How to clean?

Denatured alcohol is a effective safe soaker solution Travis.

Model fuel works good for a week+ long soak solution, to break down some of the crud.

Hoppes #9 nitro solvent (gun cleaning solvent) works for a 2-3 day short soak and then toothbrush scrub, the quickest I found over the years. Right out of the bottle with a toohbrush scrub gets parts clean quick, no real soaking required if not needed.

To brighten brass quickly,,use a quick dip and scrub with Tarn-x.

To strip alum to a very clean satin finish, use Eagle 1 Etching formula mag wheel cleaner,,be carefull, this pulls a layer of alum off turning it black as the hydrofluoric acid works. It will require a re-polish,, but it gives you a clean slate to work with.

For a final cleaning before assembly,,I flush all of these solvents off with CRC quick dry electrical cleaner,,found at Wal-mart. I was buying Dynamite Nitro Force nitro cleaner 20 oz pressure cans by the double case when I was racing,,that is until I discovered the CRC stuff,,

The CRC QD elec cleaner is a very fast evaporative solvent,as such, when it starts to dry it leaves a bit of moisture on the part. Parts placed under a light bulb will warm quickly and evaporate that. Compressed air works good for blowing and drying that off quickly. Heat gun, hair dryer, all work well. I usually just use compressed air to blow that off.

All these items can be found at Wal-mart, besides the Nitro force cleaner.

What do you use for rust on the cylinders?