all that's necessary.

[BassCliff]

Simple Green is corrosive to aluminum.

Well, maybe it's a good thing I don't clean in there very often.

I was afraid to say that one time I used brake cleaner to clean off the spline gear to get a good look at it. I hope I didn't hurt the rubber bushings.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Charlie G]

Thanks guys. I'll just get the bug chunks and call it good.

cg

[bwringer]

And don't worry about the bushings in the wheel. I last checked mine at about 100,000 miles, and they were absolutely fine. They don't get nearly the hammering they would get in a chain drive bike.

You'll do more harm with solvents, likely, so just scrape out the bigger chunks, slather the spline teeth with 60% moly paste and fuhgeddaboutit.

If you just can't stand it, get a gallon of WD-40 and a plastic spray bottle. It's a little more expensive than mineral spirits, but WD-40 is pretty harmless to plastic and rubber, it dissolves grease nicely, and it doesn't stink to high heaven or create a fire hazard.