Pee wee soaking

Coxfledgling Fri Oct 29, 2021 9:32 am

Just checking but if I soak submerged a peewee 20 minus prop in methalated spirit, purple in colour, for say a week, will the meths damage anything like the glow plug and/or the tank fuel pick up pipe.

Will the red on the tank be attacked.

I don't want to strip this engine which is freely rotating with a good pop and compression. Its not dirty as such, I just want to make sure the crank has no " gum" before I run it on model technics gn15.

It's been stored quite well and well al lubed with model technics after run oil about 22 years ago.

I vaguely remember running it before storage.

Opinions please, glow element and fuel pick up pipe...etc..

rsv1cox Fri Oct 29, 2021 10:45 am

If it has good compression, flips easy, and is not very dirty why risk it?

Many solvents, and cleaners - expecially Simple Green will attack anodizing. I would just disassemble and check the reed and the gaskets, wash with a mild detergent and warm water, dry well and put it back together and lightly lubricate. If the crankshafts relief is clogged with dried castor you will have a noticeable drag. If you think the relief is clogged, pull the crankshaft and check.

But, you could also hold the engine vertically, add some Remoil (a cleaner and a lubricant) and rotate the prop drive washer several minutes untill the oil comes out clear. But you must blow out the remainder of the Remoil.

Levent Suberk Fri Oct 29, 2021 12:06 pm

Methylated purple color spirit is 90% ethyl alcohol. It is not harmful for anodizing but all aluminum parts will be darken and a black goo build up within a week. That goo is hard to clean. I tried this with pure ethyl alcohol, not purple colored methylated spirit.

Coxfledgling Fri Oct 29, 2021 12:17 pm

Ok, thanks, I will have a rethink before I do anything.

UK petrol is now 10per cent , or up to 10per cent ethanol, the change happening in September I think this year, from 5per cent.

I have used UK petrol on a few engines for cleaning this summer with no "side effects" noticed. I have not tried it on a Cox coloured tank. I have not knowing used 10percent petrol yet.

I will have a rethink...thanks.

Levent Suberk Fri Oct 29, 2021 12:31 pm

Cleaning aluminum with methylated spirits or pure ethyl alcohol do not cause any problem. But soaking for several days is different from cleaning.

Also I use only kerosene for general cleaning, because kerosene is oily. If I need to use naptha (lighter fluid) or alcohol for steel parts, then I immediately oil them with sewing machine oil to prevent rust.

rsv1cox Fri Oct 29, 2021 7:17 pm

Levent Suberk wrote:Cleaning aluminum with methylated spirits or pure ethyl alcohol do not cause any problem. But soaking for several days is different from cleaning.

Also I use only kerosene for general cleaning, because kerosene is oily. If I need to use naptha (lighter fluid) or alcohol for steel parts, then I immediately oil them with sewing machine oil to prevent rust.

Got it, finally - methylated spirits aka here in the states as denatured alcohol. I have it, but seldom use it. I use just plain old 91% alcohol mostly as a final rinse after serious cleaning.

I agree Levent. Long soaks risk harm and usually are not necessary.

TexasWade Tue Nov 09, 2021 9:43 pm

A little late to the party and no real expert advice here, but I might suggest you try soaking it in your usual glow fuel.

I've done this with several stuck larger engines with 100% success. I just put a prop on to use as a handle and take out the glow plug, then squirt a little fuel into any openings. Give it a couple days and gently try to turn the prop a little. Just did it a couple weeks ago with a nice Webra 3.5CC RC. I didn't want to take a chance on stripping any screw heads or breaking gaskets etc so I just gave er some time. Turns over real nice now. Did it with an HB .40 PDP probably about a year and a half ago, and again with an otherwise very clean TD .09 just a few days ago. But the .09 just needed maybe an hour to free up. And a Tee Dee .049 that turned but was sort of stiff. All nice and limber now.

I've had no discoloration or other problems that I can see on any of those engines, and I know I did several that way a few years back with similar results.

rsv1cox Wed Nov 10, 2021 6:15 am

Yes, that works, but it's so simple. Must be complicated for us purists. Smile

Actually for badly contaminated engines it takes some aggressive action.

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