Cleaning Parts

[cedarwoodron]

So. as I previously posted regarding those old Athearn motor mounts, I am undertaking a rehab on an old Athearn BB 4-wheel switcher. I am following the John Shaw/ Bill Anderson article " The Athearn Maintenance and Upgrade", which is, I believe, still available online. I have cleaned parts before using 91 alcohol and dish detergent, to get rid of old grease and such before lubrication and reassembly- nothing new there. But...I am cleaning THIS set of parts with that "Super Clean" stuff I have mentioned on this forum before. I get it in the large purple bottle size at WalMart in the Automotive section for about $5.00 a bottle. I have used this solution for removing stubborn old paint from car and diesel shells with great success, particularly with ancient paint jobs. All of a sudden, today, I get an epiphany! "Hey- how about using it to clean those parts you were going to dump in an alcohol bath?" So, in they went and I am on my way. This Super Clean has no bad effect on any plastic- even old stuff from the 1960s- and will not harm the acetal plastic gears and gearboxes I am working on right now. I will follow this with regular warm, then cold water rinse to remove the cleaner residue. I must be getting a bit of senioritis, not to have thought of this beforehand, but you're never to old to learn. Try it, you'll like it (as the old commercial used to say)! Cedarwoodron

[superbe]

Cedar,

Does the Super Clean have an odor and do you think it would be good for cleaning the rails??

Bob

[cedarwoodron]

It has a decent cleaning solution odor and dissolves grease "on contact" as per the label AND my humble experience. I have not thought of it as a rail cleaner, but that might be best done with rag where you put the solution on it first, then wipe down the rails. I would follow with a dampened rinsing rag of window cleaner.

Good idea!

Cedarwoodron

[AntonioFP45]

CedarwoodRon,

Thanks for posting this.  I have several P2K locomotives that are in new condition and have very little run time, but because they've been sitting in their boxes for about 5 years, the gear assemblies need to be completed cleaned and relubed.

Additionally, recently a former coworker gave me a 1970s Athearn BB SW-9.  The body, which is in the Southern Pacific orange and black scheme, is in good shape.  However the drive is so completely caked with dirt that I think most modelers would toss it.  But I'm going to attempt to save it.

I normally use 91% alcohol or an aeresol product like CRC, but I'll drop by "Wallyworld" and get a container of the Super Clean.  I like to try out and compare products as I'm always looking for a better way to get things done.

Merry Christmas and High Greens

[jeffrey-wimberly]

AntonioFP45

I normally use 91% alcohol  or a product like CRC, but I'll drop by "Wallyworld" and get a container of the Super Clean.  I always like to try out and compare products as I'm always looking for a better way to get things done.

That sounds interesting. I'm gonna have to give it a try. I disassemble and rebuild quite a few old (some could be called ancient) locos that have lube that's dried and hardened to the consistency of granite.