Hell, I'll throw my 2c's worth into this foray. I don't care if you are for or against ultrasonic cleaning....I'm going to continue to do it anyway... since I've been using ultrasonic cleaning in engine building for years....and... I've gone through all sorts of 'ways' of doing things. Since experience is what you get when you don't get what you want...here's the result of my experience.....nothing is 100%! I've cleaned pistons with the rings still on, I've cleaned valves, chains and so forth. I've save thousands of dollars making perfectly serviceable race engines without buying new stuff to get them racing.
1.Brushes, wires, soaking and compressed air do not get into the hidden passages. If you know there aren't any hidden passages in your carbs,..then an ultrasonic method won't help you. I'll introduce you to several people who thought they 'got it all' and then had to do the job over. Their 'Experience'.
2.Not all aluminum alloys are the same. This is why one person will get a nice clean result and another will get black or brown streaking with the same cleaning solution formula. Anyone who had a post war British bike and a post war Japanese bike knows clearly that all aluminum is not created equal.
3.Simple Green is not simple. Look at the MSDS....or jump to #6. If you are doing aluminum...never and I mean never use any acid of any kind if it's already polished. Never, and I mean never use highly alkali cleaners as well (dishwasher soap, washing machine soaps, Lestoil, yadda, yadda)....for the same reasons. Carb cleaners say clearly on their packaging...not responsible for aluminum components or plastic/rubber.
4. Soda blasting give a great and clean finish that doesn't pose a hazard like beads (glass or plastic). Perfect for the cosmetic parts.
5. In my ultra sonic, which is nothing more than a cheapo HF 2.5L model....I use water from my reverse osmosis filter and.....either Mother's or Eagle One Aluminum Wheel cleaning liquid for POLISHED UN-COATED wheels to clean anything aluminum. I add two to four tablespoons of it to the water. For other metals...I will use Fantastic or 409 in the water.
6. From a study done for the USAF by Daniel T. Witt, lLt, USAF,Environmental Program Manager,Directorate of Material Management,San Antonio Air Logistics Center............"Results : The product, Simple Green, was corrosive to the
aluminum specimens on both immersion and sandwich teStS We do
not recommend the use of this product on Air Force equipment
containing aluminum,........"
Ultrasonic cleaners provide heat and sonic waves that remove stuff you can't see and can see. You can remove the stuff you can see in quite a few different ways. Not the stuff you can't see. Your cleaning agent is nothing more than a surfactant....IE; you are making the water wetter. Just like detergent in the washing machine or the dishwasher. What you want is the wettest water you can achieve without damaging the metals. Good luck with your projects!
