Bearing Grease Solvent

[Don McCombs]

What's the best solvent to use to quickly dissolve dry, hardened, caked on bearing type grease? Lacquer thinner, mineral spirits, kerosene, carb cleaner???

 

[Phillip W. Lenke]

Don
I use kind of a combo, take the bulk off first dry
Then soak rest with K-1 , finish off with the laquer thinner as it will evaporate quickly and clean the K-1 as well as the extra grease remaining.
That's how I do it.
I put laquer thinner in an old sprayer bottle like a previous window or stain solvent , can use an old water bottle but make sure you MARK IT WELL!!!, don't ask why I recommend that !
Hope it helps.
Phil

 

[johnbron]

:idea: I just repacked the 4-wheel bearings on my trailer last week. As for the hard brittle grease I first scraped it off with a knife blade. Then I sprayed the bearing with carb cleaner while spinning it using my fingers as an axle and they ended up looking like new.

 

[Bus Driver]

Diesel fuel is a relatively low cost solvent. I find that it cleans the bearings satisfactorily without additional solvents.

 

[Don McCombs]

Thanks, guys. Many good suggestions.

 

[john2189]

Diesel fuel is a relatively low cost solvent. I find that it cleans the bearings satisfactorily without additional solvents.

I hate the smell of diesel fuel, I use plain gasoline.

 

[Matt Kirsch]

No offense John, but how's that work?

Gasoline stinks. Diesel smells almost sweet enough to drink!

 

[john2189]

No offense John, but how's that work?

Gasoline stinks. Diesel smells almost sweet enough to drink!

Are you a truck driver Matt ?


the diesel around here stinks. i like the smell of gas..

 

[Buzzard Wing]

Oven cleaner works the best, but really is nasty stuff.

If I can soak the part, K-1. I have used some degreasers that are not too bad, the generic one from BJ's or Costco with high concentration and a stiff brush. Pretty cheap too.

I have heard that the Castrol stuff is good too.

If you can let the stuff work (sit), it may help too.

A cheap plastic storage container with a lid is my poor guys parts cleaner, I am really afraid to see what is on the bottom of that thing!


Larry

 

[BigBill]

I have a carb cleaner dip tank and they come out squeeky clean. Some of the older carb cleaner was great stuff in that 5 gallon bucket with a screen drain basket that fit inside. The older cleaning stuff you couldn't touch with your hands.

There was a larger cleaning tank that used that pancake colored type cleaning stuff too and that would take the chrome plating off a trailer hitch ball. Everything came out squeeky clean too.

What ever you use make sure you use rubber gloves and safety glasses too i trust none of this stuff nowadays.

 

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

I hate the smell of diesel fuel, I use plain gasoline.

we used gasoline for cleaning parts on the farm as I was growing up, but as I got older and started thinking about the hazards I decided there were better ways.

 

[john2189]

I hate the smell of diesel fuel, I use plain gasoline.

we used gasoline for cleaning parts on the farm as I was growing up, but as I got older and started thinking about the hazards I decided there were better ways.

John,
Back when I used to smoke, I would use gasoline to clean parts with a lite cig in my mouth

John