What do you use in your parts washer?

[Bear1]

Ok, I finally retired and my first project is to build a Dual Purpose/Scrambler. I have a lot of parts collected over a lot of years and the first step is to get my "Shop" in order. This first question is. what do you use in your parts washer. When i was active many years ago I used Simple Green with a heater. It worked pretty good and I didn't have to worry about getting rid of any solvents. I am looking for any suggestions as I am starting with a clean sheet. I started cleaning my 79 bottom end with kerosene and rinsed with BikeBrite. It is cleaned up good enough for me to start taking it apart but it was a bi*ch rolling it around on my garden cart to clean it up. Thanks for anything you have to offer.

 

[ThatXS650Guy]

Kerosene

 

[Mailman]

Yup! Kerosene for the really nasty degreasing. A 50/50 mix of simple green and water in a sonic cleaner for carburetors and small hardware. Common household degreasing sprays such as 409 and a green scrubbing pad to get the hard to remove deposits from the case and fins. And assorted Dremel brushes for final detail cleaning.
Nothing but elbow grease brother!

 

[bosco659]

Yup! Kerosene for the really nasty degreasing. A 50/50 mix of simple green and water in a sonic cleaner for carburetors and small hardware. Common household degreasing sprays such as 409 and a green scrubbing pad to get the hard to remove deposits from the case and fins. And assorted Dremel brushes for final detail cleaning.
Nothing but elbow grease brother!
View attachment 216431View attachment 216432View attachment 216433View attachment 216434

Did you polish the carbs or does the simple green solution “brighten” up the alloy surface?

 

[Bear1]

Thank you both. I kinda figured that was the answer I was going to get; I was just curious if there was some super cleaner out there. it always comes down to good old fashioned elbow grease. Nice job and great pictures by the way. I'm about 60% of that so far. I actually used pump diesel because I could get it for $5.50 and kerosene is sold as heater fluid around here and goes for over $15 a gal. Are your pictures pre or post assembly? My stuff has been sitting around for a long time so I am going to disassemble, inspect and reassemble with all new seals and gaskets. I'm using MikesXS Big fin kit and will just be smoothing out the ports. I haven't decided whether to use my Shell Cam or one of my standard cams yet. I'm not going for hi performance as much as reliability. I'm building the bike to use out in New Mexico where there are a lot of secondary and fire roads to ride.

 

[RustiePyles]

I use Crown PSC100 occasionally topped up with kero.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...LmU_s7gIzAsm3uOZY7_TgCqWzgmZVQIhoCmfQQAvD_BwE

 

[Mailman]

Are your pictures pre or post assembly?

A mix of both.

Did you polish the carbs or does the simple green solution “brighten” up the alloy surface?

They come out of the simple green , clean , but rather dull looking. I then hit them with some small brass wire wheels in my Dremel. They shine right up.

 

[grouchie83]

I tried using this stuff just now, but I was worried that since I mix it with water it might freeze in my unheated garage. It was also super foamy so I drained the tank and will have to go get better stuff.

 

[jetmechmarty]

View attachment 341507I tried using this stuff just now, but I was worried that since I mix it with water it might freeze in my unheated garage. It was also super foamy so I drained the tank and will have to go get better stuff.

As far as the kerosene recommendations in the early posts, I believe it’s fine to send it to the landfill. At least it was where I used to live. It needed to be solidified before placing it on the curb. Mixing it with kitty litter would do the job.

 

[Jim]

'nother vote for kerosene in a parts washer.

 

[grouchie83]

As far as the kerosene recommendations in the early posts, I believe it’s fine to send it to the landfill. At least it was where I used to live. It needed to be solidified before placing it on the curb. Mixing it with kitty litter would do the job.

New or used kitty litter? I have 2 cats so used kitty litter with "extra protein" shouldn't be a problem.

 

[kshansen]

New or used kitty litter? I have 2 cats so used kitty litter with "extra protein" shouldn't be a problem.

like that one!

 

[46th Georgia]

'nother vote for kerosene in a parts washer.

Kerosene with ATF. ATF cleans like crazy and slows down the evaporation of the kerosene.

 

[jetmechmarty]

New or used kitty litter? I have 2 cats so used kitty litter with "extra protein" shouldn't be a problem.

Double duty cat litter should be the perfect solution!

 

[John Regular]

I've been using a sonic cleaner but it's for gun brass so I'm not sure if it would work as good as a parts cleaner. I used this stuff called oil eater which is supposed to be environmentally friendly so probably not the toughest cleaner, it works on greases but not rust. I found a can of coke in a bucket soaked overnight works the best for rust. Don't know if that's a good ideah for coatings, what do you guys think?

 

[Wingedwheel]

They come out of the simple green , clean , but rather dull looking.

I thought I read somewhere that simple green is not good for aluminum. I’ve always used it but I think next time I may try a capful of Dawn. I know that will dissolve the gunk.

 

[46th Georgia]

I thought I read somewhere that simple green is not good for aluminum. I’ve always used it but I think next time I may try a capful of Dawn. I know that will dissolve the gunk.

I've never had a bad reaction with Simple Green. The purple cleaners on the other hand will etch aluminum.

 

[grouchie83]

Anyone have a particular recommendation of kerosene brand? I found this stuff and it seems economical for my budget and I can pick it up tomorrow morning. I'd have to get 3 of them (2.5 really).

 

[jetmechmarty]

Anyone have a particular recommendation of kerosene brand? I found this stuff and it seems economical for my budget and I can pick it up tomorrow morning. I'd have to get 3 of them (2.5 really).View attachment 341536

Ouch! Can't you just get it out of a pump like you do with gasoline? That's how I get it. Cheap!

 

[mike in idaho]

Cleaning solvent, from the local Standard Oil bulk plant, with a quart of atf to keep evaporation down and go a bit easier on my skin.