Grimy Outboard Shaft? NF

[pikehunter]

It's like it's baked on and consists of a mixture of water surface scum, oil, unburned fuel and whatever else could possibly be caked on there.

 

When I asked the boat mechanic where I bought a couple of years ago his answer was "Oven cleaner." I tried oven cleaner last year, it did work but still required some elbow grease. My problem with oven cleaner is that it is very corrosive and I would prefer to use something else. OC can't be too good for the painted surface after repeated use and what could any overspray do the the aluminum boats painted or bare finish? I kind of want to get everything all spic and span for winter storage and am greatful if anyone has any tips

 

Thanks.

[Greencoachdog]

Try Citrus stripper, sold in the paint department at wal-mart... smells like oranges and has no noxious fumes.

Edited November 10, 2007 by Greencoachdog

[Guest skeeter99]

swish toilet bowl cleaner or zep toilet bowl cleaner(home depot) will take anything off

 

or what I sometimes do which is not as corrosive is some good cleaner wax apply liberally and polish off (yes a little elbow grease) but comes out like a showroom shine, clean first with acid then polish

[Jer]

"Swish"...yes

"Zep"...no

 

Similiar to the citrus stripper is Swish Citro-Gleam.

[Beans]

Pressure washer set on light spray ("wash") setting...

[irishfield]

Starbrite hull cleaner seems to clean everything up for me.

[Gerritt]

http://www.cromac.ca

 

These guys carry the BEST cleaners and strippers of any company I have ever dealt with....(They are the Manufacturer)

 

And service the metals industry

 

Gerritt.

[Muskieman]

Brake Kleen ....

 

Muriatic Acid 30% followed by a Baking Soda rub-down [ neutralizes the acid], wash down with warm soapy water,dry off , apply coat of oil with rag or brush.

 

some performance enthusiasts still do this with crankshafts when they rebuild the engines.

[pikehunter]

Thanks for the ideas.

The toilet bowl cleaner or Starbright sound like they could do the trick without being so caustic as oven cleaner.

[boatman]

Just make sure you don't allow any of the cleaners to run down the shaft and contact the rubber driveshaft seal. Remove the water pump and housing and wrap a rag or something around it before you start.