Since this community is usually full of great DIY thinkers I will pose my problem here and see what ideas people come up with...

I've been porting honda oil pumps - the end results are very promising. Unfortunately it takes so much effort to clean them up I don't think I can make money doing this for a reasonable price. The compounds I use and the aluminum they cast with comes off like powder. I've tried brake cleaner, carb cleaner etc (too expensive). A normal parts washer doesn't really do a good job either because there are a few passageways and it just doesn't seem to loosen all the crud.

Anyone got an idea for an inexpensive means of cleaning these things properly? Last thing I want to do is expire an engine because of poor cleaning. I'd like a professional parts washer but they're more like $5k and at the amount I am charging that would take hundreds of pumps to pay for itself!

Just typing this up I was thinking an old dishwasher but I don't know how it would like brake cleaner type chemicals...

-Michael

 

I vote old dishwasher and try some super clean in there and see how it holds.I have been lookiing for a old dishwasher for this purpose.

 

An idea that I have been toying with would be to use an old dishwasher and an aqueous cleaning solution. You would probably have to fab up some sort of sump to recirculate the fluid. A small tankless hot water heater might work to help boost the cleaning power by raising the inlet water temperature. I would think that an old dishwasher with a stainless tub would be the best to use, but good luck finding one of those for cheap.

Hmmm. I have lots of time maybe I should build one.

 

Same here. to bad we don't have running water out in the shop!

 

You don't need running water - you need running super-clean (or purple power)

 

go to home depot, and pick up zep purple industrial cleaner. its supoer hella strong and it will dissolve aluminum. just dont leave it in there too long ( days anbd days ) just leave it in for like 2 houyrs, and youll be set.

 

I've got the easiest way to clean parts, I give them to my son and he takes them to his work and does it for me or you can make your own parts washer

1. get a compressor
2. 5 gal jerry can with solvent
3. air spraygun with in and out lines and a few diff nozz or a tire type air nozz w/1/4 in
opening
4. a big round pan to catch solvent
5. run inlet line into jerry can turn on comp and spray away this works great and also gets into the nooks and crannys
6. when your done, recycle solvent back into jerry can and claen big round pan

 

simple green always works for me. just soak for a day or two

 

I clean all my aluminum parts in hot soapy water, the water in my house gets really hot, so I get a big tub fill it up with soap and hot water soak the parts in it, then when the water is warm I scrub it with a green scotch pad, all my parts are now super clean white aluminum, the spray them down with wd40