Cleaning bearings

[88KDX]

Whats the best thing to use for cleaning the bearings (there like little rollings pins) for the pivot for the rear shock/ dog bone linkage. Same as bearings in the swingarm. I want to clean them and pack them with new grease. What should I use to get the old grease out?
Thanks

 

[88KDX]

Oh, I have that simple green cleaning stuff. Can I use that?

 

[23jayhawk]

I use a can of Carb Cleaner. Gumout I think, but brand can't matter too much. Old toothbrush helps a bit then spray WD40 to displace the Carb Cleaner. Leave to air dry, or I guess you could use very low pressure air if you're lucky enough to have a compressor.

 

 

[88KDX]

Good idea. Thanks
What do you use to clean an o-ring chain.

 

[CaptainObvious]

I wouldn’t use carb cleaner or WD-40 on the roller bearings. They both leave behind some harsh chemicals when the aromatics dissipate. I would use Naphtha or Kerosene. To get it into the bearing area I use an old spray bottle set on “stream”. Dry with light air pressure (30 to 40 pounds) because you don’t want to drive any surface dirt into the roller bearing.

Make sure the bearings are completely dry before repacking because Naphtha or Kerosene will breakdown the grease.

 

[Kardon1]

there is a product out there made by maxima, its called MPPL,designed for cleaning chains among other things

 

[Rich Graham]

RV6 is spot on. Use Kero for both. Just make sure all is dry. I soak my O-ring chain in a tub,overnight, works great.

 

[Kawierider]

Ive always used Mineral Spirits and a brush.

 

[Kawierider]

while were on the topic....Ive soaked my O-ring in oil over night and with heat and nothing get the surface rust off.....what do you guys use? or am I out of luck ?

 

[cr25096er]

a wire brush and wd40

 

[Tom Ludolff]

After every ride, when I wash my bike I scrub the chain with soapy water and a scrub brush. Keeps it plenty clean enough as long as you don't use a sticky chain lube. I just use 90W gear oil.

 

[ChrisDP]

Kawierider, to derust your chain or anything else for that matter, submerse it in a mixture of 2 parts water to 1 part mollasses. Overnight should be sufficient for light surface rust.

 

[XRDadKDXBeni]

You can spray your chain with simple green, just like the rest of the bike, when cleaning. hose it off with water and presto...the cleanest chain in town. ride the bike a mile or so in a clean area, we use our suburb streets to get the chain warm, then lube excessively with your favorite chain lube and hand rub the excess onto the side plates to prevent corrosion. repeat after each ride.

 

[BRush]

Nothing wrong with using carb cleaner to clean the grease out of swingarm bearings - especially if you are trying to clean the bearings without removing then from the swingarm. I'm not too concerned the carb cleaner residue is going to damage bearings as others have said. For getting off waterproof grease like Bel Ray, kerosene does work a little better because you can let the bearings soak.

 

[strider80]

I would recommend brake cleaner instead of carb cleaner, seems to leave no residue. After all it is for brakes that definetly do not like oil. Acetone also works well because it evaporates so fast and leaves no residue.

 

[88KDX]

Excellent!
Thanks a bunch.
I'm going with the Kero.

 

[JasonWho]

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