Cleaning sticky goo off Drive surfaces - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

'LIVEWIRE?' · 13th Jul 2018, 9:09 pm

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.

Tractorfan · 13th Jul 2018, 9:13 pm

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.

HG MICKE · 13th Jul 2018, 9:23 pm

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

Colin

paulsherwin · 13th Jul 2018, 9:25 pm

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.

crackle · 13th Jul 2018, 10:30 pm

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

Mike

joebog1 · 14th Jul 2018, 12:02 am

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

paulsherwin · 14th Jul 2018, 10:08 am

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

govjohn · 14th Jul 2018, 5:59 pm

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.

AndiiT · 14th Jul 2018, 8:19 pm

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

Skywave · 15th Jul 2018, 12:32 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by govjohn

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.

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.

cheerfulcharlie · 15th Jul 2018, 2:25 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by govjohn

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.

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

crackle · 15th Jul 2018, 3:11 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndiiT

as it seems to spread uncontrollably and is difficult, if not impossibnle to remove from fabrics.

Use Swafega

Mike

Courtney Louise · 15th Jul 2018, 7:09 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheerfulcharlie

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

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 ;-)

G6Tanuki · 15th Jul 2018, 7:21 pm

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.

TonyDuell · 16th Jul 2018, 5:08 am

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).

Station X · 16th Jul 2018, 8:20 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheerfulcharlie

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

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.

FrankB · 16th Jul 2018, 9:52 am

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

cheerfulcharlie · 16th Jul 2018, 12:20 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Station X

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheerfulcharlie

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

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.

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.

Skywave · 16th Jul 2018, 12:22 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyDuell

Acetone. Another source is the hairdressing/beauty supply companies, they often sell it (at quite a reasonable price).

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.

Studio263 · 16th Jul 2018, 2:29 pm

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.

13th Jul 2018, 9:09 pm	#1
'LIVEWIRE?' Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.W. Oxfordshire(Chipping Norton) Posts: 7,306	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.

13th Jul 2018, 9:13 pm	#2
Tractorfan Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Frajou, l'Isle en Dodon, Haute Garonne, France.(Previously: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, UK.) Posts: 3,182	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. __________________ "Hello?, Yes, I'm on the train, I might lose the signal soon as we're just going into a tunn..."

13th Jul 2018, 9:23 pm	#3
HG MICKE Pentode Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London, UK. Posts: 165	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

13th Jul 2018, 9:25 pm	#4
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,933	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.

13th Jul 2018, 10:30 pm	#5
crackle Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Basildon, Essex, UK. Posts: 4,100	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

14th Jul 2018, 12:02 am	#6
joebog1 Banned Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Mareeba, North Queensland, Australia Posts: 2,704	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

14th Jul 2018, 10:08 am	#7
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,933	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

14th Jul 2018, 5:59 pm	#8
govjohn Pentode Join Date: May 2011 Location: Cardigan, Ceredigion, UK. Posts: 100	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.

14th Jul 2018, 8:19 pm	#9
AndiiT Octode Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Saltburn-East, Cleveland, UK. Posts: 1,786	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

15th Jul 2018, 7:21 pm	#14
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 13,995	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.

16th Jul 2018, 5:08 am	#15
TonyDuell Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Biggin Hill, London, UK. Posts: 5,208	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).

16th Jul 2018, 9:52 am	#17
FrankB Heptode Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Olympia, Washington, USA. Posts: 664	Re: Cleaning sticky goo off Drive surfaces Denatured alcohol- and wear rubber gloves. That goo is very hard to remove from hands and clothing.

16th Jul 2018, 2:29 pm	#20
Studio263 Octode Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hampshire, UK. Posts: 1,576	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.