Engine cleaning

I know this had been covered many times, but since the weather here in Snowdonia has been horizontal liquid sunshine, I decided to do something I have been putting off for some time now.

A regularly lubed and turn over my stored engines from time to time, the merco 61 marine I have in a wood huntsman is stuck solid.

It was removed from the boat and soaked in brake fluid overnight, and freed off ok. It has ball race bearings so may have issues.

It was stripped down with no dramas and all parts cleaned, with bearings in situe.

Although the parts cleaned up ok, I tried normal petrol for cleaning. I know it works ok as I have used it before.

The c/case is soaking in meths at the moment, but will be given a heat cycle this evening to use momentum to try and remove the more difficult rear bearing, which is showing some corrosion staining/etching on the outer race, so could do with being removed for measurement/ numbers and replacement.

Model fixings stock bearings for many engines but I am not absolutely sure of the rear bearing measurement, hence the need for the bearing removal very carefully, just in case.

Anyways one of the other mercos i Have turns over but is stiff, I I have been cleaning/ stripping that down this morning, using meths only, which does a really good job, dissolving all the gunk and goooooo easily, more stubern sections just needing soaking and time to do its thing.

When done, and the merco 35, I will be moving onto the Cox 049' and td09's.

I am stripping and cleaning ready for use to make sure the crank lube channels are not gummed up and are clear.

Each engine will be run up on a tank of fuel then dissed with model technics after run oil prior to placing into plastic bags for storage whilst models are made for each engine.

The merco 29 will be going into an era model, the new black widow into a 2 channel fournuer free plan model, and some of the Cox 049's into c/l balsa fuz pt19's, and a mini skyman 2 channel hi winger.....

Busy time ahead at last.

Fuel and after run oil ordered and on its way...

So, your next engine clean down, try meths, methylated spirits, the purple ish fluid used for primus parraffin lamp and stove pre heating, camping stoves etc..

Coleman camping stoves never really caught on in the UK, pity because they are very very good. I have a very old chrome plated camping stove that I cannot seem to get parts for......any suggestions ?