Ultrasonic Cleaner

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Stephen Hill

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Oct 28, 2009
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I am looking at buying an ultrasonic cleaner for an auto engine rebuild project, mostly small items like pistons, etc.
I was wondering if I should get one large enough for some of the aluminum castings on a Norton: gearbox shell and covers, timing cover, head, crankcase, etc.
Do some folks use an ultrasonic cleaner for cleaning Norton parts, and what kind of job does it do?
 
I don't own one but have used the one at work several times and I can certainly recomend their usage..... when attempting to check the return oil passage from crankcase to oil pump, nothing could be found even after compressed air & proprietary cleaners were used.
But during ultrasonic cleaning a slug of debris came out
 
Crankcase 1/2 in 1/2 out for 15 mins as test.

Ultrasonic Cleaner
 
Yes I had good results doing the rotary SU carbs in one borrowed from a friend. I used hot water and proprietary carb cleaner solution. It was just a little too small, so yes get one big enough for your needs to fully submerge the parts
 
What cleaner are you using. I have a small one, but the cleaning fluid I have leaves a nasty residue and doesn’t do a great job.
 
Mine is adequate at 10litres, will easily take a couple of carburettors and their components. I have placed a crankcase half in, and turned it to do all the sides as it won’t fully fit in. For what I use it for these days it suits me.
 
Interbak said:
What cleaner are you using.
Click to expand...
Varies, never use one with phosphoric acid as it leaves a dark covering on alloy, citric and oxalic acid do work well on alloy. But for Amal carbs, which could be made from anything as it changed so much over the years, just washing up liquid and water. Adding denatured alcohol works too but watch for the fumes.
 
MSDS for Allendale Carb cleaner gives you

3-BUTOXYPROPAN-2-OL CAS-No.: 5131-66-8EC-No.: 225-878-4EC Index-No.: 603-052-00-81 – 10 Skin Irrit. 2, H315Eye Irrit. 2, H319ALCOHOLS, C12-13-BRANCHED AND LINEAR,ETHOXYLATED- 1 – 10 Acute Tox. 4 (Oral), H302Eye Dam. 1, H318Aquatic Chronic 3, H412DODECYLBENZENESULPHONIC ACID,COMPOUND WITH 2,2',2''-NITRILOTRIETHANOL(1:1)CAS-No.: 3088-30-0EC-No.: 221-415-51 – 10 Skin Irrit. 2, H315Eye Dam. 1, H318

So some solvent BUTOXYPROPAN, Ethanol ALCOHOLS, C12-13-BRANCHED AND LINEAR,ETHOXYLATED and an acid in ethanol DODECYLBENZENESULPHONIC ACID,COMPOUND WITH 2,2',2''-NITRILOTRIETHANOL, All at 1 to 10% so mainly water.
 
I am looking at buying a 30 litre model. Much bigger than that they get stupid expensive. And I am guessing need large quantities of cleaning fluid, take forever to warm up, etc.

Kommando, would you say your 30 litre is about right for Commando parts? Can you get a Commando head in it?
 
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Stephen Hill said:
And I am guessing need large quantities of cleaning fluid, take forever to warm up, etc.
Click to expand...
No, you are adding a cup full of chemicals to water, the ultrasonic cleaners come with their own heater element but the sonic waves heat the water so other than taking the chill off the fluid I don't bother with the heaters.

A head will need turning over for full coverage, do this a few times to make sure you don't get a tide mark.
 
By the way, do not be tempted to put your fingers into the tank when it is running, see below.


Why it’s unsafe​

  1. Ultrasonic cavitation
    • Ultrasonic cleaners work by creating microscopic bubbles that rapidly collapse.
    • This collapse releases tiny but intense shockwaves.
    • On hard surfaces, that’s great for cleaning.
    • On soft tissue (skin, nerves, blood vessels), it can cause cell-level damage.
  2. You may not feel pain immediately
    • At typical home-unit frequencies (around 35–45 kHz), damage can occur without strong pain signals.
    • Tingling, numbness, or mild warmth can happen first.
    • Tissue irritation or nerve effects may show up later.
  3. Prolonged exposure risk
    • Short accidental contact is unlikely to cause severe injury.
    • Keeping fingers submerged for seconds to minutes repeatedly or intentionally can lead to:
      • Skin irritation
      • Nerve sensitivity or numbness
      • Microvascular damage
  4. Chemicals make it worse
    • Many people add detergents, solvents, or alkaline cleaners.
    • Cavitation increases chemical penetration into skin, increasing irritation or burns.
 
I bought a 15L Chinese ultrasonic about 10 years ago. They are sold under many funky names, but they all appear to be the same. It was about $75. Now they are almost double that. But still worth it. I can fit a bank of 4 carbs in. Most often, I put a 1-gallon bucket of carb dip inside the ultrasonic, with a single carb inside the bucket. They wear out eventually, but mine passes the foil test to this day. I have found that there is nothing it won't clean. Get one. It's 11" x 12" x 5" deep.. It's one of the best shop purchases I've made.
 
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Stephen Hill said:
I am looking at buying a 30 litre model. Much bigger than that they get stupid expensive. And I am guessing need large quantities of cleaning fluid, take forever to warm up, etc.

Kommando, would you say your 30 litre is about right for Commando parts? Can you get a Commando head in it?
Click to expand...
I have been looking at the Vevor 30L model, still very affordable. Basket dimensions are 48 cm (length) x 28 cm (width) x 15 cm (height). I guess it will serve its purpose but crankcase halves and cylinder head will need to be turned over several times which is a nuisance.
Next step up? A crankcase half requires 31 x 30 x 12 cm, a cylinder head 28 x 22 x 17 cm.

- Knut
 
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