Break Free Problem

[Jeff423]

I was doing a little light cleaning of a Colt revolver tonight and I was away from my bench so I was using Break Free because it was there. I put a little on the hub of the cylinder where it rotates on the crane and a little on the ejector rod.
Within a few minutes the cylinder was very hard to turn and felt gummy. Enough so that you couldn't fire it double action.
I removed the crane and was able to pull it about 1/4" out of the cylinder. I put a few drops of PB Blaster on the crane and it worked it's way down and soon everything loosened up and went back to normal. I cleaned it as well as I could and will see how it is tomorrow. If it goes back to being sticky I'll try brake cleaner.
I don't know what chemical reaction was going on but it was a mess.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

This Product? I never had a problem with it for 60 years and that was the Standard at both Police Academies I graduated from.

 

[Jeff423]

This Product? I never had a problem with it for 60 years and that was the Standard at both Police Academies I graduated from.

That's it.

 

[444 Magnum]

I've been using Break Free CLP for over 35 years. Never a problem. RemOil will set up over time and stiffen an action.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I strongly suspect the Breakfree knocked some crud lose that migrated into a worse place than it was to begin with. I can't imagine the problem is the Breakfree itself. I am unaware of any reaction between Breakfree and anything you are likely to find in the way of chemicals or dirt or debris inside a firearm.

 

[DETROIT]

Why would you use pb blast? It’s a penetrating oil and It will dry out in a couple days.

 

[stansdds]

I cannot see how Breakfree CLP could turn gummy within a few minutes, unless it reacted with something else that was already on the yoke.

 

[Jeff423]

I strongly suspect the Breakfree knocked some crud lose that migrated into a worse place than it was to begin with. I can't imagine the problem is the Breakfree itself. I am unaware of any reaction between Breakfree and anything you are likely to find in the way of chemicals or dirt or debris inside a firearm.

That may very well be the case, but the cylinder turned with great difficulty as though it had been lubricated with tar. There was no "gritty" feeling. It loosened immediately after I used the solvent.
I don't know if it's a mechanical or chemical problem. All I know is: I used Breakfree and the cylinder "gummed up" I used PB Blaster and it loosened up. Maybe the Breakfree dislodged some crud and the Blaster further dislodged it out of the way.
I've got the Kuhnhausen Colt book. Maybe I'll take the cylinder off the crane.
I checked it this morning and it's still turning freely.
I should say that I don't often use Breakfree but I've never had any problems with it until this.

 

[Jeff423]

Why would you use pb blast? It’s a penetrating oil and It will dry out in a couple days.

I used it as a solvent because the cylinder felt really gummy. It seems to have worked.
I plan on cleaning it and relubricating it soon.

 

[smoothshooter]

I have used Break-Free CLP for at least 45 years with no problems.
In fact, all I use for EVERYTHING is Break-Free, Hoppe’s #9, and a little Ballistol. I use the Hoppe’s on my revolvers exclusively for cleaning AND lubrication. Works fine as a lubricant in that application even though it is not marketed as a lubricant. I have never had gummy build-up with it either.
I have noticed that sometimes Break Free will separate in the bottle into upper and lower layers if the bottle sits undisturbed for an hour or longer. A few quick shakes of the bottle mixes everything back up just fine. I do this before starting to use it for a cleaning or lubrication session. Once shaken 3 or 4 times it seems to stay mixed for several hours, and even days.

Maybe your Break Free had separated and when you applied it to the gun you only got one of the components in pure form and not the blend.

BTW, Ballistol is the absolute worst at separating, and will start to do so within an hour or so. But it is so useful I just give the container a couple of shakes to keep things mixed, especially if it is diluted with water. Great Stuff.

 

[gwpercle]

I also have had break free "go gummy" on me , bad enough to gum up the works of a few firearms ... the internals of two handguns and two rifles were "liberally" doused and they were put away ... long storage .
It was a year later when I got them out and ... the CLP Breakfree had hardened up to the point were the guns didn't operate .
I used a spray cleaner to clean all the gummy residue away and stopped using CLP Breakfree as a lubricant / preservative on the internals of my revolvers and rifles .
I also thought it strange that the CLP would turn that "gummy" but the guns were stored away for a year ...
I Went back to RemOil ... RemOil never has gone gummy on me ...
even after a year of storage !
Gary

 

[WR Moore]

OK, observed performance in improperly/never cleaned 1911s is that Break Free accumulates combustion products and other stuff floating about. Over time, it can become a particulate filled sludge that impacts free movement of parts. YMMV in revolvers, the issue seems to happen with various other lubes too. But, this seems like a fairly normal instance of the necessary separation of cylinder and crane/yoke for proper cleaning and lubrication.

Brake Kleen, gum cutter and other aerosol solvents are great for getting rid of crud in places you can't easily reach.

 

[alwslate]

I have used Break Free for many years without any problems. I like the handy 4 oz bottles. The label does say to shake well before using.

 

[smoothshooter]

I have found over the years that Break-Free is a much better lubricant and preservative than a cleaner.
I use Hoppe’s #9 for cleaning and Break-Free CLP for lubrication and rust prevention.

 

[jjrr]

Very interesting thread, I have always used the old stand-by Hoppes #9 and the usual ammonia cleaners and red grease and white grease and oil. I have been using some FP10 CLP for lubrication so I’m going to keep an eye out for something like this.

 

[diyj98]

I’ve never had Breakfee, Remoil, or any other guy oil or CLP gum up on me. I’ve had white lithium grease cake up, but that’s the only issue that I’ve experienced.

 

[H Richard]

When you clean, it's best to disassemble and "wipe everything off with your cleaning solution". If you don't remove all the old hardened up lubricate that may have been there for 50-100 years you are asking for problems.

 

[yeti]

I haven't noticed BF CLP getting gummy. The exact opposite.
BreakFree CLP has thinned out and nearly disappeared in storage.

I use the Collector LP version or another product now for storage.

 

[tom2]

Yep I would use CLP to lubricate a "clean" gun and you ought not have any problems. If it just dissolves old dried oil, grease and residue, that means that the gun was not clean before hand. I am sure that crud can accumulate in hidden areas and be an issue like that. And over lubricating a gun, even for normal storage, is maybe asking for trouble some day. Something like certain kinds of grease are best for real long term protection of bores, etc. that does not migrate.

 

[Greyman50]

About 30 years ago was signing out of Ft. Pickett barracks for a re enactment we had. At the counter were 2 NG Lts that had a gallon of Breakfree on the floor. Heard the building Sgt tell them they could not turn it in as it was not on the books. They turned to me and asked if I wanted it. Are frogs waterproof? Still have about 1/3 of it as have given much of it away. One has to shake breakfree as some of it settles in bottom of container.