Gummy junk behind left-side crankcase cover

Finally finally finally got the bike into my garage and can get working on it! Picked up a '78 parts bike to steal some bits and bobs off to get my baby running. Specifically poaching the field coil from the 78 as mine has shorted out.
Now - took off the crankcase to have a look at wires and two things:
A) Think I discovered why the bike hasn't started - by wire bundle by the drive chain has had the shielding ripped and I can only imagine the shorting going on
B) The whole compartment is full of a red/brown gummy goop - see photo. I'm thinking it's a mix of oil and iron flecks from the chain? Any idea how to clean this crap up so I can get at the wires?

Next - how best to replace the wiring down there?

Cheers!

That "Gummy Goop" is natural, and nothing to worry about! It is just the accumulated oil, road dirt, and fling off from your chain/sprocket!
To clear it out, just scrape the worst of the crud out of the case, then using petrol (Gasoline) and a 1" paint brush, wash out the remaining Goop, with that!
It's a tried and tested method, I personally have used this method for 50 years, so I know it works!

Merlin

MerlinDudley said:

That "Gummy Goop" is natural, and nothing to worry about! It is just the accumulated oil, road dirt, and fling off from your chain/sprocket!
To clear it out, just scrape the worst of the crud out of the case, then using petrol (Gasoline) and a 1" paint brush, wash out the remaining Goop, with that!
It's a tried and tested method, I personally have used this method for 50 years, so I know it works!

Merlin

Click to expand...

Well that's good to know! Have myself a fine collection. Off to the garage!

Now - here's a real n00b dilemma. How do you clean with a solvent? I've just tried with mineral spirits - cuts through the dirt real fast, but how do you get it off easily...? I brought the cover into the house and tried running hot water (which I've discovered doesn't work). Managed to have at it with half a roll of shop towels and got it to a decent place, though would love to do a little degreasing while the parts are still on the bike, if possible.

TLDR - How do you rinse off parts cleaned in MS without a parts washer?

Managed to get the part looking pretty decent, all things considered

I have never used a solvent, to clean the oily sludge from the cases on my bikes, I prefer the "Old School" approach, Petrol (Gasoline) and a paintbrush! As there is no need to clean off the residue, as the Gasoline is recycled, throungh a ladies stocking, over the end of a funnel, with a small battery powered electro-magnet, around the lower part of the funnel! We even then knew the power of recycling, even in the late 50's!

Merlin