Parts washer

mkirsch · Dec 12, 2012

Any recommendations for cleaning and degreasing small to medium parts? Carburetors, hydraulic pumps, gears, etc?

I've been using spray carburetor cleaner and a wire brush, but that gets expensive.

Billy Shafer · Dec 12, 2012

I have a washer with a pump. I use varsol. Tried all the water based tree hugger cleaners. They turn to some nasty sludge in no time. Be careful with rubber and plastic parts.

ACSam · Dec 12, 2012

For carbs I use a large crock pot slow cooker that I bought at goodwill. Dawn dish soap and water. It gets to about 140 degrees for about an hour and then a container of hot tap water to rinse and brush. I think it does a pretty good job and I am not useing harsh chemicals and it's cheap. I do a lot of lawn mower carbs and just recently did a marvel shebler from an oliver 550. I don't see why it wouldn't work on any part that will fit in the cooker.

Ted in NE-OH · Dec 12, 2012

I use use Kerosene and rubber gloves.

ACSam · Dec 12, 2012

pics

Ellis Kinney · Dec 12, 2012

Doesn't the stew taste a little sudsy after cleaning parts? Ellis

Inno · Dec 12, 2012

That is a really good idea, I think we have an extra crock pot......probably should ask. I wonder if something with higher heat might be better, like a hotplate and a pot of soapy water?

Bill in IL · Dec 12, 2012

For carburetors I use Berrymans chem dip. It takes the paint and varnish or grease off in 10 minutes. Can be reused many times. Just cleaned a carb last night in the stuff. Use gloves cause the smell is hard to get off your hands.

For grease I use paint thinner in my dunk tank followed by a brake cleaner rinse.

fixerupper · Dec 12, 2012

I tried the tree hugger stuff too with the same results. Switched to mineral spirits and I've never looked back. The bill for a pail of mineral spirits is enough to choke a horse but it will last a long time depending on how much you use it. The pump on my washer gave up the ghost because of the tree hugger water based stuff and I haven't replaced it. Didn't like the splash from the pumped fluid. Jim

pete 23 · Dec 12, 2012

I use regular pump type parts washer. For carburetor
it gets a preliminary wash job in parts washer then
into carburetor cleaner and then back into parts
cleaner or hot water. Hard to find good parts
cleaning fluid now days. Some turns really foul
stinking shortly. When we got it at the shop in a 55
gal barrel it was marked dry cleaning solvent and
worked good. That water mix I don't like. I figure
my hands have probably absorbed all the harsh
chemical my body will hold by my age so no gloves.

Dave_Id · Dec 12, 2012

My dad once took engine cleaner "Gunk" and cleaned the old coffee pot. The coffee tasted really weird for a while. He fessed up once everyone complained that the coffee smelled like 'gunk'..
The stuff really cleaned up the coffee pot nicely.

sflem849 · Dec 12, 2012

The old Crock Pot is a lot better than my enamal roaster. I am a little

Steve-Maine · Dec 12, 2012

I had been buying my parts washer cleaning fluid from an industrial supplier. The other day they wanted around $90, went to Tractor suply and bought same brand for I think around $35, It sure pays to shop around

ACSam · Dec 12, 2012

Nice thing about using the crock pot is you don't have to be concerned about any of the rubber or plastic parts and no harsh chemicals to irritate your skin. I can reach bare handed into 140 degree soapy water to get a part. I do sometimes develop dish pan hands though. lol

Bob Huntress · Dec 13, 2012

I like your crock pot idea. I'll have to put one next to my toaster oven that I heat 7018 welding rod with. My wife will think Mary and I are running a kitchen out of the shop.

Bob Huntress · Dec 13, 2012

I generally use diesel and whatever brand of "Gunk" is available. I like the crock pot idea, however, for carbs. I don't know if I would want to clean the neoprene part in it, but, the rest should be fine.

Butch(OH) · Dec 13, 2012

Best tool money I have spent for a few years has been a spray wash cabinet parts washer. We can fit engine blocks and trans cases in ours but they make smaller ones. We use a very economical detergent from TEMCO. Takes a little bit of planning to use. Start the heat before suppper etc but the results are fantastic and the cost per part makes solvents spray can or other wise look like liquid gold. Might as well head that direction, your going to be there by force anyway?

Butch(OH) · Dec 13, 2012

Forgot to add that for varnished up carbs we use MEK from the hardware store, not as good as the old mikly carburetor cleaner but will get the job done.

Dean Olson · Dec 13, 2012

I have a 5 gallon bucket with lid. It has about 2 gallons of diesel in
it. If I'm not in a hurry I let parts soak till I have time to mess with
them. I also have a gallon can of gunk carb cleaner.

Used-to-be-iowa-dave · Dec 13, 2012

Hot D*MN that"s a good idea! My wife set an old crock pot out on the porch for me to throw out on friday. It works, just got too hot on the high setting. It"s going to my shop instead!

mkirsch · Dec 13, 2012

Has anybody tried the crockpot idea, with green antifreeze?

I just recalled that method from my early days in flying model airplanes. If you want an engine clean you soak it overnight in a crockpot of antfreeze set on low. Peels the gunk right off.

John D Smith · Dec 13, 2012

First: watch out for the MEK, that stuff melts plastic in a flash.
Second: my wife sold the old crockpot in a consignment store last week.
Three: I scavenged a nieghbors dishwasher she threw out and got a small water pump that pumps liquid detergent into the tub. I want to make this a pump in an old milk house wash tub I have and run Simple Green thru it for parts washing. You think Simple Green will be strong enough for lite grease removal?
John

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