9 replies to this topic

[new_van_man]

Petrol to clean a gearbox casing and contents - a good idea? or not?

Hi there,

I am going to rebuild my gearbox and was just wondering what is best to use to clean the grime grease dirt and oil off the casing and gears. I was going to use some old petrol I had lying around. This had some 2 stroke oil mixed in with it about 5%.

Will this have any corrosive effect on the casing and gears, obviously i wont use in plastic bearings.

any help as always much appreciated.

Cheers

Ed

[Southy]

Gunk and/or Parrafin would be your best bet.

[new_van_man]

But will petrol do any damage?

[pikey7]

are you taking it apart? i would be more worried about washing crud into the synchros and bearings.

[Guess-Works.com]

Dip!

Or, pull it apart, give it a good clean with paraffin, petrol, diesel or something to get rid of the oil and grease, then whack it in the dishwasher for the Ainsley bling.

[DAVEY_C]

if your sticking it in the dishwasher i would advise doing it when no one else is home.... lol

[new_van_man]

Yes i am totally stripping it.

So far diff off, speedo housing off but stuck as got no circlip pliers so off to purchase some tomorrow to remove circlip on flywheel end.

Not sure i will be able to put it back together but will be fun trying..... first time i have done this!

Currently cant see how all the shafts / gears etc come out, but armed with help from Mr haynes who says it possible it must be so!

If i strip it down and take it to a machine shop in bits i take it they can dip / clean all bits in one go? The casing is flithy with loads of old gasket on etc. Will dipping removing all this? Or will i need to remove this all first?

my wife would kill me if i put in the dishwasher, lucky for me I have a human dishwasher so that argument wont arise!

[DAVEY_C]

the dvd about building mini engines is a good one, 4hrs long i thing and also explains dissmantling and reassembling a gearbox.... i would recommend it.

[mike.]

I used a wire brush drill attachment for the outside of mine and for the inside I used some swafega metal cleaner/restorer from B&Q. Worked really well.

[Southy]

Yes i am totally stripping it.

So far diff off, speedo housing off but stuck as got no circlip pliers so off to purchase some tomorrow to remove circlip on flywheel end.

Not sure i will be able to put it back together but will be fun trying..... first time i have done this!

Currently cant see how all the shafts / gears etc come out, but armed with help from Mr haynes who says it possible it must be so!

If i strip it down and take it to a machine shop in bits i take it they can dip / clean all bits in one go? The casing is flithy with loads of old gasket on etc. Will dipping removing all this? Or will i need to remove this all first?

my wife would kill me if i put in the dishwasher, lucky for me I have a human dishwasher so that argument wont arise!

As Davey_C state, the A-Series engine builder DVD is good for how to assemble the gearbox, also as I recall Mr Guesswork's did a 'How To' guide on here for it aswell.