Originally Posted by
3speedslow
Question for the learned: when I pulled the shifter rod, it was covered in black gunk. Poked a plastic stir stick down there and pulled out some really think muck. The hub has been shifting fine and ticking along but... would it be good to fill the hub with some kerosene or other such fluids and drain the swamp in there before the wheel goes back into action?
Fresh oil used afterwards of course!
Sure, you can flush it out. Anything that dissolves grease would be fine. Then add some oil. The only thing about that is it takes so long to drain that you spend weeks cleaning off your rim. I think, in the long run, it's less work to disassemble and clean the hub. That also allows you to pack the wheel bearings with a longer lasting marine grease. Not only that, its fun. It's not a difficult or frustrating job like stuck cotters.