Cleaning up old greasy parts

[1980]

Just got back from the pick n pull with a front bearing retainer($5.00) from an old sm465. Rusty and greasy! While I'm scraping off very old grease to get it ready for sanding off rust so I can emery smooth the shaft,,I wonder if there isn't an easier way. Goo gone is great when its mostly clean, but what about now?

How do you do it?

(Ya, I'm lazy)

 

[sweetk30]

i use lots of brake/parts cleaner. but collect it in a bucket for parts washer use. workes great.

then i have a bench grinder with a wire wheel on 1 side for rust cleanup of parts.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

I always used a metal drain pan with paint thinner and a brush, saved the leftovers for really dirty stuff

 

[wasted wages]

metal pan full of diesel fuel......soak overnight....works wonders.

less fire hazard....

 

[Fordum]

I usually just get in a nice hot shower. Soap up with a little Irish Spring, or, if my old parts are really greasy, I use some Lava, gently.....

OH, hey, wait a minute........This is the garage, not the lounge. Bet you're talking about old greasy truck parts, huh?

In that case, I've got an el cheapo parts washer I picked up at one of those Chinese tool sales that come around from time to time.
Since I don't trust the cheap pump not to short out, I use diluted Greased Lightning, which is water based, instead of a flammable based solvent.




Just forget about that first part...................

 

[4X4HIGH]

Easy Off oven cleaner is your best friend. Just a word of caution when using it on aluminum, don't leave it on very long or you'll end up with some junk parts. Working on any other type of metal just spray it on, let it soak for 10-15 minutes then hit the part with a high pressure washer (think car wash nozzle).

 

[K588]

Ive had one of the $100~ Northern tool parts washers, 30 gallon I believe, for about 4 years I use Kerosene in it and keep the lid down when not in use or soaking parts. Works great I added one of the flow thru parts brushes to the nozzle.

 

[1980]

I usually just get in a nice hot shower. Soap up with a little Irish Spring, or, if my old parts are really greasy, I use some Lava, gently.........

,,Okay,,,But this bearing retainer has the LONG shaft

 

[ryoken]

I've found over the years, for true cutting power, nothing cuts like lacquer thinner...

tho other solvents, kerosene, brake clean, purple power, easy-off, etc, etc work fine and in some cases are preferred, like easy off on real thick stuff, when push comes to shove, nothing cuts grease, oil, etc like thinner... not that I recommend a parts cleaner full of it, but it certainly gets heavily used in the dungeon for degreasing and such...

 

[Fordum]

,,Okay,,,But this bearing retainer has the LONG shaft

Yeah, but mine is the big diameter, less likely to bend or snap under load..........