Parts washer worth it for Birf job? Cleaner?

e9999

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• Jan 29, 2005

• #1

OK, starting to plan for a Birf job in the not too distant future.
From reading stuff here, it seems like cleaning is the biggest part of the job.
Been wondering if an electric parts washer might be worth having...
The kind that looks like a sink/box with a recirculating pump and a flex nozzle.
I see smaller cheapo ones on sale at Kragen etc for less than $50.

Qs:
- is it worth buying one of these just for the Birf job in terms of time and aggravation saved (realistically I will likely have no other use for it)?
- If so, is there a size (or feature) needed to accommodate the Birf-job related cleaning?
- What sort of cleaner is best to use with these: degreaser like Simple green etc, diesel, kerosene.... what?

thx
e

 

Romer

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• Jan 29, 2005

• #2

It's probably a nice thing to have for that and others. You don't need it for the Birf. Brake cleaner and lots of rags will do the trick. Put the bearings that you will reuse in ca tupper wear thing of gas. Spray them clean with brake cleaner and use the air from an air compressor (nice but not necessary)to dry them before packing them. Just make sure they are dry before packing.

On the other hand, I always look at projects as a way to increase the tool department.

 

Beowulf

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• Jan 29, 2005

• #3

e

A good parts washer will make the job go faster but those $50 ones might be more trouble than they're worth. I believe HF sells one that can be upgraded with a pump and a filter to make a decent unit. You'll spend more and mod'ing it will take time.

One or 2 plastic 5 gal buckets 1/2 filled with varsol works well. You can get it in bulk from petroleum suppliers. It's about $2 gal locally. They might call it white gas or parts cleaner fluid.

-B-

 

TX_TLC

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• Jan 29, 2005

• #4

I had one when I did mine recently. I HIGHLY recommend it. But it is not a must by any means. It is very useful for more than just the birfs. Most come with a little bin to hold nuts bolts...so as they came off the truck then went in there to soak and get clean. The pump doesn't shoot out at any high preasure but the constant circulation gets parts amazingly clean.

Harbor Frieght has the small one for $39.99 and the big stand up one for $69.99

 

Last edited: Jan 29, 2005

landtank

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• Jan 29, 2005

• #5

I've done 3 axle jobs with nothing more than a 5 gal bucket and some Kerosine. Just get plenty of those shop towels and wipe everything down good to get the bulk of the old grease off and then tidy up with a solvent.

I'd personally avoid the brake kleen stuff.

 

snowwolfwarrior

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• Jan 29, 2005

• #6

I used a 5 gallon bucket and a big blue tissue roll and a 1" paint brush and 5 litres of white spirit, and of course hundreds of disposable rubber gloves, I just hate getting grease or oil on my hands, it sure is not good for you.

 

Arya Ebrahimi

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• Jan 29, 2005

• #7

Well having used a parts washer on my birf job, I can't imagine doing one without it! I would just set the parts in there, aim the nozzle in the general area I wanted clean, and then go back to working on the rig. Working at a very leisurely pace taking breaks for beer, chatting w/ stoppers by, and so on, I was able to complete the job in 9 hours, and it was the first time I'd ever taken one of these apart. Granted I was also using a shop, but I honeslty think the parts washer was a godsend. I've cleaned other axle parts(dana style) and even without birfields full of grease it was an unpleasant task.

Ary

 

ginericLC

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• Jan 29, 2005

• #8

I would forego a cheap parts washer. I burned up 3 or 4 of the cheap ones from Schuck's (kragen and checker). The little motors just weren't up to the task. I spent more time putting them together and taking them back than I did on the birf job itself. And I did knuckles too! A friend bought a Harbor Freight one probably 6 years ago and that little guy really works. Not as much plastic in it as the newer ones.

 

IdahoDoug

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• Jan 29, 2005

• #9

I used a 5 gallon bucket and solvent. It was tall enough to put the assembled birf/axle into it and immerse the birf for cleaning. Just lean the rest of the axle against a corner so it can't tip the bucket and go back to work.

By far the best thing I did for cleaning was to park the truck on a gravelly area I wouldn't have to clean and lay under there with an old toothbrush, a wire brush and an assortment of small scrapers and flat screwdrivers scraping the accumulated gritty grease off. Then I liberallly sprayed the entire area with engine degreaser foam and drove to a pressure car wash. Got about 80% of it off on the first pass. Then I repeated this the next day and found lots of nooks and crannies worth repeating the cycle upon. When I began the process, I was VERY pleased to be working around bare steel rather than grit and crap getting all over everything. By far this was the biggest work/time saver as cleaning this stuff as you go along would be a major PITA.

DougM

 

flintknapper

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• Jan 29, 2005

• #10

The one I have holds about 12 gals. of cleaner. I use Varsol (mineral spirits). I consider a parts washer indespensible for the other stuff I do, but it is not absolutely necessary as already cited. Remember, it is really only going to be useful for the parts that you can remove and carry to it.

 

sea2skydad

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• Jan 29, 2005

• #11

A buddy bought one of the $50 units and we did the birfs on his truck and mine with it. It was definitely a time saver and it's still working, if not new looking.

 

Riley

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• Jan 29, 2005

• #12

Another vote for Varsol and a 5 gal bucket plus a small baking tin (good one, not the foil ones).

Also some good brushes (they're cheap). I hate brake kleen, gives me a headache. I have to save any extra brain cells for step number #6.

 

clownmidget

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• Jan 29, 2005

• #13

Eric, also check with Pep Boys, Kragen, Checker, etc. Here in CA there are several that actually rent/loan these now

 

reffug

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• Jan 29, 2005

• #14

landtank said:

I've done 3 axle jobs with nothing more than a 5 gal bucket and some Kerosine. Just get plenty of those shop towels and wipe everything down good to get the bulk of the old grease off and then tidy up with a solvent.

I'd personally avoid the brake kleen stuff.

Click to expand...

There is something about taking advice from Elmer Fudd that I really enjoy.

 

brownbear

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• Jan 29, 2005

• #15

If your using varsol/mineral spirits its super important to wear rubber gloves. that stuff will even melt the gloves, so I know it isn't good for your health.