tractor parts cleaning

[RancherSam]

Trying to get an idea of what kind of fluid everyone uses to cleanup tractor parts. I have a dirt floor in my barn, and things fall and get dirty. Usually I dip the dirty part in a little bucket of diesel and rub the dirt off in there before I put it back on the tractor. Is it good, bad, neutral? What else can I use?

 

[mjncad]

If you are dropping the parts as you take them off the tractor, how about putting a tarp under the tractor to catch the parts? What about a tarp by your work bench?

Most of my parts cleaning is for stuff I fabricate as I've been fortunate enough not to need major repairs out of the warranty period.

I use mineral spirits, naphtha, denatured alcohol, and lacquer thinner as my three main cleaning agents. Mineral spirits is mild; but leaves a slight oily residue that the other three don't.

I also keep acetone and MEK around; but rarely use them.

My only gripe with diesel and kerosene as a solvent is that it leaves an oily residue. I've heard of some guys using Varsol; but I have no idea where to get it.

 

[RalphVa]

Diesel is a bit oily and doesn't have that much solvency. Kerosene is better. If you want to take away the oily residue, a little bit of lacquer thinner will do this, or spray it with carb cleaner. These are what I've used for a long time.

Recently, I discovered that denatured alcohol is good for cleaning leftover silicone spray that has accumulated a little grime on the 3 ph. You just need to moisten a rag with it and us the moist rag to wipe the 3 ph parts rubbing parts. Then reapply some silicone spray.

Ralph

 

[Bird]

I had a regular parts washer from Harbor Freight and used Varsol in it. The local Exxon distributor had the Varsol in 5 gallon cans and also had a bulk tank and pump. I first bought 3 five gallon cans, then after that, when I needed more, I just got the cans refilled. I think Varsol is not much different from naptha.

 

[scott_vt]

Good Evening Sam,
It looks like youve got some good replies ! I like mineral spirits myself but have used other solvents also ! Like Hal mentions, you can also get any oily residue off the part with laquer thinner also ! This can be important if your palnning on painting the part later !

 

[john_bud]

The answer is it depends. For just getting some dirt off, your doing just fine. If you are wanting to clean and degrease to be able to paint, there's a whole lot more to be done. I use the listed chemicals (except varsol) to clean and prep for paint. More time and more solvent work for pre-paint, natch'.

Couple years ago when I bought materials to build a pole barn extension then didn't have the time to start before hard frost, I got a big surplus tarp to cover the materials and keep snow and rain off. It's a 30x60' beer sign (used, but whole). I have 1/2 on the floor of the said extension now. It it much better than normal tarps, much thicker.

jb

 

[mjncad]

It's a 30x60' beer sign (used, but whole). I have 1/2 on the floor of the said extension now. It it much better than normal tarps, much thicker.

jb

I hope it's not a Falstaff sign as a good friend of mine would be crying in his beer if it was.

 

[kenmac]

I use mineral spirits in my parts washer. Seems to clean all my car parts, etc, well

 

[SPYDERLK]

Trying to get an idea of what kind of fluid everyone uses to cleanup tractor parts. I have a dirt floor in my barn, and things fall and get dirty. Usually I dip the dirty part in a little bucket of diesel and rub the dirt off in there before I put it back on the tractor. Is it good, bad, neutral? What else can I use?

Compressed air would go a long way there, even w/o washing. Works great for removing particles stuck to an oily part. I always use an air blow as the last step - even after solvent wash while still "wet". For quick spot jobs a squirt of kroil or wd40 and a blow.....
larry

 

[WildWest]

In lieu of mineral spirits for the parts washer i have used paint thinner i got my last 5 gallon bucket for 35$