What is it??

[Steve Little]

Steve
Back to the molasses and water rust removal method. I mentioned it to a chemist. The molasses /water mixture simply converts red oxide to black oxide which can be readily removed. It will in no way affect the steel or erode it, only the oxide.
Tom

Thanks Tom. I'll side with your chemist.
I should have written the word "rusty" into my caution. As in:
If rust is on the hardened surface or high carbon parts ie shafts, gears, clutch hubs, clutch drums, or anything with a bearing race, should not go in the molasses mix?

I think that a better method for light rust removal of hardened parts is wire buffing.
Here is another Sporty gear which was in the same box with the other gear and was in similar condition. 10 minutes on the wire wheel and I would use this gear. If I had put it in the molasses mix, the molasses would have chased the oxide reaction which would be present in the rusty areas of the hardened skin of this gear.

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