How to clean rotors and housings?
 

I just took apart my s4 13b engine. What type of cleaning supplies have worked for everybody's rotors and housing s? or what type of supplies should I consider? ? 2nd gen T2

Jacuzzi and diesel fuel!..(lol..I had to..!)

Parts washer is a good start.Scrubby pads or a nice scotch brite wheel(the type that you insert in a drill and go to town with!).

You can find a lot more on this with a simple search(sorry to say that,but it is often asked,as it is done,by some member, almost daily)

Purple power works excellent on rotors if you dont plan to reuse bearings. Good fresh purple power, not some you have used to clean other parts. It is still important to go back and clean all seal slots and then thoroughly rinse the rotor in mineral spirits or brake cleaner then dry with pressurized air. The rotor will look nearly new after soaking in purple power for 24-48 hours. Much easier way then using a wire weal to clean. Also makes it much easier to get carbon deposits out of the seal slots.

What would the purple power do to the bearings?

I know some degreasers can eat away at metal. Purple power is safe?

Berryman/Chem-Dip carburetor and parts cleaner

Throw them rotors in a bucket with Berryman/Chem-Dip carburetor and parts cleaner.

I'm interested in putting new Rotor Bearings in now. So I believe I will go with the Purple Power. Berryman/Chem-Dip carburetor looks to be a good product but I think I will have to pass.

What about the housings?

you can pretty much use anything you want to get the housings clean. soaking them first is usually a good idea, but that takes space, so it's up to you and your situation. i tend not to use Purple Power or the Zex Purple degreaser on my rotor housings because it says not to use them on aluminum and that's enough for me. that said, some guys do and it works for them - i simply choose not to.

a few things to note:

1. make sure to put a coating of oil on all the sealing surfaces when you're done - especially if you intend to store them for a while before actual assembly.

2. i use a broken side seal or small flathead screwdriver to clean the coolant seal grooves. just be careful with how much pressure you apply (particularly with the screwdriver)

3. be careful with the rotor housings. the chamber edge is razor sharp and can cut you real bad. on a few occasions, i have turned parts cleaning into a bloodbath - and then having to stick your cut hand in something containing carb cleaner or brake cleaner afterwards is no fun at all.

can also use wd40 after you have soaked in other stuff for final cleaning also i used grey and brown pads from napa worked really well

sierra marine products makes one called carbon free. spray can of good stuff, let soak overnite and miracles happen. will not harm bearings, but will remove paint.

the purple products will discolor and eat aluminum rotor housings. it's fine to use on iron housings/plates.

simple green is more mild on the aluminum but it still will slowly discolor it.

mineral spirits work great on all.