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how do you clean you cams when the action starts to get sticky

Original Post
Rob WardenSpaceLizard · · las Vegans, the cosmic void · Joined Dec 2011 · Points: 130

I live in Zion now and am having pretty big problems with the action in my aliens, master cams and helium friends. does anyone have any remedies to this problem that i should know of?

thanks in advance

mountainhick · · Black Hawk, CO · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 120

My cleaning ritual:

-Blast them under the faucet while working the action to flush out whatever grime I can

-Soak in a pretty strong mix of detergent (dawn) and water for an hour or more. work the action several times while soaking

-Blast with water again, working the action, rinse well

-Compressed air to remove most of the wetness

-Let them dry overnight

-lube with metolius cam lube.

BurtMachlan · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2012 · Points: 0

A remedy for cleaning dirt and grease??? Hmmm I wonder what someone could use for something like that? Soap and water is to obvious perhaps?

Ryan N · · Bellingham, WA · Joined May 2009 · Points: 195

Metolius cam wash. It's really good for getting the gum out and it has something like Teflon that kind lubes them as well. 5$ a bottle I usually get two full rack washes out of that. Let them soak for 5 min then get the BD bouldering toothbrush and work it. And don't lube them it never makes it better especially climbing sandstone.

bearbreeder · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 3,065

wax based bike lube like white lightning is basically the same as met cam lube, but cheaper ...

wash in water and soap with a toothbrush then lube ...

BurtMachlan · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2012 · Points: 0
bearbreeder wrote:wax based bike lube like white lightning is basically the same as met cam lube, but cheaper ... wash in water and soap with a toothbrush then lube ...
Metolious cam lube goes for like $3.... why are you worried about finding something cheaper?

And white lightening isnt even cheaper so ya dont even have a point there.
Ethan Lennox · · South Lake Tahoe, CA · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 65
bearbreeder · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 3,065
BurtMachlan wrote: Metolious cam lube goes for like $3.... why are you worried about finding something cheaper? And white lightening isnt even cheaper so ya dont even have a point there.
lets take 2 full priced retailers

REI white lightning $12.50 for 8 oz ... $1.56 per oz ....
rei.com/product/704422/whit…

bakcountry met cam lube ... $4.95 for 2 oz ... $2.47 per oz ...

backcountry.com/metolius-ca…

thats over 50% more for a "specialty" branded product that does the same thing ...

you can also buy it in bulk at less than $1 per oz if you so desire and never have to worry about buying it again for a bery bery long time

amazon.com/White-Lightning-…
AnthonyM · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 30

Based on the advice from This forum-I washed all of my cams and got rid of the wax based lubricant after testing them in my fridge and realizing how much that wax can slow down/screw up the spring action...

Try it-I am now using graphite on some and Teflon lubricant on others.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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