O. T. how to clean 50 yrs. of grease?

[Anonymous-0]

I've got a '54 300 and a '42 H. They both have a great deal of experience in leaking fluids and collecting dust. I would like to give them each a new playing surface and a coat of paint . . . I think I'll go with red . . . anyway, how do you get all of the caked up, oil-based mud off the steel. I tried using a power washer and dish soap, not too much luck. What do you guys use?
Thanks,
Texp

 

[Anonymous-0]

Elbow grease always worked for me! Not much fun and a lot of hard work, but it will come off with scrapers, etc. There ain"t no easy way!

 

[Anonymous-0]

Darn! I was hoping that there would be a reply that did not include the words "elbow Grease"
Texp

 

[Anonymous-0]

Pap and Grand-dad used a steam jenny with something called "49-S Compound", which was lye based. Of coures, it removed a lot of paint as well as oil, grease, grime, and dirt.

Then the non-sheet-metal parts of the tractor were gone over with a putty knife and a wire brush [and a pocketknife to get into nooks and crannies] prior to any sanding or paint work.

I'm guessing the old steam jenny is obsolete these days, and the "environmentally-correct police" have probably forced them to take 49-S off the market. I mean, how do you contain and dispose of the runoff water?

 

[Anonymous-0]

Have used the following:
lye
oven cleaner
soak w/diesel fuel
scrapers, wire brush on a drill
As for a power washer, a real powerful one will take just about anything off - ours will take the paint off a brand new vehicle if you hit it with a solid stream!

 

[Anonymous-0]

I've heard on these fora that a pneumatic needle scaler will (rapidly) dislodge that accumulated dirt, grease, and grime...but ONLY use it on cast parts. Sheet metal will rapidly distort due to the peening action.

Pressure washing will also break a lot of that crud loose.

I've never tried the needle scaler, so I can't speak to how well it works. I do know the pressure washer works, but can damage wiring, paint, and any other non-metal parts.

Nathaniel

 

[Anonymous-0]

As someone else said, a 3000 psi pressure washer with a "zero" degree nozzle will cut any grease. I first spray the grease with engine cleaner and let it soak in for a while (at least an hour, maybe longer). Then I pressure wash and it always comes clean (I have a 3000 psi unit that pumps 4 gpm - 11 hp engine). I usually do not use the "zero" degree nozzle as one of the smaller angle ones usually cleans everything and covers a wider area. It also seems to work better if I hook my water supply up the the laundry sink and supply the pressure washer with warm water (not hot as that will destroy your pressure washer I understand unless it is designed for it). As a side note, I think those "zero" degree nozzles are dangerous; because, if you ran it across your skin it would open you up like a knife. Roger

 

[Anonymous-0]

Steam cleaner. 1 hour job. Spotless when you are done. Even faster if you spray it down with kerosene from one of those spray can oufits from farm supply store and let it sit an hour or two.

Gordo

 

[Anonymous-0]

"Goof Off" in gallon can at Home Depot and a few rolls of paper towels worked good for me.

 

[Anonymous-0]

a good pressure washer if you have a friend that owns a hog opperation they usualy have some really good pressure washers

 

[Anonymous-0]

I hate that! I made a nice list and after I post it re-formats my spacing, etc.

I have used the following:

lye

oven cleaner

soak w/diesel fuel

scrapers

wire brush on a drill


Needle scaler sounds like a good idea for the cast parts... I'll have to try that next time!

 

[Anonymous-0]

If you use a steam jenny, be safe and use really good ear protection
(ear muffs). A first class steam jenny flat cleans crud off like magic.
Just be advised it puts out enough noise to leave your ears ringing
for a week. I know from experience.