Hi all! I cleaned out the 20 gallon harbor freight parts cleaner I have used for about 8 years. I do use mineral spirits in it and it works great (yes, I do know it is not supposed to be used with minerals spirits and has a flammable warning. I keep a large fire ext. close by and no sparks etc). It has cleaned up 3 engines/2 trannys/ and numerous carbs/small motor stuff etc-etc. Lots of gunk in the bottom, drained/scraped clean and refilled by pouring the fluid through a paint filter back into the cleaner. The mineral spirits is still a little dark and I would like to clean it up some more. I tied some steel wool on the end of the spout and ran the motor for awhile but still dark fluid. I cleaned the motor filter (kind of like a pad that is in the box the pump pulls through) but want something that is finer to clean up the fluid some more. I did a search here and got nothing. Any ideas here? :shrug
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parts washer filter?
- Thread starter gwstang
- Start date
GrabberOrange69
Troglodyte
I stuck a remote canister oil filter on mine - uses the standard PH8A.
kb3
Well-Known Member
"GrabberOrange69" said:
Can you post a pic of the install? I would think the filter would reduce the flow/pressure of the fluid. Is this not the case?
GrabberOrange69
Troglodyte
Last edited by a moderator:
kb3
Well-Known Member
Very cool. Looks like you have two outputs. Thanks for the pics and idea.
That is a very neat idea but I agree about the filter restricting the flow. No?
I'd imagine that the restriction is minimal considering the cleaning solution viscosity is probabaly far less than oil. I have no idea what sort of pressure the the pump is capable of generating, but if its great enough, then if the filter does clog up, the fluid would likely be redirected through the oil filters bypass valve.
I don't have a parts cleaner, but when I do clean stuff in a bucket and leave it sitting for a few days, all the sediment drops to the bottom. It seems it would be worth while to put another drain plug on the side of the tank to drain the "clear" fluid into a seperate bucket for re use, and maybe discard the last little bit at the bottom along with the sediment. If the sediment isn't disturbed for a day or two, that might be an easy way to clean the solution.
I don't have a parts cleaner, but when I do clean stuff in a bucket and leave it sitting for a few days, all the sediment drops to the bottom. It seems it would be worth while to put another drain plug on the side of the tank to drain the "clear" fluid into a seperate bucket for re use, and maybe discard the last little bit at the bottom along with the sediment. If the sediment isn't disturbed for a day or two, that might be an easy way to clean the solution.
GrabberOrange69
Troglodyte
There seems to be little restriction in the flow - I run solvent through the system. Not sure you can get that in Cali anymore, but it's approximately the viscosity of WD40. The nice part is the flow out of the system is clean....
As for the sediment, stangg, parts washers have the pump pick-up far enough off the bottom of the tray/tank that the heavy stuff doesn't get picked up anyway.
As for the sediment, stangg, parts washers have the pump pick-up far enough off the bottom of the tray/tank that the heavy stuff doesn't get picked up anyway.
Ponyman66
Yak, yak, yak
Pretty cool idea! I have the same HF parts washer, and have had it for about 5 years now. I've also run solvent in mine with no problems. I was initially concerned about where I could get some good old solvent instead of the water based enviro-friendly stuff. I don't know where you originally got yours from, but I found it at Northern Tools in 5 gal. cans. Don't know if there's one near you, or if it can be carried in Cali Northern Tool stores or not. Just a thought in case you need more.