More efficient way to clean gears?

Davidasailor26

Davidasailor26

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May 17, 2004
5,679
Beneteau Oceanis 37 Havre de Grace
Every year or two I disassemble my winches, clean the gears with mineral spirits, and reassemble them. With four 2-speed winches this takes a remarkably long time (about 45 minutes per winch). Most of the time is spent cleaning old grease from between individual teeth of the gears.

Is there any more efficient way to clean the gears? The mineral spirits loosen the grease pretty well but it still takes a long time with a folded paper towel to chisel it out from each gap. Sure would be nice if there were a way to just clean all the teeth at once.
 
BigEasy

BigEasy

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Jun 21, 2004
2,887
Beneteau 343 Slidell, LA
Davidasailor26 said:
Every year or two I disassemble my winches, clean the gears with mineral spirits, and reassemble them. Most of the time is spent cleaning old grease from between individual teeth of the gears/ Is there any more efficient way to clean the gears? Sure would be nice if there were a way to just clean all the teeth at once.
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David, that's the method I use also. After soaking for several hours in mineral spirits, I use a stiff bristle automotive type parts cleaning brush to clean the grease from the gears. Soaking definitely helps; however, probably takes me 45+ minutes for each winch.
Thanks for the reminder, another thing to add to my Spring to do list.
 
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D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,955
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
BigEasy said:
David, that's the method I use also. After soaking for several hours in mineral spirits, I use a stiff bristle automotive type parts cleaning brush to clean the grease from the gears. Soaking definitely helps; however, probably takes me 45+ minutes for each winch.
Thanks for the reminder, another thing to add to my Spring to do list.
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This, longer soaking and a parts cleaning brush. Bring the winch parts home. Gives you something to do on rainy day.

Or, you could get a parts washing station. It has a little pump that provides a jet of mineral spirits sort of like those water jet oral hygeine devices but for parts. Harbor Freight has them. You still have room in the garage don't you? :cool:
 
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DArcy

DArcy

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Feb 11, 2017
1,769
Islander Freeport 36 Ottawa
The "proper" way is as Dave says, a part washing station. I used to use a Safety-Clean station at a shop I worked in, it really did the job well. Wear gloves and goggles of course. Soaking in mineral spirits and a stiff brush gets the job done too.
 
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BigEasy

BigEasy

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Jun 21, 2004
2,887
Beneteau 343 Slidell, LA
dlochner said:
Or, you could get a parts washing station. You still have room in the garage don't you? :cool:
Click to expand
No can do; too much stuff in there already!! :facepalm: Yes, I do bring them home to clean & grease.
 
C

CYQK

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Sep 11, 2009
593
beneteau first 42 kenora
pickup one of those batt operated pressure washers home depot has them
works great
 
Rick Webb

Rick Webb

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Jun 2, 2004
3,554
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
Maybe a quicker way, I saw on YouTube to clean carburetor parts a guy put Velcro on the lid of a jar put the parts in the jar added carb cleaner stuff (whatever flavor is your favorite) put the lid back on the jar and attached it to an orbital sander ran it for a while then presto chango the carb parts were clean.

Been saving salsa jars to try it out but have not yet done so. Seems like something that might work.

MEK had always been my go to solvent until I lost my free source.
 
JamesG161

JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
7,770
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
Safety Tip.
If you use Toluene or Acetone, do not use electric tools to clean the parts.

MEK = Oh My Gosh!!!:thumbsdown:
One drop of MEK on cardboard will start a fire.

Mineral Spirts or charcoal lighter won't blow you up.

Now that Freon® is allowed again. The military used certain Freon® in an open vats to degrease parts.

Jim...
 
FastOlson

FastOlson

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Apr 8, 2010
2,115
Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
Just do not give in to temptation and use Acetone. That will dissolve -unevenly- the black dye off of a winch drum exterior.
(Do not ask how I happen to know this. Let's just say I heard it from a friend!):(
Paint thinner and patience works well.
 
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thinwater

thinwater

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Mar 26, 2011
3,717
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
What are you using for grease? Harken? After only one years a good synthetic grease should not be hardened.

And there is no benefit in removing every spec of old grease every time. Perfect can be the enemy of good.
 
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MikeHoncho

MikeHoncho

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Dec 28, 2015
1,909
Laser, Hunter H30 Cherubini Tacoma
JamesG161 said:
Safety Tip.
If you use Toluene or Acetone, do not use electric tools to clean the parts.

MEK = Oh My Gosh!!!:thumbsdown:
One drop of MEK on cardboard will start a fire.

Mineral Spirts or charcoal lighter won't blow you up.

Now that Freon® is allowed again. The military used certain Freon® in an open vats to degrease parts.

Jim...
Click to expand
Please explain how a drop of Methyl Ethyl Ketone on cardboard will start a fire?
 
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JamesG161

JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
7,770
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
Even Practical Sailer article agreed with me.:biggrin:

JamesG161 said:
Mineral Spirts or charcoal lighter won't blow you up.
Click to expand
______
MikeHoncho said:
Please explain how a drop of Methyl Ethyl Ketone on cardboard will start a fire?
Click to expand
MEK is the activator for Fiberglass Resin.:doh:

Trust me, it will ACTIVATE paper products.:yikes:

Help me please...
@rgranger the resident SBO Chemist.

Chemical Engineer aka
Jim...
 
D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,955
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
MEKP is methyl ethyl ketone peroxide and is the catalyst for polyester resins, not epoxy resin. It is different from the MEK purchased for cleaning parts and thinning paints.

The MEK available in the big box stores is a substitute for MEK at least according to the label on the can.
 
P

Project_Mayhem

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Sep 24, 2018
3,405
Catalina 30 MKIII Chicago
I have not tried this on parts but nothing works better to get grease off of hands than laundry detergent. Chemists, please weigh in on this theory

Ultrasonic parts cleaners are supposed to be pretty amazing as well
 
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Davidasailor26

Davidasailor26

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May 17, 2004
5,679
Beneteau Oceanis 37 Havre de Grace
Thank you all for the suggestions. This is very helpful information. Next time I’ll try toluene and/or letting the gears bathe overnight.

dlochner said:
Or, you could get a parts washing station. It has a little pump that provides a jet of mineral spirits sort of like those water jet oral hygeine devices but for parts. Harbor Freight has them. You still have room in the garage don't you? :cool:
Click to expand
Well that does sound like a more fun solution! I’ll need to think about more use cases for something like that than a winch cleaning every 1-2 years.


MikeHoncho said:
Every year?
Click to expand
That’s what the manual says. Specifically “they must be completely overhauled, cleaned and lubricated at least every 12 months.” That’s probably overkill, although there is a significant amount of dirt in the mineral sprits by the time I’m done.

thinwater said:
What are you using for grease? Harken? After only one years a good synthetic grease should not be hardened.

And there is no benefit in removing every spec of old grease every time. Perfect can be the enemy of good.
Click to expand
Yes, I use Harken or Lewmar grease. It’s not hardened, but it doesn’t just come off without some amount of wiping with a paper towel. A longer soak might help make that easier. Good point that I could probably leave some inside the teeth and it wouldn’t be the end of the world. I just wouldn’t want to leave the same grease in a spot repeatedly and have it harden and gather dirt.
 
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