Daniel, Saw something of interest on The Ford Barn the other day. It was suggested to use electrolysis similar to what you are doing to clean rust out of gas tanks. Filled tank with the solution, using a piece of exhaust pipe for the Sacrificial metal inserted through the sending unit hole and insulated from touching the tank and put the power to it. Supposed to clean all the rust out of the inside of the tank. Don't know if they sealed it after or not.

Thought it was interesting and pass it along to others with a rusty tank.

Picture from The Ford Barn;

http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=127687&d=1367192717

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

I don't think you're crazy - keep experimenting, but stay safe.

Mark

1956 Mercury M100
1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan
Delta, British Columbia

Ok, my latest foray into electrolysis went like this...

1. Clean out the old tub

2. Refill with water and 10 tablespoons of the Washing Soda

3. Clean off my sacrificial metal of rust deposits, etc.

4. Find a pair of headlight housings (usually they are pretty rusty). This pair from a 55 were rusty on the inside, but especially on the outside.

5. Immerse the housings and the sacrificial sheet metal in the solution

6. Attach the alligator clips and plug it in.

7. Turn the battery charger UP from 2 amps to 10 amps

8. Wait THREE days!

Here is what they came out like...





After about 5 minutes of brushing both of the housings, inside and outside, this is what I got...



I was more impressed by what happened on the outside of the housings than the inside. A few notes...

1. This was 3 days of sitting in the tub... I am beginning to wonder if it would not be worthwhile to take the part out after a day, brush it all off, put in new water and soda, and then let it go another day... would my results be better or does it even matter?

2. This time the sheet metal I was sacrificing was about as twice as much rusted up and corroded as the first round with the intake... I am figuring that it was because I had the charger set to 10 amps this time.

3. These parts did not clean up quite as nice as the intake manifold. Don't know why that is. Maybe more surface area to remove rust because I had two of them in there at one time?

4. I am beginning to wonder how the tub might do with small hardware, although I like my method of blasting small parts much much better.

5. Would there ever be a reason to use a different cleaner or soda in the cleaning solution other than the Arm and Hammer Washing Soda that I have been using?

6. Is there a better way to remove the residual rust on the parts other than a handheld wire brush?

LOL - anybody think I am crazy here with all this experimental cleaning and derusting?

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Thanks for the link, I will have to take a look at that video. Historically I have always liked to use the heavy duty carb cleaner in the gallon can where you just submerge your parts for several hours. Now though, I have not really found anything that compares to what I used... even back in the early 90's . With this ultrasonic cleaner, now I can get the parts pretty clean without caustic solution, and with the cleaner so cheap it is almsot a no-brainer to use. With this ECG carb I was surprised to see #52 jets... IIRC these things always ran a number higher I believe. I had to booger one up to get it out.

By the way, there was some evaporated gasoline goo on the original float needle.... and guess what took care of that? The ultrasonic!

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

And you thought I could remember that? I've looked at the Harbor Freight cleaners and was curious about how well they worked. I wish something larger or converting an existing parts cleaner was priced within reason. Did you see the video of Leno's machine that will take a complete block? Super neat! Chuck

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p36RPkxa_I4

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

Chuck,

All I did was put in a bottle of the $ store Awesome cleaner (about 1 liter or so), and then the rest was simply water. The unit has a heater on it (about 125 degrees max), and there are several different pre-timed cycles you could use. I used the 8 minute cycle on the carb parts. The unit is a Harbor Freight (Chicago Electric, spelled China Electric) model that holds a little over 2 liters of solution. I think I put a photo of the unit up in the first post I made in this thread. Worked very well as you can see.

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

I wish when you guys use these weird references you would refer to the original works? Sam C.

What type of ultrasonic did you use? Chuck

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

LOL - bring it on! Of course, what you are gonna have to pay in shipping is gonna put you over the top. Reminds me of the days we used to whitewash the fence, Sincerely Huckleberry Finn.

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Here are the results of the carb parts in the ultrasonic...









I used just one bottle of Awesome to do the fuel bowl, choke housing, and the butterfly base. The parts did not come out PERFECT, but you can see how great they look. This is with no pre-soak, no scrubbing, etc. Just place them in the tank and rinse when the cycle is complete.

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Daniel you're doing a great job and it sounds like you're having a good time doing it, how bout I send you some of my parts to have fun with, Sincerely Tom Sawyer.

Ted, Redding, CA