xrapidx

Hi Guys

How do you clean these things? I bought mine second hand, and had to take the transmission out to replace the brakes, but when I did this I saw a lot of mud, etc. around the engine, etc. Whats the best way to clean these things? Can I just hose it down?

Thanks

RCCanuck

use some brake cleaner.......make sure you get the stuff rated for ABS...thats what I use....I get all the big stuff off with some cheapo paintbrushes i bought just for this purpose......once you have the chunks off then pull the battery out and wear some eyeprotection while using the brake cleaner to get the rest....leave it to dry....then I usually wipe down the plastics and tires with some armorall...and it good to go get filthy again

Danju

i dont recommend using a hose. but what i mainly use to clean my car is the toothbrush and paint brush. if my car has wet mud all over it, i wait for the mud to dry up, then i brush it down.

carl250r

i squirt mine all down with simple green. you can use allmost anything but DO NOT USE!!!!!!purple power or castrol superclean degreaser. most other degreasers are fine. them purple ones are hard on aluminum.

i am carefull with the radio reciever. but the rest of the truck i hose down hard with the garden hose. i cover the radio box with a rag or sock. i shake the truck in the air liek a chimpanzie to dry it but a air compresor with a blow tip on it would be better. i then put in out in the sun.

nitrorcjunkie

I use air pressure to blast off most of the mud, then use Dow Bathroom Cleaner (you know, scrubbing bubbles). I let it sit for a few minutes and blast it with more air. The bathroom cleaner makes all the plastic parts nice and shiny, sorta like Armorall.

originalspacerob

Lately its been pretty wet here in CT. the last few times i drove my truck it got pretty muddy and wet and had a lot of grass and stuff on it. All i did was let it all dry on there and then take compressed air and blew whatever loose stuff was on it off. After that i took it in the bathtub and sprayed ti with simple green diluted. After letting it sit about a minute or two i used my detachable sprayer and wiped and rinsed it down. Made ti look like brand new. I did not spray much on the motor or near the radio equiment. I wiped those areas down by hand. But i took all the stuff off the suspension and everywhere else. I wouldn't normally do it in the bathtub. but since it was in the 20's at night i didn't feel liek washing the truck in the freezing cold. For the kids. be careful with this your mom might get pretty pissed if you really get the tub dirty. I'm the one that cleans the bathroom and house so my wife can't say much.

running_gag

I'm supposed to clean it?

nhoj_yelbom

like RCCanuck i use brake cleaner works just like the trinity nitro blast, just doesnt smell good. and at $ .98 at orielly instead of $6.99 at LHS cant beat that. i only use it sparingly with a air compressor.

NitroVenom

Yea the one thing about brake cleaner is that it will eat through plastic... Its meant for metal surfaces so its not really diluted like other house cleaners... like if you were spray it on your fingure it will burn a little. The easiest is simple green nd an air compressor. (also a cheap brush with long brissles). Works great for me. This will explain it wit pics:

http://www.rcbros.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1759


-Mike

xrapidx

Great link... I wonder if they sell Simple Green in South Africa..I think I've seen it

RCCanuck

I have used brake cleaner many times on my trucks and it has never eaten anything.......doesn't burn your fingers if you get it on them.....i wouldn't want to get in in your eyes but it is safe to use...

rawiswar

i wait for it to to dry and brush off with toothbrush then i use air filter oil on the toothbrush gets em nice and clean and shiney,

i like a little dirt on mine tho it makes it look mean

Nason

every so often I pull the engine, trans, and electronics and give it a major cleaning. I spray the loose stuff off with a pressure washer, then spray engine degreaser all over it, let it sit for a bit, then spray it a couple more times with the hose. Then use wd-40 usually to make it shine

tommythecat

My Feedback: (2)

I have all of my electronics waterproofed, so I just plug my exhaust stinger, cover the carb air intake with a piece of plastic wrap and a rubber band, then I put it in the utility tub and hose it down, wipe it dry, then set it in front of a fan for an hour or so.

Of course, the above should never be attempted unless you have your electronics waterproofed...

A nice alternative is a spray bottle full of denatured alcohol.

gettnbetter

Denatured alcohol. Totally safe on electrics, we use it to clean the flux off circuit boards. Just be sure everything is completely dry before using it again. It's never safe to put anything wet on a servo or a reciever (unless of course it's coated with an aviation safe sealant and thats rare), keep any cleaners clear of all electronics. Any solvents will just wick the goo into the servo housing even if you try to seal it.

Water is a total no-no, it'll rust and corrode aluminum and steel and destroy your bearings. Simple green works but drop a coin in some and see what happens. It's worse than Del Taco Hot Sauce.

WD is OK inside the engine but some claim it destroys seals, I don't know if there are any real rubber parts left in the world (WD does eat real rubber from the rubber tree). Outside the engine will just leave a film to attract dirt and grime.

Not much beats a $5 gallon of denatured alcohol.