10 replies to this topic

[alpder]

I've got a seriously coked-up remote gearbox casing that I'd like to get clean before rebuilding. There's about half-a-millimetre depth of solid soot and burned-on oil on all the internal surfaces.

 

If it wasn't a delicate item I'd take it to my local sand-blaster. But I assume sand-blasting is a no-no for a gearbox casing because it'll erode the bearing housings and sliding bushings.

 

Loads of vids on YouTube of gearboxes being rebuilt... but most of them start the job with a gearbox that's perfectly clean inside and out. Does anyone know what kind of a place do they take it to, to get it cleaned-up like that? And (long-shot!) if anyone knows of one in the Pembrokeshire area, please...?

[imack]

They come up pretty clean with an initial jet wash followed by degreaser, some stiff brushes and some elbow grease.

[Shooter63]

If you've got a local hand car wash near you take the case to them, all ours include a power wash to get the main cack off, they probably only charge you a tenner.

Shooter

[alex-95]

As above, I take mine to the local self car wash with a pressure washer to get rid of most, then go at it with degreaser and stiff brush a couple of times, That will get it pretty clean. You can get it vapour blasted which won't damage the casing like sand blasting would.

[Icey]

Jet wash, degreaser, and solvent cleaners (e.g. carb cleaner) will all do the job. Be very careful attacking it with wire brushes as it’s really easy to dig into the aluminium.

I’ve just stripped my spare box and will be getting it (and all other aluminium casings) vapour blasted, just to see how they come out.

[Spider]

You can have them soda blasted, that isn't abrasive to the aluminum and is a process often used on industrial parts, but regardless of which way you do end up going here, if you are sending it out for cleaning, clean as much off as you can, sometimes just letting it soak for a day in a solution will go a long way to cleaning or at least, pre-cleaning. You can send it out as it is, but you're only paying more for something you can do largely at home or as the other guys have suggested, at the local car wash.

 

Vapor Blasting and similar I've notice is becoming more popular, but be careful here as many firms use an abrasive material to do it, which isn't really vapor blasting !

[Rosslin Racing]

elbow grease is what it was once called. lot of scrubing and soaking will bring a good clean box. 

[alpder]

Thanks everyone.

 

Vapour blasting I'd never heard of. Though I guess it's an updated version of what we'd have called steam cleaning back in the... errr... well, let's just say back in the days when "21st Century" sounded very futuristic.

 

I have come across the expression "elbow grease" before. Unpleasant, hot, sweaty stuff that you really wouldn't want too much of in yer workshop. So I've heard!

[Steve220]

I put mine in a large bucket with some degreaser and used a set of new (cheap) paint brushes to get the initial crud off.

[colinf1]

A cheap large plastic storage tub (one that will fit the entire gearbox casing in) and some engine degreaser/kerosene and some cheap paint brushes. You can let it soak for a few days after you give it a scrub, then the dirt will settle on the bottom of the container and you can reuse the degrease for another scrub and soak.

Then power wash it all off once you think then degreaser has softened everything

Dirty gears


Big box

Nice and clean during rebuild

[DeadSquare]

And finally, while the wife is out having her hair done, with two tablets, pop it in the dishwasher.