Cleaning sticky goo off Drive surfaces
 

I'm jn the process of repairing the cassette mechs. in a Sharp GF500 portable. Both have the remains of belts which have turned to goo and coated the motor pulleys, flywheel rims, and, in one deck, the clutch. Having tried various things such as I.P.A., Liquid soap, etc., without much success, can anyone tell me the best way to remove the goo. This is one of the worst examples of this fault I've ever come across in many years of servicing tape players & recorders.

Re: Cleaning sticky goo off Drive surfaces
 

Hi.
I find that brake fluid works pretty well, but then you will need a solvent to remove the fluid afterwards. IPA or meths is OK for that.
Cheers, Pete.

Re: Cleaning sticky goo off Drive surfaces
 

Used to use lighter fluid on cassette decks and reel to reel machines.
Also to clean the mechanics paraffin.

Colin

Re: Cleaning sticky goo off Drive surfaces
 

White spirit / turps substitute normally shifts goo, but check any rubber wheels you plan to clean to make sure they won't react with it. Metal, nylon and plastic rims and pulleys should be fine.

You can use WD40 too (it's mostly white spirit) but apply it with a rag or cotton bud rather than spraying it on directly, and take care to clean it all off.

Re: Cleaning sticky goo off Drive surfaces
 

I didnt believe it when I was told, but Swarfega works very well at cleaning off sticky rubber residue.

Mike

Re: Cleaning sticky goo off Drive surfaces
 

So does WD40 and RP7, which are both fish oil.
The ultimate though, is eucalyptus oil!!
It won't damage any other parts, in my experience either.

Joe

Re: Cleaning sticky goo off Drive surfaces
 

It is a widely held belief that WD40 contains fish oil, but the various hydrocarbons are all petroleum based. There isn't much oil anyway, just enough to leave an anticorrosive film after the white spirit has evaporated, which is why it is a poor long term lubricant.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WD-40

Re: Cleaning sticky goo off Drive surfaces
 

Hi I find the best thing to use is acetone,. keep it clear of any plastic parts as it will melt most thermoplastics and it is highly flammable. But these negative points are worth putting up with as is brilliant at removing decomposed belts.
JOHN.

Re: Cleaning sticky goo off Drive surfaces
 

Hi, I find Cif cream kitchen cleaner good for cleaning the goo that belts leave, just make sure that the whole area including your hands are protected when removing belt goo/residue as it seems to spread uncontrollably and is difficult, if not impossibnle to remove from fabrics.

Regards

Andrew

Re: Cleaning sticky goo off Drive surfaces
 

I'll second that. Acetone is a very useful chemical to have in the workshop - I use it for cleaning various things. Just keep it away from many plastics and cellulose-based paints - unless you wish to remove that paint, that is!

Al.

Re: Cleaning sticky goo off Drive surfaces
 

..and you can probably find it in your local Co-op as 'nail varnish remover'

Re: Cleaning sticky goo off Drive surfaces
 

Use Swafega

Mike

Re: Cleaning sticky goo off Drive surfaces
 

Not tried it but you can also get Acetone free nail varnish remover that will disolve nail varnish but kind to plastics, including false nails ;-)

Re: Cleaning sticky goo off Drive surfaces
 

In the past I've used Vaseline: put it on and leave for a few days to dissolve into the nasty deposits. Slow, but effective.

Aerosol car brake-cleaner is also useful to have around: not sure what's in it (Xylene?) but I squirt some into an eggcup then use a Q-tip to apply it where necessary and lift off the gunge.

Re: Cleaning sticky goo off Drive surfaces
 

I've never tried the 'acetone free' nail varnish removers for this. I have the (unjustified) feeling that like most 'safer'/'greener' products it will not work as well as the original.

Pound shops sometimes have bottles of acetone-based nail varnish removers. They claim 'pure acetone', which I somewhat doubt but they are certainly good for cleaning off gunge. Another source is the hairdressing/beauty supply companies, they often sell it (at quite a reasonable price).

Re: Cleaning sticky goo off Drive surfaces
 

That's an expensive way of buying it if you plan to use a lot. Try a spray paint or glass fibre reinforced plastic (GFRP) supplier.

Re: Cleaning sticky goo off Drive surfaces
 

Denatured alcohol- and wear rubber gloves. That goo is very hard to remove from hands and clothing.

Re: Cleaning sticky goo off Drive surfaces
 

Merely thinking of convenience on a Sunday afternoon, besides I for one would not be happy with having a few litres of Acetone hanging around the place.

Re: Cleaning sticky goo off Drive surfaces
 

I get mine from 'Sallys'.
Here is their Web Site which contains a link to their stores:
https://www.sallybeauty.co.uk/
(Scroll down, right-hand side of screen: 'Store Finder')

Al.

Re: Cleaning sticky goo off Drive surfaces
 

I use Electrolube LRM label remover. It cleans up all the muck and doesn't damage plastic parts, which acetone definitely does.

A quick wash with water afterwards and its all done. Swarfega impregnated wipes also work quite well, but they are expensive and can dry up in the container if tape decks are the only thing you use them for.