Cleaning Bus Part - solvent?

[artvonne]

  Ive been using plain mineral spirits for over 10 years, since the cost of safety solvent (Kleen) went through the roof (thanks epa).

  The real difference is safety Kleen is gentler on your skin, mineral spirits is pretty harsh. But really, you should always wear gloves around a parts washer. And safety glasses. The biggest thing about a parts washer and solvent is flash point. IIRC mineral spirits, safety solvent and the like are 145 degrees. You do not want gasoline, or much of anything flamable in your solvent.

  The suggestion of using the old dirty stuff to clean the really yucky stuff before cleaning the yucky stuff in your clean stuff, is a really good idea.

  Solvent doesnt leave much residue, but for things im going to paint or seal, I wipe them down with lacquer thinner.

[luvrbus]

Lot of internal parts DD does not recommend mineral spirits for cleaning fwiw anything with o-ring or sealing surface

I checked the Rockwell,Allison,Timken and SKA bearing manuals same there reason I have no idea lol,Allison with the clutch packs maybe the rest ?


good luck

[robertglines1]

I still have old fashion steam Jenny. Then finish with Mineral spirits. I do filter it when it gets dirty and refill. A friend worked with toluene (Sp) for yrs and was told it was safe.  Has had many cancer concerns since.  So stay away from it. His doctor said it was the cause.   Bob

[artvonne]

  Clifford makes an important point that extends far beyond Detroit Diesel, to engines in general and anything mechanical. We use the parts washer for cleaning metal parts that are to be put back together with all new seals gaskets and o rings.

  Around aviation, its common to spray down engines and engine compartments with solvent, but its clean solvent. Clean solvent (mineral spirits) is generally safe on rubber and synthetic rubber parts, plastics etc.. In a parts washer however, the solvent becomes rapidly contaminated with everything, and anything thats on or in the parts you wash in it. Engine oil, brake fluid, grease, transmission fluid, gasoline and diesel fuel, etc.. Many of those chemicals will attack various types of o-rings and seals, etc., and destroy them. And in a parts washer, your parts are bathed in the stuff, whereas in spraying down an engine it all runs off and dries rapidly.

[Flatspot]

Have a buddy that converted his Greymills washer tank over to Clean Rite Purple Power soap. It is water based. Buy it by the 2.5 gallon jug at Walmart.
He added a water heater element through the side wall of the tank, the kind that has a thermostat on it. Turned on the heater to about 105 degrees F.
It is the cleaningest stuff I've ever seen.
I'm going to do the same with my parts washer. Until you try it you won't believe it and when the shop is cold it warms up your hands.

Think outside the box

Larry

[robertglines1]

Larry : I use purple power as a pre treat    never thought about as the tank solvent.  Do you use straight of dilute?