Cleaning tips

[csvt99 173]

My dad and I pulled out an old 877 last fall that was in storage for over 20 years in an old, dirty, abandoned chicken house. We got it running right away but it was pretty dirty and stuffed with mouse nests. I cleaned it as best as I could, and I now have it apart for some transmission work (post in transaxle forum). Since it is apart I decided to spend some time cleaning the parts and the surface. I will describe it as having compost blown over it after it was covered with a thin layer of oil. There are little fine pieces of dirt everywhere, and it seems to be stuck to the tractor via oil. It isn't horrible, but the little cleaning I've done already has been very rewarding.

 

Can anyone suggest a cleaning product to use to help get this thing de-gunked and cleaned up? Thanks!

[Foozerush 40]

I just use a power washer, then use engine bright around engine, tranny... Sure others do different methods...

[sorekiwi 761]

Some of the really strong cleaners will remove or bleach the paint.  Purple Power is one of those.

 

I use Brakeclean or Kerosene to remove the oily mess, and simple green to remove the dirt.  With simple green you spray it on and work it around a bit with a brush, after about 10 minutes wash it off with water.  If you have an air-compressor blow the water off with that.

[Butch 194]

Berryman Engine Cleaner. Great stuff and safe for paint. It will melt the gunk off. You can buy it at Walmarts, Autozone and Advance Auto.

[csvt99 173]

I didn't have time to try the Berrymans so I just used Simple Green since I already had it at the house. It worked for what I needed to do, but I'm guessing Berrymans would have been more effective.

[JackC 617]

I start with Fantastic and work up to Spray Nine Cleaner, then Spray Nine Degreaser if I need something stronger.

Then I switch to WD40 for finishing the sheet metal.

[Mr. 856 170]

marine clean. Look it up. It works very good.

[Save Old Iron 1,566]

I'm always surprised at how well WD-40 works as a degreaser.

[Tankman 3,520]

 

I'm always surprised at how well WD-40 works as a degreaser.

And WD-40 does more! "Water Displacement" 40 soaks into the metal "displacing" moisture! :smile:

[csvt99 173]

I actually started by using wd-40 a little bit but figured that it might not be good for the paint. Also the oil film residue that is left will just attract more dirt and grit.

[Kevbo 80]

I use the following process every time I pick up a tractor:

 

I did not realize Purple Power bleaches the paint but I do use this currently with a scrub brush before power washing the whole tractor.

Any parts that are quite rusted I spray a mix of acetone and ATF 50/50 ratio into the part (this is only for extremely rusty tractors)

After the tractor dries I take 0000 steel wool and LIGHTLY rub with WD40 the entire sheet metal.

Finally another spray of WD-40 after wiping off the steel wool debris.

 

This has really brightened up some of my older tractors.