rear wheel question

Question: (I'm new to this so may seem stupid, but....)
Got the rear wheel off, what can I use (if I should) to clean the splines on the wheel and in the drive (inner drive area too I guess). Doesn't look like too much wear on them but little bit grungy..... And when I put it back on do I need to grease them? If so with what?

 

That's a good question christian. I'm sure the manual would say to use a grease when reinserting the spline, but that's a 25 year old manual. Now take my advice with a grain of salt, I only work at the largest custom gear manufacturing shop in Western Canada, but what I would do is go ahead and clean all the metal surfaces with brake clean (enviro friendly of course) and then use a dry film lubricant on the internal spline before mating up the components. There really shouldn't be much movement on the splines so lubrication becomes questionable. I would try to put on something that lays thin and has good film strenth. Perhaps Dicronite or even a graphite type lube.

 

Thanks, just the info I was looking for. Not something you know, unless you know. :wink:

 

No problem. Just to let you know though a graphite lube is kinda messy. Wear gloves when using it. It could take months to get it off your skin.

 

it's a pretty good bet that since it's had wheel bearing grease on it for 28 years, and it shows little wear, thats what you should go with
a fist full of q-tips should work for cleaning, no need to make it perfect if it's not contaminated