Topic: cleaning up axle and parts....

[Jakesteads]

I just got a 85 4cl front axle and im tearing it down and doing a complete rebuild on it.... now there is some little nuts and bolts i want to have cleaned up...... is there some sort of liquid cleaner that i can just drop all those parts into and then pull them out wipe them down at a later date and they will sparkle....

as far as cleaning up the axle just use a grinder? i used it some but to get in hard to reach places it doesnt work at all... i have a high speed drill with a wire brush but that doesnt do much either


 

[DTB]

FUN! 

i took mine on a trip to the powerwasher! (I kind of had to sneak in so the owners didnt see me!) what a greasy damn mess!!

you'll use lots of brake cleaner, rags, wire brush and a flapper disc for your grinder is very handy

for smaller nuts, bolts and washers i shake them in a jar with brake clean. HAVE FUN!!

[Jakesteads [OP]]

im painting mine silver and im thinking about that truss..... you just made my day

why did u get rid of your shock mounts...

[DTB]

why did u get rid of your shock mounts...

welded on knuckle ball gussets with shock mounts like this

[Jakesteads [OP]]

hmmm i didnt know those had new shock mounts....  i might have to get me some cant go wrong with more gussets

[Wermz84]

I used those cans of engine degreaser, wire brush, rags and a lot of elbow grease..    

[Max Heintz]

could you sandblast it or would that screw anything up

[Loki]

when i have small parts, i just use some good ole fashoined race fuel then after they soak, dry them up and spray with brake cleaner.

[Volcom]

I wire-wheeled every single bolt in my front axle.  Took tons of time but everything was super clean after I was done.

[Wermz84]

I wire-wheeled every single bolt in my front axle.  Took tons of time but everything was super clean after I was done.

yup, Ive done that.  very time consuming but everything is indeed clean.

[eightyfive]

how do you wire wheel a bolt? it must be still attached to something right?

[jimbo74]

how do you wire wheel a bolt? it must be still attached to something right?

you hold it in your hand and put the bolt to the wheel.....

[Wermz84]

how do you wire wheel a bolt? it must be still attached to something right?

  I used vise grips and a light touch. 

an old trick i picked up while working at a used bicycle shop reviving old Schwinns and Hawthorne's.

[Loki]

you hold it in your hand and put the bolt to the wheel.....

yeah you could do this, but i don't recommend it...like Wermz said. use a good pair of vise grips...save your skin

[Volcom]

I wore gloves and just used my fingers.  On the little stuff like the small cone washers and nuts, I used some pliers.