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Re: Cleaning parts



Ed Lutz wrote:

JP> Hi Ed..

JP> OK, how long ago did you buy the cleaner at Harbor? Does it look like JP> the current large (20gal)
JP> model? I read some documentation on it that said if you use petroleum JP> based solvents, the pump
JP> "may" wear out prematurely.. I think the smaller model said more JP> strongly not to use them.

I think this is what I have. I purchased it about three years ago at a
Harbor Freight in CA.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=7340

If I remember right my documentation warned against water based
solvents but I cant be sure. The pump itself though didn't mind, it was
the pump filter holder and the flexible line that the solvent comes
out through that rusted.


Hmmm.. interesting. I'll have to talk with someone there, and read what they say in the info..


JP> Not sure if they are giving you a fair warning, or only some hand JP> waving to discourage use of
JP> petro solvents.. I can imagine the pump could be built for water duty, JP> and the rubber seals might
JP> melt slowly (or quickly) depending on the solvent.. makes me wonder how JP> easy it might be to
JP> cut gaskets/buy O-rings of more resistant stuff..

On mine the pump has no seals or o-rings. It uses a magnetic field to
spin the impeller. No spinning motor, just what seems like an electric
magnet with the impeller the only thing that has contact with the
solvent.

JP> You are the second guy to mention this Stoddard stuff.. Where can you JP> find it? I'm hoping they
JP> don't have some law banning it's sale in CA...

Good luck. California is pretty tough on this stuff which is why I
ended up going with a water based solvent. You might want to contact
Zep, they had some stuff that looked pretty good. For stodard solvent
try contacting a petrol product distributor. Out here in CO. they're
the ones who have kerosene and stodard plus good deals on motor oils.

Ed
Loveland, Co

Well, if that's the case, unless your solvent would attack the plastic itself, there would be no problem..
Maybe there is a gasket to seal the motor housing, which would be good if it didn't leak.

It's probably part of general petro discouragement in CA..

I did find out some about the solvent. Seems it's used in dry cleaning amongst other things, and is
considered nasty stuff if leaked into the ground. There is a big push to pass laws on current dry cleaning
solvents, (here in CA) that may put most out of buisness due to high costs of changover. I get the feeling
Stoddards is on the list... A guy did write to me and say that you can get it in CA at the moment. But
apparently, you are supposed to get it hazmat disposed of, at a high price..

There are other solvents that don't have this requirement available out there... (ZEP, others)
but I don't know much about them yet..

Jon
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