Gritty headstock nut

What's the best way to clean a gritty headstock tube?
I'm having difficulty get the nut on and I don't have the correct size C spanner which isn't helping.

Not sure if it's dirt or slight rusted, I've tried to clean it with a degreaser but it's still sticky.

I'm going to buy a new nut and C spanner but I'd really like to get the front end on today

Hi Blue
The best thing to use is degreaser/thinners/parafin and a wire brush to get the crap out lol.
Yh i hate not being able to get things done< what project have you got on the go at the moment?

Mitchell

Hi Mitchell,

Thanks for that, cant beleive I did not think of a wire brush, must be getting old
Ive 3 projects on the go,,,, ST70 in Blue and in bits
ST70 Lady, which is my current focus and a Z50A that I keep playing about with.
Really want to get one of the ST's finished.

Heres the Z50A Heres the Lady in white prior to paint with hydrolic shocks and disc brake. Here is how she looks now, I've decided to put the original front end back on Once day I'll finish one of them

Cheers,

Blue

Hi Blue

Thats fine haha, used to it in my kind of work.
Good projects, once you get one monkey bike theres no stopping you haha.
I like the colour of your st thats a very nice colour it looks much better with the original front end.
Haha its about time i got a move on with mine as its winter would be brilliant to have it done before summer,
im doing it to a high standard so its taking a while.

Mitchell

Hi Mitchell,

I love the colour too, close as I could get to the colour of the letters on the honda lady stickers I could get.
Agree about the front end, the chrome shines on the hydrolic ones but the original works best, just got to spray the original headlamp shell the same colour and it's going on to get rid of that black metal bucket.

Need to get me some new fork boots and respray the helmet front mudguard.
It's taken me ages and I've learnt loads but still have much to learn.
Getting impatient now, so I'm going to get it MOT'd then address the niggles later.

So much to do.

Let's see some pics of your project then?

Cheers,

Blue

A very good 'trick o' the trade' to ease a tight thread is to apply a little valve lapping (grinding) paste and work the nut back and forth, moving a little further along each time. Only use fine paste and re-apply often and you will soon end up with a perfectly smooth, free, yet still tight fitting thread.
I've used this technique very successfully after electroplating fasteners and it is the only way to remove excess plating deposits .

Thanks guys, combination of chemicals, wire brush and lapping paste have done the trick.
Nice smooth thread now
What would you finish it off with, copper grease?