A reminder for folks restoring old bikes.

[mickle]

Modern greases can be a bit more advanced but old grease was made by mixing oil (as a lubricant) and soap (to keep it from dribbling away from where you want it). The volatile compounds in grease evaporate off over time, leaving a crusty waxy gunk. Like this:

The bearings had to be jemmied out with a screwdriver as the old grease was rock solid.

Don't be one of those people who finds an old bike, and assumes that the bearings are safe because they spin. Devoid of grease they are, in fact, in mortal danger.

 

[biggs682]

@mickle totally agree it always amazes me when i strip and clean any bearings from an old bike how many of them have rock hard grease in them and its hardly surprising when you consider it was last looked at at least 20 years ago , before being left dormant .

 

[mikeymustard]

Probably the only old thing round here that still goes hard!

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Modern grease is also made of oil mixed with "soap". Soap in this context is a chemical term for the lithium, sodium, potassium or calcium salt of fatty acid - the substrate for grease. Not much has changed in the make-up of grease and today's grease will also go waxy after decades.

 

[Cycleops]

Probably the only old thing round here that still goes hard!

Grease and Sildenafil, now what a good idea. That could help a lot of people.

If you have to google that you're not in the club.

 

[stiffknees]

All that crud could be easily softed up with WD40, or brake/carb cleaner aerosol.

 

[mikeymustard]

Grease and Sildenafil, now what a good idea. That could help a lot of people.

If you have to google that you're not in the club.

OK now how do I clear my internet history?

 

[mickle]

All that crud could be easily softed up with WD40, or brake/carb cleaner aerosol.

No, it was too far gone. It was like baked earwax.

 

[Fab Foodie]

No, it was too far gone. It was like baked earwax.

We'll take your word for that ....

 

[youngoldbloke]

I've successfully used Nitromors paint stripper to remove hardened grease and oil that had turned to varnish (in a 1920's Hornby clockwork mechanism, probably untouched for well over 80 years). Nothing else would touch it!

 

[dfthe1]

OK now how do I clear my internet history?

Just spray a bit of WD40 in the USB port ;-)

 

[stiffknees]

Just spray a bit of WD40 in the USB port ;-)

I find tea ,Beer or anything over 20% proof is also good.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Probably the only old thing round here that still goes hard!

Speak for yourself!

OK now how do I clear my internet history?

You are concerned about that??

Why, let me show you..... anus.com http://www.anus.com/zine/philosophy/nihilism.html

And no, it isn't dirty! (seriously)
Really, that accronym must be a joke surely?

 

[mikeymustard]

Speak for yourself!



You are concerned about that??

Why, let me show you anus.com http://www.anus.com/zine/philosophy/nihilism.html

And no, it isn't dirty! (seriously)
Really, that accronym must be a joke surely?

Tee hee.
Cos nihilists are known for their sense of humour!
How about http://www.therapist.com/
Or the old classic: http://www.penisland.net/