I am just wondering what everyone uses to flush out there bearings? I imagine you could really use just about anything like mineral spirits gasoline alcohol or even nail polish remover. Is there something that works best or do you just use whatever you have on hand?

Canned foaming engine degreaser and water. Mix roughly 50/50 in a small jar, then I use my dremel to spin them clean.

Brake cleaner in a can from the parts store.

There are many, many threads that will be revealed through a search. As close as you'll come to a consensus between myself and other reel techs. is to soak them in Perfect Solution (similar to Simple Green & available at Lowes) and rinse with hot water. Repeat as necessary until solvent stays clear. Dry thoroughly, apply 1 small drop of light oil to races. 

The reel kleen degreaser in the Ardent Reel Cleaning Kit works well. It's a citrus and petroleum based solvent.

100% acetone brake cleaner with a bearing blaster.

To all you guys using acetone, lighter fluid, carb cleaner, brake cleaner, engine de-greaser, etc; particularly you guys using the bearing blaster; where does all that spent chemical go?

 

Not to get all tree-hugger on ya, but, think about it. Simple Green is biodegradable. All those other chemicals are not.

And they're not good for you either. Probably not as much of a concern doing one here or there but I'm constantly exposed to these things and need to take precautions. 

I actually looked this up when cleaning my reels, and I was shocked to see how NOT bad for you acetone is, especially given how it smells. That isn't the case for the other solvents, but acetone is really pretty safe for what it is. Read the OSHA data on it. Obviously it is still very flammable, so be careful.

I actually looked this up when cleaning my reels, and I was shocked to see how NOT bad for you acetone is, especially given how it smells. That isn't the case for the other solvents, but acetone is really pretty safe for what it is. Read the OSHA data on it. Obviously it is still very flammable, so be careful.

If you have fairly regular skin contact with acetone, you WILL have liver problems. Not maybe, it's will happen. Most folks don't clean their reels enough for it to be an issue, but for a reel tech it wouldn't be good. I use the stuff regularly at work and it's not good for you at all. We use other chemicals and ketones that are far worse, but acetone is by no means something I would like to have on my skin.

To all you guys using acetone, lighter fluid, carb cleaner, brake cleaner, engine de-greaser, etc; particularly you guys using the bearing blaster; where does all that spent chemical go?

Not to get all tree-hugger on ya, but, think about it. Simple Green is biodegradable. All those other chemicals are not.

While I wouldn't call it "biodegradable," acetone will indeed break down in water or soil. It is a water-soluble chemical.

Engine degreaser is a water-based compound, or at least the kind I have is. It doesn't have any hazardous chemicals, it's essentially very stout peroxide.

Simple green can contaminate waterways as well. I wouldn't want any of these things in drinking water, regardless of being "biodegradable."

I spray them in my my garage and the brake cleaner evaporates off the floor. As for the smell. I'm not really bothered by it but I just open the doors if so.

I do two things...........a good overnight soak in ol'fashioned Hoppe's #9 bore cleaner/solvent....yeah that's right. It works, and has yet to harm a bearing in 15 years of doing it. Then after I take them out, let them dry, I blast them with CRC QD electrical parts cleaner.

Iam getting ready to soak a couple spool bearings

After replacing them with A7's.... So I wanna ask

Can I just air dry them? Got no compressed air... No dremel tool...

Nothing but simple green and dawn...

Can I use dawn? It's a d**n good degreaser..

How bout putting in the oven at 120degrees or so?

Anyone?

Spin them on the tip end of a pencil and air dry... that'll work

 

 

oe