Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Cleaning oily parts

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    Cleaning oily parts

    I used to have a parts cleaning sink available to me at previous jobs. I'm retired now and was wondering what people do to clean oily parts at home. What cleaning fluid do you use? What makes a good sink? How do you dispose of old fluid?

    Also I remember that either Simple Green or Purple Power would mess up aluminum parts. Can anyone tell me which one it is? Thanks.
    Dale

    1982 Suzuki GS1100G
    2017 Kawasaki Versys-X 300
    1999 Kawasaki ZRX1100
    1997 Honda 250 Rebel
    1984 Honda Nighthawk S CB700SC
    1973 Yamaha RT3 360

    #2
    I use varsol or kerosene if there are rubber parts like seals to look after. I use a 3 or 5 gallon bucket with a lid, use it until the fluid is hopelessly dirty, then dump the fluid in with my used motor oil and take that all to the local recycle center to dispose of it.


    Mark
    1982 GS1100E
    1998 ZX-6R
    2005 KTM 450EXC

    Comment


      #3
      Mineral spirits works great. Extra points for odorless. And don't use the low VOC junk. After cleaning pour the dirty fluid into a jug of some sort. The heavy sludge will settle to the bottom so the next time you need to wash something it's easy to pour the clean fluid off the top. Almost limitless recycling.
      Ed

      To measure is to know.

      Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

      Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

      Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

      KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

      Comment


        #4
        Single plastic laundry room sink, 5 gallon bucket and a pump. fill bucket with your favorite mix and run a line up to the faucet on the sink. drains back into bucket for recycling to the faucet. May wish to have a filter sock on the drain pipe to strain juice before it goes back into the bucket. Simple green concentrate will allow you to make a stronger mix and its non flammable
        MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
        1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

        NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


        I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

        Comment


          #5
          harbor freight ones arent that expensive either
          MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
          1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

          NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


          I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by Nessism View Post
            Mineral spirits works great. Extra points for odorless. And don't use the low VOC junk. After cleaning pour the dirty fluid into a jug of some sort. The heavy sludge will settle to the bottom so the next time you need to wash something it's easy to pour the clean fluid off the top. Almost limitless recycling.
            Excellent point. A lot of "cleaners" have a lot of life left in them after they have been used -- but that does not mean that they are used up. Today, I need to use some CLR to remove some rust. I have a half gallon of old, very dirty CLR left over from some other jobs. I filter it using a couple of standard coffee filters placed inside a funnel. It gets any fine particles, AKA GRIT, out -- and it's ready for another job. It's easy to tell when it's finally lost it's "punch" because it stops fizzling when applied to a rust spot. Since the stuff isn't exactly cheap, reusing -- over and over -- it makes sense!
            sigpic
            '77 GS550B
            '78 GS550C

            Comment


              #7
              I have never had anything oily/grimy the dollar store concentrated degreaser won't remove. I am always amazed how well it works and price is right. I use it full strength mostly and it has done no harm to any of the probably thousands of things I've cleaned.

              The yellow colored stuff on the top row here, bonus when they stock the refill bottles but that's sort of rare these days.

              http://www.lastotallyawesome.com/products/all-purpose/
              Tom

              '82 GS1100E Mr. Turbo
              '79 GS100E
              Other non Suzuki bikes

              Comment


                #8
                So I gather then that Simple Green and LA's Totally Awesome is safe for aluminum?
                Dale

                1982 Suzuki GS1100G
                2017 Kawasaki Versys-X 300
                1999 Kawasaki ZRX1100
                1997 Honda 250 Rebel
                1984 Honda Nighthawk S CB700SC
                1973 Yamaha RT3 360

                Comment


                  #9
                  Simple Green will discolor aluminum
                  Simple Green Pro doesnt
                  1978 GS 1000 (since new)
                  1979 GS 1000 (The Fridge, superbike replica project)
                  1978 GS 1000 (parts)
                  1981 GS 850 (anyone want a project?)
                  1981 GPZ 550 (backroad screamer)
                  1970 450 Mk IIID (THUMP!)
                  2007 DRz 400S
                  1999 ATK 490ES
                  1994 DR 350SES

                  Comment

                  Working...
                  X