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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
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    Down In A Hole, Up in the Sky
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    Got Myself A New Shop Toy Today...

    And I couldn’t be happier with it.
    Bought a 15L ultrasonic cleaner, tried it out with a complete drivetrain today. I was amazed. Ten minutes of sonic vibration at 80 degrees Celsius, and ALL of the caked on grit and oil was GONE. I can’t believe I didn’t have one before in 30 years of shop- ratting.
    Just using water and dish soap.
    Super excellent purchase, anyone else have one?
    Forum Cross Pollinator, gratuitously strident

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    BC to CO
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    4,864
    I have a Harbour Freight 2.5L one for home use.
    I use it for chains, cassettes. It's awesome. I use a few ounces of simple green if its really gunky, or just dishsoap and warm water.
    Best $80 I spent for home mechanic use.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    People's Republic of OB
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    4,407
    How much do you have to brush dirt off first? My cassettes accumulate massive amounts of dirt inside the cogs where I can't get to it. If this will remove all that, I'm in!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
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    Your Mom's House
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    8,299
    Quote Originally Posted by evdog View Post
    How much do you have to brush dirt off first? My cassettes accumulate massive amounts of dirt inside the cogs where I can't get to it. If this will remove all that, I'm in!
    None, but the better you do at cleaning off the big chunks first, the less you'll need to drain and clean the ultrasonic cleaner.
    I don't own one at home (have had access at work for many years but don't get to clean bike parts there). If I had one at home, I'd pull the cassette, blast it with brake cleaner to get the chunks off, then throw it in the ultrasonic.
    Thanks for the beta that Harbor Freight has them Dee Hubbs, I might have to buy one.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
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    northern BC
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    I cleaned off all the old chain oil for which an ultrasonic cleaner would be awesume and switched to a wax based chain lube ... WAY cleaner
    Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
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    YetiMan
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    13,370
    Quote Originally Posted by adrenalated View Post
    clean the ultrasonic cleaner.
    Always a catch!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Bellevue
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    7,431
    Quote Originally Posted by ill-advised strategy View Post
    Always a catch!
    That's why you buy the small one. So you can toss it in a bigger one for cleaning

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Posts
    6,643
    Quote Originally Posted by XXX-er View Post
    I cleaned off all the old chain oil for which an ultrasonic cleaner would be awesome and switched to a wax based chain lube ... WAY cleaner
    It always fascinates me how different lubes work better in different places. BC - wax based for sure. I'm in the Rockies, so wax totally sucks. Turns into gritpaste here.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Treading Water
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    6,683
    Quote Originally Posted by rideit View Post
    And I couldn’t be happier with it.
    Bought a 15L ultrasonic cleaner
    Mind my asking why your unit is so huge? Seems like 2-3L would suffice.
    And, I'm assuming shifters never go in?
    However many are in a shit ton.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Down In A Hole, Up in the Sky
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    35,360
    I got the most convenient size that would fit the new XTR cassette submerged. The cassette is 51 teeth, so is between 8” and 9” wide. From what I researched, the 10L tray was too small. It was also a bit of an impulse purchase. I just put in the chain, jockey wheels, cassette, chainring, and assorted other bits. And yes, I regreased the bearings in the jockey wheels.
    Forum Cross Pollinator, gratuitously strident

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
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    Quote Originally Posted by jm2e View Post
    Mind my asking why your unit is so huge?
    Tee hee hee
    Forum Cross Pollinator, gratuitously strident

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    BC to CO
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    4,864
    Quote Originally Posted by jm2e View Post
    Mind my asking why your unit is so huge? Seems like 2-3L would suffice.
    And, I'm assuming shifters never go in?
    The 2.5L one I have only submerses a 11 speed 47 cassette 60%, I need to rotate the cassette after a ultrasonic cycle and bath the other side. Not a big deal, as they never get that dirty because the chains get cleaned more often and are clean clean clean.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
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    Greg_o
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    2,641
    Is this a common way to clean mtb components? Am I really that out of it? I'll probably grab one, I spend stupid amounts if time manually cleaning my drive train.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Southeast New York
    Posts
    11,766
    ^^ Yes and getting more common for home use too. I need to get one...

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Posts
    900
    I have a 25 gallon industrial one at work that I use. Never thought about checking out harbor freight for my own. So thanks for the heads up.


    Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    BC to CO
    Posts
    4,864
    It came in the mail and the box listed it as a "jewelry cleaner". The Mrs. was very excited, so I promised her that it would make her very happy.
    A few night later I asked her to close her eyes, and follow me. I walked her by her hand to the garage, once in the garage I told her to open her eyes and I unveiled her sparkling clean drive train.....

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    5,531
    Quote Originally Posted by Dee Hubbs View Post
    ...her sparkling clean drive train.....
    A girl's best friend.
    Quote Originally Posted by XXX-er View Post
    the situation strikes me as WAY too much drama at this point

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    northern BC
    Posts
    30,881
    don't you have to take the whole fucking thing apart ( which takes time ) so it will fit in the parts cleaner ?

    couldn't I just blast it with the pressure wash?
    Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
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    Down In A Hole, Up in the Sky
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    I hope she cleaned your drivetrain as thanks...

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