Ultrasonic Cleaner

[Stephen Hill]

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?

 

[olympus]

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

 

[kommando]

Crankcase 1/2 in 1/2 out for 15 mins as test.

 

[AndyDMC]

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

 

[baz]

I use one a fair bit
I wish I'd bought a bigger one

 

[YING]

I use one a fair bit
I wish I'd bought a bigger one

Baz,
What size would you go for?
Thanks,Mike

 

[kommando]

Mine is a 30 ltr model.

 

[Interbak]

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.

 

[Flatspot]

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.

 

[kommando]

What cleaner are you using.

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.

 

[Mark Savage]

I use Allendale Ultrasonic carb cleaner fluid. It’s never changed the colour of anything, carbs or otherwise just cleans them. It does a good job on Premiers.

 

[kommando]

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.

 

[Stephen Hill]

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?

 

[kommando]

And I am guessing need large quantities of cleaning fluid, take forever to warm up, etc.

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.

 

[Flatspot]

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.

 

[gpzkat]

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.

 

[mdt-son]

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?

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 (studs removed).

- Knut

 

[baz]

Baz,
What size would you go for?
Thanks,Mike

Mine is a 3lt
I can fit two stripped down carbs in but that's about it
I'd go for the biggest you can afford

 

[Stephen Hill]

Thanks guys. It looks like the 30 litre unit is the right size. Anything bigger starts quickly gets expensive.
The Vevor line has lots of options in the 30 litre size. Almost too many options. And badly described. No model numbers, inconsistent specification, etc. Some have 380 watts of ultrasonic cleaning power, some 500, some 600. But not obvious which is which.

If the power specs work out, I am leaning toward the model with the two big control knobs for time and power. Instead of the digital panel, which is probably less reliable. But then what else would you expect from a Norton owner........

 

[Flatspot]

If you do go ‘too big’ and have regrets when you only want to use it for some small parts, bearing mind the expense of filling with fresh fluids, you can use a smaller container within the large one. Keep the old fluid for when you want to clean off some dirty lumps, fill the small container with fresh fluid and the small components. Then weight it so it doesn’t try to overturn and place it in the large tank. It will take a little while longer to get to temperature, but the ultrasonics will still get inside and do the cleaning job.