Wax Removal From Nos Bearings?

[moose]

I got my main bearings from AB yesterday.  They are the correct Federal Mogul #'s.  Now what is the best way to get the wax off of them without damaging the bearing surfaces?  I feel like it will hurt them if I keep wiping them, gasoline doesn't cut it, and I tried heat.  Heat works, but I don't want to damage anything that way either.

 

Anybody got any better ideas?  Something like naptha maybe?

[Plymouthy Adams]

usually they used kerosene to remove the cosmoline (wax) if still pliable but if crusty....

 

per Wiki.........A useful method of cleaning a tool of crusted cosmoline is to allow a penetrating oil (such as WD-40, CRC 5-56, CLP, or equivalent) to soak into it for several minutes or hours, which typically restores it to a viscous-fluid state, allowing it to be wiped off. An additional method of cosmoline removal on new parts is to use a closed-cabinet parts washer that utilizes the power wash process. Removal of cosmoline with an aqueous parts washer requires high heat, the proper aqueous detergent and the correct hydraulic impact pressure.^[2]

Edited July 10, 2013 by Plymouthy Adams

[JerseyHarold]

I've used brake cleaner for this type of cleaning.  Worked well for me.

[greg g]

how about hot water, the wax should melt off and float to the top of the cooking vessel.  when I built my go cart as a kid I got some parts wrapped i wax paper and thick with cosmoline (which I believe was wax based)  Dad put them in an old enamel pan and put them on the stove,  boiled them up and it all came off.  Mom was not happy with the odor.  So maybe break out the Colman stove.

[moose]

Good ideas, I'll probably try a couple and let you know.

[Mark D]

Set the parts up on a bakers rack above some old news paper and put it out in the direct sun light for a couple hours.  However as it seems we've lost the sun for the past couple days here in new england you might be waiting...

[Don Coatney]

I used laquor thinner and it worked well.

[greg g]

Sun????? been raining here for the last 23 days.

[moose]

Combination of boiling and then WD40.  The rear main was the worst with both halves having dry crusty stuff all over, and needed WD40.  The other three weren't dried and came clean in the boil.  Thanks for the suggestions.  They are now in place, and torqued onto the crank.  All four were just a bit more than .0015.

[Andydodge]

Don had the right idea.....just use lacquer thinnners.........wipes right off........andyd 

[DJ194950]

Don had the right idea.....just use lacquer thinnners.........wipes right off........andyd 

 

Seems that lately my local paint suppliers cannot sell Lacquer thinners here in kalifornicat___.

But they do sell a cleanup liquid in gal. cans for sprayguns and gen. assoiciated equip. that sures smells and works like the thinner I remember!

 

Best to ya,

 

Doug

Edited July 10, 2013 by DJ194950

[Andydodge]

If you can't get the lacquer thinner, try general purpose thinners, enamel thinners or acetone........any of these type of solvents should remove the cosmoline/wax........andyd

[P15-D24]

Seems that lately my local paint suppliers cannot sell Lacquer thinners here in kalifornicat___.

But they do sell a cleanup liquid in gal. cans for sprayguns and gen. assoiciated equip. that sures smells and works like the thinner I remember!

 

Best to ya,

 

Doug

You can get 1 gallon cans of lacquer thinner at OSH or Home Depot. Acetone is another option. 

[Don Coatney]

Lowes in Madesto has it by the quart. $7.98

 

http://www.lowes.com/Search=laquor+thinner?ipTrail=76.114.78.41&newSearch=true&catalogId=10051&selectedLocalStoreBeanArray=%5Bcom.lowes.commerce.storelocator.beans.LocatorStoreBean%406710671%5D&storeNumber=0795&Ntt=laquor+thinner&N=0&langId=-1&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lowes.com%2FSearch%3Dlaquor%2Bthinner%3FstoreId%3D10151%26langId%3D-1%26catalogId%3D10051%26N%3D0%26newSearch%3Dtrue%26Ntt%3Dlaquor%2Bthinner%23%21&storeId=10151#!

[DJ194950]

Lowes in Madesto has it by the quart. $7.98

 

http://www.lowes.com/Search=laquor+thinner?ipTrail=76.114.78.41&newSearch=true&catalogId=10051&selectedLocalStoreBeanArray=%5Bcom.lowes.commerce.storelocator.beans.LocatorStoreBean%406710671%5D&storeNumber=0795&Ntt=laquor+thinner&N=0&langId=-1&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lowes.com%2FSearch%3Dlaquor%2Bthinner%3FstoreId%3D10151%26langId%3D-1%26catalogId%3D10051%26N%3D0%26newSearch%3Dtrue%26Ntt%3Dlaquor%2Bthinner%23%21&storeId=10151#!

P-15-D24 & Don C.

 

Find that interesting why a auto paint store won't sell "lacquer thinner" and it's avail. at the big boxes!

 

Will check price next time i'm in one. I did look one time at OSH at acetone price and it was higher than the paint suppliers.

Last time I bought the "equipment cleaner" I believe it was about $15 a gal. (6 mo. ago).

 

Appreciate the heads up on availibility. Most  auto paints seem to use  things that acetone works for thinning and cleanup now in Ca.

Not a problem as it's cheap.

 

Still like lacquer thinner for things that need a heavy cleaning or paints that have started to set up that I want removed.

 

Best to ya,

 

Doug

[Don Coatney]

P-15-D24 & Don C.

 

Find that interesting why a auto paint store won't sell "lacquer thinner" and it's avail. at the big boxes!

 

 

Doug

 

That is interesting and I would for sure ask that question next time I stopped in the paint store.