Reel Repair by Alan Tani

To anybody who's used these.  I just picked up an ultrasonic to clean grease out of bearings.  I bought a liquid de-greaser too.  So how long does it take to get all the grease out of the bearings, they will be shielded bearings.  I've got an open bearing that is the test bearing, so I can see when the grease is gone.  However it would be good have others experience so I'd have some guidelines.

Thanks
Dawn

Hello Dawn,

When using my ultrasonic cleaner I use a large or regular size shot glass with just enough carb/brake cleaner to cover the bb well placed in tank filled with warm water to the solution line.  Then I will do about 2-3 cleaning cycles (3 minutes/cycle) until the accumilation of crud in bottom of shot glass from bearings isnt getting larger. Then a cycle afterwards in a minimum amount of cleaner will indicate if any more cleaning is necessary. By using small amounts of brake/carb cleaner in shot glasses conserves on usage. Hope this helps in some way since amount/condition of bb is the unknown factor. Sent email week ago.

Leo

Hi Dawn,

We basically do the same as Leo, screw top glass jar with benezine, immerse in the water in the ultra sonic cleaner, then go for a 4 minute cycle. Swap out the benezine until a cycle where the benezine remains clean.

Basically, keep cleaning until 'clean'.  We don't use the heat cycle on ours, as there is no point, the solvent qualities of the benezine act as the cleaner and carrier, to remove the dissolved greases and oils and everything else that gets into bearings.

Time or number of cycles depends on the state of the bearing and just how much has got in there.

Hope that helps.

Cheers from sunny Africa

Jeri

Thanks guys, excellent idea to put the bearings in a smaller container inside the tank.  Will give it a try.

Dawn

LTM, answered your email, sorry about that.  Once in awhile one gets by me.

Dawn,

I use warm water on occasions to warm the solvent when I have heavy duty crud to help break it down. Got your email and thanx.

Leo

At a local science supply shop, I found some small glass specimen jars that are just perfect for bearings. Any small glass jar will work, the trick is to find one that doesn't waste a lot of solvent to cover the bearings. I have tried several solvents to clean bearings. I used to use acetone, but found that it would damage the  polymer caged bearings that quantum uses. I switched to using camp stove fuel now and it works great. I can buy a gallon of generic branded camp stove or lantern fuel for 6 to 7 bucks and that will clean a lot of bearings. I run the bearings in the US just long enough for the solvent to cloud or turn balck the first time through. I then change the solvent and run the 2nd time for about 1 to 2 minutes or until it clouds up again. It usually only takes 3 times before the solvent will stay gin clear and the bearing will be clean.

i had a small ultrasonic cleaner, but finally gave up on it.  i think i gave it away to bryan.  finally found the basket that went with it.