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  #1  
Old 01-26-2009, 08:47 PM
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Ultrasonic cleaning set up: which brand? how much? sources?

I have seen ultrasonic cleaners used for clock parts ands delicate instruments but I have never seen the kind of set-up used for injectors and other finely machined parts for diesels. I'm sure more people would do a better job maintaining their diesels if they knew how to clean injectors.
If there's no DIY on injector cleaning this would be agreat thing to do (hint: Roy).

To do that they need a basic ultrasonic cleaning set-up. What brands are good? how much has to be spent? What performance specs do you use to evaluate? Brands? Sources? Cleaning fluids?

How bout some help from forum members that have them? What do you use them for besides injectors?

Thanks

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  #2  
Old 01-27-2009, 12:31 AM
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ultrasonics

The Harbor freight 70~90 buck unit works much better than I thought it would...
Model CD4820.....160 watts.....

I use it to clean everything now....I like it better every time I use it....

It seems to work best with very warm water and a few drops of liquid detergent....(just to act as a surfactant)

My co worker bought one for firearm restoration parts cleaning.....after seeing it in action, I had to get one......

My best results are obtained by changing the water very often....almost after every 4 minute cycle during the initial cleaning.......no problem to just dump it out and refill with warm tap water....and a few more drops of dish detergent....
After the major crud is off.....you can keep the water longer

I had one of the transducer wires burn into at the spade connector....turned out to be a poor crimp....I soldered everthing I could see that was crimped and it runs like a champ....no regrets....a pretty tough little machine...it really boils the crud off injector parts....
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  #3  
Old 01-27-2009, 03:06 AM
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I picked up the $40 mid sized one from harbor freight, but I haven't tried it with normal dish soap. I'll have to try that though, as the little bottle of stuff they sell isn't all that great.

Then again, the warm water thing I've heard twice now, and really should test in my cleaner. Using it in the garage, at this time of year, means it's definitely COLD water that's been in it!
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Old 01-27-2009, 08:08 AM
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Used a Harbor Freight one to do my injectors one at a time when I replaced nozzles in them. I suppose a pop tester and shims to balance them out would have been nice, but don't have them items.
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  #5  
Old 01-27-2009, 06:13 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by yellit View Post
The Harbor freight 70~90 buck unit works much better than I thought it would...
Model CD4820.....160 watts.....

I use it to clean everything now....I like it better every time I use it....

It seems to work best with very warm water and a few drops of liquid detergent....(just to act as a surfactant)

My co worker bought one for firearm restoration parts cleaning.....after seeing it in action, I had to get one......

My best results are obtained by changing the water very often....almost after every 4 minute cycle during the initial cleaning.......no problem to just dump it out and refill with warm tap water....and a few more drops of dish detergent....
After the major crud is off.....you can keep the water longer

I had one of the transducer wires burn into at the spade connector....turned out to be a poor crimp....I soldered everthing I could see that was crimped and it runs like a champ....no regrets....a pretty tough little machine...it really boils the crud off injector parts....

I have to agree i like the harbor ones that come with heat seems to help with grease/oil and at 70-90$ cant beat that!
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  #6  
Old 01-28-2009, 12:44 AM
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Ultrasonic Transducer Glue

A note about the water temperature...
The hotter the better is the general rule ...BUT....

Water (TOO) hot can breakdown the special glue or JB weld looking hard paste that attaches the transducer to the bottom of the tub....

When the paste loses its (Grip) on the tub and transducer....maximum energy transfer is inhibited because of poor contact....the adhesive will act as an insulator instead of a transfer medium....
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  #7  
Old 01-28-2009, 12:52 PM
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Can anything other than water be used, maybe B20? I'm not sure I would want to soak high tolerance nozzles in water.
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Old 01-29-2009, 12:40 AM
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ultrasonics

They warn against flammable liquids due to fire hazard....
The thing is stuffed with 120VAC electronics under the tub.....
The clean cycle is only about 2-4 minutes....
I just air dry and hit with wd40 after the buzz bath.....no real soaking for any length of time.....
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Old 01-29-2009, 12:46 AM
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In one of the other threads currently running here, I asked about what they were using as a solvent.

They finally dug up the name, it's called Alconox.

I then ended up talking with a friend who does soil contamination studies, and he mentioned that they use the same stuff in VERY small quantities to clean their test equipment. (~1 Tbsp per 5 gallons of water)

The original posters of the other thread replied to my concern about the water as well. They were then removing the injector parts, drying them, and soaking them with oil to protect them.


From reading in other locations, I've gotten the impression that it's a bad idea to use anything flammable in an ultrasonic cleaner, particularly if it's a light solvent.
I'm not sure just how BioDiesel would react, but for me, I think I'm going to play it conservative in this.
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Old 01-29-2009, 01:00 AM
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ultrasonics

I have read that what does the actual cleaning is the heat of collapse of the microscopic air bubbles generated on the surface of the item being cleaned....not the liquid itself....it is described as a microscopic bead blaster using extremely heated air as the substance that does the work.... on a molecular level......cavitation...
I am no expert by any stretch ....just going by the articles I read before I bought this mystical little creature.....
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  #11  
Old 01-29-2009, 10:24 AM
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I have a small one that I clean jewellery, my glasses, watches, etc. in It came with a bottle of some soapy substance that you use in very small amounts. That thing works great for me.
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Old 01-29-2009, 05:00 PM
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I'm looking to pick up a second hand cleaner. I think I will try diesel or biodiesel in it, diesel is not that flammable.
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Old 01-30-2009, 06:06 AM
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The problem with running diesel through one, in my mind, is that it's in liquid form that it's not very flammable. Aerosol of diesel burns quite well, and the ultrasonic cleaner is effectively boiling the liquid in small spots to cause the bubbling cleaning action.

This might be no problem and just a liability CYA thing on the part of the manufacturers, but I'd hate to hear that it lit off on someone!
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Old 01-30-2009, 10:54 AM
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fire hazard ultrasonic

Yep....I thought of using biodiesel but the HF model is all plastic except for the tub....

Biodiesel has ruined several plastic tools of mine including the 100 buck PH meter I had....It also will eat up plastic control knobs on equipment...

My ultrasonic cleaner was also sparking with smoke coming out when the poor factory internal connections were burning into.....

Better put the ultrasonic cleaner out in the yard or somewhere it can burn up without catching the house on fire if you use anything flammable....

Not trying to discourage experimentation...just monitor it and have some fire gear handy.....
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  #15  
Old 01-30-2009, 04:01 PM
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Yes, always better safe than sorry. I'm trying to pick up one of these from craigslist:


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