Penetrating fluid

[PROFarms]

On my tractor I just bought in trying to take a few bits and pieces off to paint up and there's some pins which are well and truly rusted solid and can't get them out to take off the rear lift arms. I've tried levering them, tried hitting them, tried to hear it up to get off and someone suggested I use some sort of penetrating fluid to free it up and I was wondering what the best this to use is?

I heard that acetone mixed with automatic transmission fluid is pretty good and wd40 is useless?

Any help would be much appreciated as I don't want to break anything forcing it too hard.

 

[mikehaugen]

I heard that acetone mixed with automatic transmission fluid is pretty good and wd40 is useless?

...yes

There is another homebrew that use 3 equal parts of atf, acetone, and something else but I can't remember what. Some had luck with candle wax while it's heated, but I have never tried it. Kroil is said to be the best "off the shelf" penetrating fluid but it has to ordered as I've never seen it in stores. As far as readily available stuff, pb blast wins, imho... especially when combined with heat (watch out though as it smokes a lot).

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

X2 on the PB blaster. Have had decent luck with Liquid Wrench also.

WD, unless nothing else to pick from is best left for what it was designed....water displacing, and general short term rust inhibitor on bare metal

 

[Soundguy]

Kroil and blast are my spray can options. For cheap farm use, atf and acetone..

 

[coobie]

I have had good luck with strong arm brand and sea foam deep creep.

 

[caver]

They had some large nuts at work, holding up some equipment suspended on about a 2" threaded rod. Kroil is the favorite at work but they ended up putting heat on the nut and hitting it with beeswax and it worked.

 

[Sportsman762]

From my experience Free All is the best, however PB blaster is also a good penetrating oil. If you need a soaking penetrating oil I like to use Kroil. Free All and PB blaster get gummy if you let it soak too long (weeks) whereas Kroil still stays fluid and keeps trying to penetrate.
WD40 is not a penetrating oil. It is a protective film hence "Water Displacement 40th Formula" not PF40. Regular oil will penetrate as well if not better than WD40, however WD40 is better than nothing, hence why people believe that it is a penetrating fluid. - end rant

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

Another option is straight diesel fuel especially if its a small enough part that can be put in a pail or other container and left to soak.

 

[Blaneypark]

PB Blaster and some heat will do it most of the time. Let the Blaster soak for a hour or so apply gentle heat (not red hot) and that should do the trick.

 

[john_bud]

Atf-acetone.


Or 0w-20 synthetic motor oil to 2 parts acetone (or lacquer thinner).


The "theory" behind penetrants is pretty simple. A oil mixed with a fast evaporating solvent. The faster it evaporates, the faster and deeper it goes into the gaps.

BUT!

The good solvents are flammable. The commercial stuff is safer, and not as good as the old thinned atf mix.