Rusty bolts solution??

How true Norm

 

I've used a solution of Vinegar and water (2 vinegar to 1 one water) and salt to clean off old, rusty emergency brake cables, as well as bolts, then soaked the cables in ATF for a few days. Clean as a whistle.

Then I soaked them in mineral spirits to get the ATF off to soak them in 30W oil. That type of cable has to get the lubricant in between the individual wires and inside the flexible metal sheaths, without drying the rubber seals. Once I had them back in, I rubbed them with axle grease to keep water out. 2 years later, they're still clean.

 

A whole QUART to a tank full, Blackie??? Man....that seems like a lot.

 

In a real bind, real lemon juice, squeezed onto the rusty part works too. None of the other citric fruits have the 'right stuff', although the small, green limes come close.

Check out that CLR metal cleaner's content label.

 

2-3 oz per gallon is what is the magic number. My Roadie has a 22 gallon tank.

64oz / 3oz = 21.3333333 gallons.

Which is about what any of our wagons have as a tank size. A little stronger of a mixture will not hurt anything and honestly, how many of us will not re-top up the tank before its empty and make the mixture even weaker?