Cleaning out oil galleries

[Jono]

I would be grateful for some advice on how best to clean the oil galleries in the block and crank prior to rebuilding a 1275 engine.

The block is 95% clean having been hot tanked then steam cleaned with all of the plugs removed. I bought some brushes but it seems to me that these will only move the dirt up and down the galleries and unless the brushed are religiously cleaned after each withdrawl you're just going to re contaminate.

I am expecting a laborious job whatever method I use but would appreciate some wisdom from the forum on how best to approach this task and have the best chance of removing most if not all of the dirt.

Cheers

Jon

[mk1]

Remove the plugs, boil, brush galleries vigorously & rinse even more thoroughly using a pumped source of fluid, syringe or turkey baster type implement.

M

[Spider]

I keep the cleaning fluid running through the galley being cleaned while I've got the tube cleaner in there.

I've got a small variety of tube cleaners in both Nylon (I think) and also Boil Tube Cleaners in Brass and Steel, which is not my first choice, but sometimes you just gotta do what you've gotta do.

I also managed to pick up some abrasive Pipe (as in Smoke Pipe) Cleaners which are awesome on the smaller galleries (Camshaft and Head) and a zillion other things.

I also have Brake Cleaner (in an Aerosol Can) on hand, while expensive, I use it only when needed.

[dklawson]

Like Spider, after brushing I typically flush the galleries with spray brake cleaner. It's not that expensive when considered in context. It's a trivial investment compared to the rest of the rebuild cost.

[Jono]

Thanks guys, it had not occurred to me to flush the galleries with something under pressure but that seems like a very good thing to do.

any thoughts on using a paraffin gun on an airline filled with an appropriate solvent?

Cellulose thinners is cheap but its fairly volatile stuff and I'm not too keen on spraying it about.

Jon

[mk1]

Cellulose thinners is cheap but its fairly volatile stuff and I'm not too keen on spraying it about.

I have used it for years without any problems. It's a good idea not to smoke while you are doing it though.

As an "interesting" aside. At Downton they used to clean all the blocks off with old petrol, this was done in a small shed at the back of the assembly area, it had a red light outside so people knew when not to enter. Some less scrupulous employees used this red light to keep prying eyes out while they had a secret fag! No H&S back in the 60's.

M

[coop12g295]

My block and bits are at the engine shop being balanced and block faced and soaked ready
for my shotgun brushes and paraffin gun once back

[InimiaD]

I buy the brake cleaner / degreaser in 5 ltr cans and use one of those pump up pressure bottles.
Far more cost effective than spray cans.
That brake cleaner can be used for a multitude of jobs around the workshop. It cant weld or grind though.

[Spider]

Thanks guys, it had not occurred to me to flush the galleries with something under pressure but that seems like a very good thing to do.

any thoughts on using a paraffin gun on an airline filled with an appropriate solvent?

Cellulose thinners is cheap but its fairly volatile stuff and I'm not too keen on spraying it about.

Jon

I used to do it this way, with Kerosene (which I think is similar to Paraffin), it does work very well for cleaning, not ridiculously expensive and not too flammable, but (in those days when I had neighbours) one neighbour did mention to me he didn't like the smell and so to be fair to them (and I didn't disagree) I went over to doing it in a similar way in the parts washer, a bit more work though. I find the kero leaves a thin oily film on everything, I wouldn't call it a rust proof layer, but does give some protection for a few days.

I do use thinners too, but I've never had the balls to spray it! I use it as I'm assembling, say right before a bearing shell goes in. I use it with paper towel. I don't use it from the initial clean as I've found it leave the metal so clean, it almost rusts (surface) before you eyes, but it does definitely get everything surgically clean.

[ivor badger 2]

If you are not sure whether there is swarfe in your oil galleries, the best way to settle the question is to drill out the blanking plugs. Then you can be absolutely sure there is swarfe in the galleries.

I like to scrub the galleries out , plugs intact, with pipe cleaners and solvent washed down the galleries by a dish washing container.