G'day Mystyler,
Gadge, I was unsure if petrol or your 50/50 would eat at the plastics. I'd didn't think it would, but I didn't want to chance it. Absolute PITA it was. And I read that part in the manual as well!!! Dust seals will be getting grease and not much else. However, would the teeth benefit from a very, very light layer of...something? In the interest of longevity.
Not really.
It's apparent that the wheel centres are moulded from one of the 'engineering plastics', most likely one of the Nylon resins [i.e. thermoplastic polyamides]. As such, these resins have considerable 'self-lubricating' properties, and abrasive dirt doesn't stick to them.
If you must apply lube, I'd suggest a 'dry-coat' Teflon based spray. Easily the best of these I've used, is one that Jaycar Electronics sell under their house brand.
Tyler, she'll be looked after. Still unsure which way to go with the "restoration". If I don't paint the deck, perhaps a clear coat to stop the Al from corroding and pitting?
Yep, even a rattle can clear coat will help to preserve the original finish. Try to pick one that's petrol-resistant if you can, though. The Rust-Oleum brand is usually good.
