100% mineral spirits vs Simple Green Aviation

Sounds like you finally got the hub out.

 

As for the question, I'd use what the manufacture recommends. If they say use water base, then use water base. If you haven't opened up the mineral spirit bottles, why not just return them?

 

Make sure to use a correct solution in the washer for the parts your cleaning. With aluminim parts make sure to deactivate them after cleaning with a proper pH solution.
I have left alum in a parts washer by mistake too long and poof lol

Pumps are cheap and seem to hold up well to most chemicals

 

I would assume the pump uses o-rings/elastomers that are incompatible with petroleum based fluids. If this is the case, your pump will probably start leaking or the seal will swell, potentially adding a drag to the rotating assembly and burning out the motor.

But, if a replacement pump is cheap or you can find one that is suitable, just use what you have and see how long it'll last.

 

I can't help it, I never used Simple green aviation cleaner on any of the aircraft I worked on because it wasn't allowed. Not that anything is wrong with it just kind of trivia for ya.


but Just rinse it off real good and the simple green is fine.

 

When you say half shaft, you mean CV joints?

 

I do not think you want to use mineral spirits in your washer.

1- it is flammable. Can you degrade the pump and start a fire?

2- it is toxic to you and gets more volatilized and aerosolized for your lungs when you scrub stuff with it.

 

Especially in a garage.

 

There's a guy on YouTube who bought one of the Harbor Freight parts washers and has been running mineral spirits through it for the past several years. That's not to say that the pump might not eventually fail, but he's had success. He also modifies the setup to accommodate an automotive style filter, plus a few other mods including a seal around the lip to keep the volatiles down. If can find the vid again, I'll post the link.

That said, my lower tech solution has been to use a plastic storage bin with a couple gallons of a water-based degreaser that I got at Home Depot with some scouring pads and a parts cleaning brush. I forget what it's called but is in the cleaning supply aisle, is a light purple color and comes in a concentrate. In higher concentrates, e.g. 75%/25% water/concentrate, I've found it to be very aggressive at removing grease and built up gunk (it'll also soften up and remove weaker paint). But wear gloves as it'll absolutely dry out your hands if you don't. I'm planning on getting a HF parts washer as well, and this is the stuff that I'd likely use. I also plan to modify the washer to install a filter as well as a small heater that'll bring the temp of the solvent up to 120 F or so.

 

I think you only need to worry about that in CA

 

The CV joint/s are attached the the end/s of the half shaft.

 

Thanks. I was just clarifying the CV joints are the part that specifically need to be rebuilt.

 

Low tech solution: tooth brush, roll of paper towels and multiple spray cans of Brake-Kleen with the red label. That stuff will clean anything off of anything.

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