Joe, 44/40 is good stuff! I have found that it works best if I completely remove any oil or grease from the surface in question...and I don't know of anything that is cheaper or more effective as a degreaser than acetone or lacquer thinner.
I once screwed up the finish of the Long Rifle cylinder for my Super Single-Six, but I used 44/40 to reblue it, and you'd never know it by looking at it. It took three tries to get it right, but it worked!