How do you clean engines, rear end, pumps???
 

Just curious how others clean the engines and hydro pumps. I have used the car wash but was wondering if the pressure could let water in where it shouldn't be. Have also used the garden hose with degreaser.
What degreasers do you like?
What method do you use?

I've said it before and I'll say it again, power washers do more harm than good. :beatdeadhorse:
They will blow water past seals on most anything like wheel bearings on motorcycles, case seals on engines/gear boxes/ mower deck bearings etc. now if using for other than that, fine.
You can't go wrong using kerosene with a paint/wash brush over a pan of some kind. Diesel fuel is a little oily, so I don't use it.
I myself use Gasoline to finish, but it is highly flammable and therefore not the best practice.
Mixing a little Tide power in hot water and scrubbing works well also if you prefer water to kerosene. Wear gloves as either removes the oil in your skin causing chapping among other things.
If you must use a power washer, please take caution and not direct the high pressure @ any seals, shafts etc. unless the sealed gearbox/unit is to be torn down shortly.
An old bath tub, a 55 gal. drum cut in 1/2, discarded tots swimming pool, lots of things work well for a pan.
You are only limited by your imagination:bigthink:
Hope this helps :ThumbsUp:

ol'George-

I am going to have to disagree with your opinion on pressure washing with my opinion. I personally think it's one of the best methods when done "responsibly". Anyone that cleans this way should have the knowledge of what the pressure is capable of doing. I always spray the tractor/part down with a degreaser and give it a while. I then pressure wash making sure not to hit key areas directly. I'll glance by seals and such but there aren't that many areas on a tractor where you have to be super careful. There's the engine and the trans. Other than that go for it. I realize you don't want to put the nozzle on ball joints or wheel bearings directly but again, a glancing pass usually knocks off the big chunks of gunk. I will say you don't need an industrial strength washer either. Mine happens to put out about 2400 psi and it's a plenty. One with a little less power would do just fine as well. It isn't good to get water in the transmission but hytran is made to deal with water. I don't see where you'd get that much water anywhere unless you just direct and hold the spray either. The only places I have ever had to hold the spray is on the frame near the engine because of heat. If it's real bad I just spray more degreaser and repeat.

All I'm saying is a pressure washer is a great way to clean a tractor when done right. I don't agree they do more harm than good.

Just my .02 worth for now....Wayne

I'd use a power washer on everything except the engine. Just set the nozzle to a wide stream and don't keep it pointed straight at a seal or something electrical related.

Your point is well taken
I don't disagree with Responsible/knowledgeable use in any way.
What I have found is a novice can create a problem for himself.
And that is why I Caution in the use of power washers.
I just have seen so much rust/damage caused by well meaning folks that I chose to caution in the use of them.
I would rather see a person take a little longer cleaning something than to unknowingly cause problems for themselves later on.
I have a power washer and I use it quite a bit, but I have been there done that, so to speak.
I didn't mean to sound like they are bad tools, but like anything used improperly, unwanted things can happen.
Hopefully by our discussion, it will alert people to things they didn't think about.
Respectfully,
ol'George

I powerwash everything, after spraying down with a degreaser.
My powerwasher isn't the most powerfull...actually pretty mild, so there are times when I need to scrub alittle...so I'm not concerned with it blowing past seals...but Ido stay away from the axles seals, and driveshaft yoke.
When I do a serious cleaning, I'll regrease everything good, wipe off the excess, and sometimes give it a light cleaning again to remove any grease residue left.
My 124 still has the original paint.....so crud adheres well. On something with fresh or nice paint, crud doesn't adhere well, so high pressure isn't needed.

pressure or no pressure, hmmm?
 

I use an electric pressure washer with1600 psi, works wonderfully when, as mentioned, used correctly. I also have found,,,,,ready for this, OVEN CLEANER is an ecxellent cleaner. and doesn't harm stuff.

Point taken olGeorge....

It's nice to think the advice we give is taken in by the inexperienced.

Something else I didn't mention is a garden hose with a spray nozzle set on stream will get 90% of crud when soaked with a degreaser. I used this method for years before the pressure washer showed up. You still have to be somewhat careful around critical points like seals and bearings. My household pressure is around 60 psi and when compressed in a stream it has some power.

Respectfully as well.....Wayne

i use Purple Power, you can get at places like Advanced Auto. it comes in a gallon jug, is safe for the enviroment and works very very good. mix with water in a used windex spray bottle. spray motor good. you will see this degreaser removing motor dirt with every spray. then a garden hose to rinse off, then you can shine up and wipe down the motor. rember in the custom fourm part where i drilled a small hole in the bottom of the blower housing? like no one commented on? well, this is why. your cubby will not start with a b.housing full of water because the stator/magneto is drowned out.:American Flag 1:

Thanks for all the input, I was just curious how others did this. I usually scrape the heavy stuff of with a plastic putty knife and then use purple power or greased lightning (the later being a little more aggressive on the paint) and a garden hose or the car wash. My pressure washer pump went out..... I have always been a bit concerned about the pressure washer and try to be careful, that was the purpose of this post to hear other opinions.
I do like the idea of using kerosene, I have heard of using that before but had forgotten about it. I like that idea enough that I will probably start using it more and I would imagine it would work faster and better than the purple power, not to mention you can reclaim some of it and reuse it.