Ultrasonic cleaner

[dobbslc]

I've just had a go at cleaning a set of Lotus carbs for a friend in my ultrasonic cleaner.
Here's some of the results after about half an hour.

Bladdy good I'd say!

 

[Shox Dr]

Nice, what did you use? I've had good results with Citric Acid.

 

[GrahamGKD]

Very impressive - how much do you have to invest in a cleaner to achieve results like that?

 

[langy]

Been thinking about getting one of these myself

 

[AndyStobbs]

I bought a golf club one, its huge 20L capacity. Got it for a steal not working and had it repaired for £40. If you want a large cleaner that'd be the way to go.

 

[dobbslc]

My machine was about £240 from eblag a couple of years ago, it's a 10 litre one, I got it for my bike carbs I refurbished. It just about fits a "pair" of Delorto twin 40's in.
The cleaner I used is from Anything Goes Racing I bought it at Kempton autojumble from Jeep the guy that runs it. He's a chemist and used to work for Caswell and knows his stuff!
It's not a citrus based one but I cant remember what it is off the top of my head, I'll check later.

 

[GrahamGKD]

My machine was about £240 from eblag a couple of years ago, it's a 10 litre one, I got it for my bike carbs I refurbished. It just about fits a "pair" of Delorto twin 40's in.
The cleaner I used is from Anything Goes Racing I bought it at Kempton autojumble from Jeep the guy that runs it. He's a chemist and used to work for Caswell and knows his stuff!
It's not a citrus based one but I cant remember what it is off the top of my head, I'll check later.

Thanks - I'll wait for a cleaning job to come up to justify getting hold of one.

 

[dobbslc]

Here's a photo for scale purposes of mine with a 2.2L Lotus inlet manifold in it. It's not really big enough, carbs are fine though.
That's a 10 litre unit so be careful on eBay buying anything smaller.


This is the cleaner I've used for these carbs.

 

[outofthefire]

have you tried using a taller container that you can sit in the tank to increase your capacity. I use a cut down plastic 2litre milk carton in my cheapo aldi cleaner and it works well and makes it a lot more useful.

 

[Pete.]

Here's a photo for scale purposes of mine with a 2.2L Lotus inlet manifold in it. It's not really big enough, carbs are fine though.
That's a 10 litre unit so be careful on eBay buying anything smaller.
View attachment 73040

This is the cleaner I've used for these carbs.
View attachment 73041

I thought that with these tanks the part you are cleaning was not supposed to touch the sides?

 

[dobbslc]

You're probably right, the bike stuff fits in the cage.

 

[Pete.]

I tried a small desktop one once to clean some injectors and it packed up half way through a job. Apparently throwing the parts in the bottom of the tank does harm to the generator unit.

 

[Robotstar5]

We had an industrial one at Longbridge, I used to clean my brass cartridge cases in it before reloading them.

 

[JEZGUZ]

I've got about 50ltr of cleaner that was supplied to the place I used to work at, it was to be used in the ultra-sonic wash, which had 2x2000w ultrasound generators and a 50c wash temp, stuff came out nice and clean after a 10 min wash, if anyones interested give me a shout.

 

[MrFluffy]

I have a tiny jewelry one, I use it with hot water out the kettle and washing up liquid with a bit of hand cleaner for grit when needed and it works great.
But... I only need to clean very clean smaller things, like carburettor innards and jets and things. Bigger lumps I clean in the workshop parts washer.

 

[ukracer]

I have a tiny jewelry one, I use it with hot water out the kettle and washing up liquid with a bit of hand cleaner for grit when needed and it works great.
But... I only need to clean very clean smaller things, like carburettor innards and jets and things. Bigger lumps I clean in the workshop parts washer.

Grit????

 

[Shox Dr]

A lot ofthe time I have mine full of water. I then place the item/s in plastic bag, with cleaning agent. Suspended in the water. Keeps the mess down, and you can use flammable liquids

 

[Maker]

Grit????

Doesn't your workshop soap have grit in it?

 

[ukracer]

Doesn't your workshop soap have grit in it?

No I use fairy liquid...lol how does an ultra sonic cleaner work then?

 

[Maker]

No I use fairy liquid...lol how does an ultra sonic cleaner work then?

From Wiki;

Ultrasonic cleaning uses cavitation bubbles induced by high frequency pressure (sound) waves to agitate a liquid. The agitation produces high forces on contaminants adhering to substrates like metals, plastics, glass, rubber, and ceramics. This action also penetrates blind holes, cracks, and recesses. The intention is to thoroughly remove all traces of contamination tightly adhering or embedded onto solid surfaces.

A lot ofthe time I have mine full of water. I then place the item/s in plastic bag, with cleaning agent. Suspended in the water. Keeps the mess down, and you can use flammable liquids

What cleaning agents do you use?