Brake Clean

[Bernoff]

Can a guy use Brake clean on the Primary and Secondary to get rid of grim or is it hard on some parts?

 

[heavy d]

I've used it, never gave it much thought, didn't seem to hurt anything

 

[sumx54]

I've been told not to use it, can't remember why think it leaves some sort of a chemical residue behind. I use Acetone to clean my clutches. It can be bought in 1 gallon jugs and works great for removing belt streaks and such.

 

[tukernater]

I've been told not to use it, can't remember why think it leaves some sort of a chemical residue behind. I use Acetone to clean my clutches. It can be bought in 1 gallon jugs and works great for removing belt streaks and such.

X2 acetone works great

 

[Puba]

For the amount the Brake Clean is going to do any damage to the surface parts...... You'll have either retired the sled or it'll be so out dated that it wouldnt really matter.....

 

[sumx54]

For the amount the Brake Clean is going to do any damage to the surface parts...... You'll have either retired the sled or it'll be so out dated that it wouldnt really matter.....

The way it was explained to me it wasn't the fact that you would damage the clutch surfaces but more hinder the performance of the machine as well as possibly glazing the belt and we all know they arnt cheap. Unless your stealing it from work, a can of brake clean is running you $6 or so and you will be burning off at least a couple cans on your clutch vs paying $17 for a jug of acetone that will last you 3 seasons
What I do is buy a spray bottle from the dollar store and fill it up with acetone and giver. Wear rubber gloves. Once all the streaks and such are scrubbed off I go over the sheaves with scotch bright then another good wiping down and away you go. My 2 cents.

 

[whitegold]

The way it was explained to me it wasn't the fact that you would damage the clutch surfaces but more hinder the performance of the machine as well as possibly glazing the belt and we all know they arnt cheap. Unless your stealing it from work, a can of brake clean is running you $6 or so and you will be burning off at least a couple cans on your clutch vs paying $17 for a jug of acetone that will last you 3 seasons
What I do is buy a spray bottle from the dollar store and fill it up with acetone and giver. Wear rubber gloves. Once all the streaks and such are scrubbed off I go over the sheaves with scotch bright then another good wiping down and away you go. My 2 cents.

Where do you get this acetone?? ... just at a hardwear store?

 

[fat tire]

yep........crappy tire....home depot rona even wally world has it.

 

[tukernater]

Where do you get this acetone?? ... just at a hardwear store?

i beleave your napa or maybe evergreen will have it?

just put it on a rag and wipe the clutch faces off.

 

[Summitric]

Acetone is used a lot in body work with fibreglass......... Napa, bumper to bumper and probably canadian tire and all the hardware stores should be able to get it

 

[scotts]

I use brakeclean all the time, even use it on windows to remove grease or oil after a hydraulic line has blown on a trackhoe or other equipment, and there doesnt seem to be any residue left behind. Just be sure to protect yourself, brakeclean and acetone go through exposed skin pretty quickly and are really tough on your liver ect..

 

[Polarblu]

i use it everyday in my shop, varsol gun cant touch the cleaning power and acetone is to nasty when its airborne. The cost by the case is under 5 bucks and the time saved is worth it. If i can save 10 minutes im up in my bottom line.
And yes it leaves a residue. I 3M scotchbrite the clutch sheaves before it leaves my door.

 

[Bernoff]

Thanks a bunch everyone. It is always better to ask than to possibly do harm to your sled when you want it to take you to the snowy mountains and home again in one piece.

 

[maxwell]

DJ uses brake clean. and he builds clutch kits...just sayin

 

[BC Sno-Ghost]

I've read more tha once that you should never use anything but soap and water with a scotch brite pad to clean your clutches. Supposedly when the clutches warm up the porous aluminum surfaces release the solvents absorbed and cause belt glazing and slippage.

 

[tukernater]

X2 i also wash my belts with HOT water and sunlight dish soap it work awsome.

 

[Polarblu]

I've read more tha once that you should never use anything but soap and water with a scotch brite pad to clean your clutches. Supposedly when the clutches warm up the porous aluminum surfaces release the solvents absorbed and cause belt glazing and slippage.

yes this is common knowledge, but if you think about it the aluminum wold have to be hot and expanded in order to "absorb" anything. Also you are cleaning a machined surface that has only microscopic pores that are filled with rubber. which is worse the rubber or the solvent to your next belt?

 

[LBZ]

I think some of you guys are reading into this issue too much. Brake clean and a red scotch brite pad afterwards is all I would do.

 

[tex78]

i use intake medic... for engines... it has acitone in it... i find brakecleens leaves some film on stuff.... intake medic doesn't... intake medic takes stickers off with out leaving the glue film and brakeclean leaves it...
just my 2 cents...

 

[skinnybitch]

I find Zep "Brake Wash" to be a far better product with less of a greasy residue and the fumes are not near as bad as "Brakleen" from CRC. Zep will sell to the general public also!