Another FJR 1300 2004 Resurrection!! It's been about 5 to 7 years.

[JoelTheMole]

From a chemistry standpoint, the vinegar may help with the rust by dissolving it but not so much after you neutralize it. The combination, however, may help by the effervescence loosening some of the rust. Perhaps vinegar THEN baking soda - you definitely want to NOT leave any acidic residues. I would probably stick to a commercial product or at least use one after the initial clean. Some people use BB's, metal nuts/bolts, or even gravel and swish it around with water to loosen particles/encrustation. Followed by acid, chemical conversion treatment and and coating.

Yea, I 100% get soaking something in an acid like vinegar to have the acid break it down, then neutralizing the acid with a base like baking soda after the acid has done its job, but just mixing the two together then putting them on top of something else doesn't seem like it will do much.