Vintage Windmill and Wind Generator Forum

This Baker Monitor WB was lubed with grease. The grease kept the mice out, so that was a plus. The prior owner said they took it down about 35yrs ago.

I used some generic degreaser, Zep and brake cleaner at different points was well as a little diesel fuel and a pressure washer. It was a mess to clean up. However it cleaned up well and disassembly was fairly easy.

What is everyone’s favorite degreaser or degreasing method?

Michael , that was NASTY ! I would have taken to a mechanical repair shop with a hot water enclosed degreaser cabinet .

Varsol ,

Mike,

I’ll have to look into Varsol. Thank you.

It really only cost me 2 cans of degreaser and 2 cans of brake cleaner…so $13. The brake cleaner worked great in the snoot oil channels. I used a little diesel and had a supply of Zep on hand. Plus it cost me a roll of paper towels, more so for my hands. Of the 4hrs I spent, most of that time the degreaser was soaking to some degree. The Zep was taking the old paint off.

Looks great Michael. That was quite a messy job.

My go-to degeaser is mineral spirits.

I have a tub with diesel fuel and kerosene mixed and let the gear box sit in that for about a week.

I used to take heads to the machine shop for a dip in the hot tank. They gave me a reasonable price, and it was worth it considering the time it took for me to put them in the parts washer here. Then I started using the torch. That was fun. lol

Windy , did you really use a flame to degrease ?????????? out side hopefully .

Sure did. And do. But not heads as bad as his.

Thank you.

I sort of feel like it had the equivalent of two 14oz grease cartridges worth of grease in it. Even the mast pipe had a good amount of grease in it.

As greasy as it was, it cleaned up pretty well and was in pretty good shape. It is getting a new bronze front bushing. The bushing was worn, but not worn thru. Also, it will get a new tail pin, pump rod and cross head pin as those are pretty easy to make.