[GreenKeys] Cleaning

[John Nagle]

> Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 16:20:15 -0800 From: "Chuck
> McClurg"<j-mcclurg at sbcglobal.net> To:<greenkeys at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: [GreenKeys] Cleaning Message-ID:
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>
> I know this is a never ending topic.............BUT................I
> just got a TT-4A out of the shed and find that the Lubrication in is
> has turned to  lard !  I need to remove it from the bottom plate and
> clean it up and re-lube the unit.
>
> The question is.....What is the favorite way to clean to clean the
> whole machine of all old lube??  I have the -35 manual so will
> properly re-lube it when clean.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Chuck N7UVZ Carson City, NV

    Kerosene was traditional, but there's been progress in cleaners.
I've used Simple Green on four Teletype machines with good success.
It's a citrus-based cleaner available at Home Depot in gallon jugs.
It's enough to remove dirt and old Teletype lubricants, and doesn't
harm the rubber parts or Model 15 wiring.  I've just removed the
motor and immersed everything up to the selector magnet in a
big Rubbermaid container.  2-3 days of soaking seems to
be effective.

    You can dilute Simple Green it with water, preferably
de-ionized or distilled water so you don't leave dissolved solids
from the water.  There's no waste disposal problem, as there is
with petroleum based solvents.  Simple Green can be disposed of
down the drain, or just allowed to evaporate.

    Rust is a tougher problem to deal with.  I've used EvapoRust
on rusty Model 14 typing units.  This is a drastic step to
take, because it will remove the Parkerizing from the metal
and leave a bare, unprotected metal surface.  EvapoRust
is a chelating agent - it dissolves oxides, including the
protective coating of Parkerizing, leaving bare metal.
It attacks only rust and won't do anything to good metal.

     You have to immerse objects completely in EvapoRust, not apply
it to the surface or let parts stick out of the liquid; at
the liquid surface it will cause rust.  So you need a lot of it.
Then, cleaning the surface after EvapoRust with water may
cause a new light layer of rust to form, so you have to
rinse, quickly blow-dry, and apply a rust preventative.

			John Nagle