Thread cleanup

[JHZR2]

This is a VC thread on my 81 240D.

The challenge is that I can only really get them exposed like this with the VC off... so I don't want to brush or fling a bunch of dirt all over.

What's the best way to clean these up? Steel wool wetted with oil?

Each one is just inconvenient enough to access.



Related: what about cleaning the nuts that have similar mess on them?

 

[supton]

Slather the die in grease? Die and threads.

Dumb question: can you put two nuts on, tighten against each other to make a jam nut, and then back this stud out? I'm guessing that's a stud and not a press fit bolt. ?

 

[CT8]

Die or thread chaser.

 

[Kestas]

I read the title and thought you were posting about a moderator issue.

 

[fdcg27]

Just leave them alone?
The dirty looking treaded part isn't doing anything more than sitting there anyway.
No way in hades I'd try backing these out either, as one poster suggested.

 

[turtlevette]

Apply rust remover, let sit a while. Wipe off with paper towel. Repeat until clean.

 

[eljefino]

Poke a small hole in a plastic bag and stuff that over the thread to establish a containment. Clean stud with a toothbrush sized wire brush. Vacuum the droppings. Wipe clean with "any oil" on a rag. Remove the bag.

 

[Warstud]

Put a rag over the valves...spray with penetrating oil and wire brush it.

 

[CT8]

Originally Posted By: Kestas
I read the title and thought you were posting about a moderator issue.
I thought the same thing.

 

[demarpaint]

I'd thoroughly mask everything off, get some penetrating oil and a wire tooth brush, and use it to clean it up.

 

[onetwoothreee]

Wire wheel and a power drill. smh

 

[JHZR2]

ok, oily brush it is. The bag trick is a great idea!!

Originally Posted By: onetwoothreee
Wire wheel and a power drill. smh

Um, thats exactly what I didnt want to do since it would sling mess everywhere in an exposed engine...

 

[onetwoothreee]

Just making it harder on yourself. Go and clean that bad boy up.

 

[Leo99]

I'd just spray it with WD40.

 

[dlundblad]

You for sure can't remove the stud?

For cleaning the nuts, use Evaporust. Any parts place or HF should have the stuff. If you could remove the studs, I'd say Evaporust those too.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/4291279/Evapo-Rust

 

[miden851]

Originally Posted By: Leo99
I'd just spray it with WD40.

+1

 

[Shannow]

Rather than use a die filled with grease, I'd get a nut, and cut slots across the face (like a double merc logo), have it cut side down, and the slots packed with grease, so the crud contact is grease

The plastic bag idea FTW

 

[fdcg27]

Originally Posted By: dlundblad
You for sure can't remove the stud?

For cleaning the nuts, use Evaporust. Any parts place or HF should have the stuff. If you could remove the studs, I'd say Evaporust those too.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/4291279/Evapo-Rust


Would you really want to try removing these studs from this head without a really good reason?
I can envision broken studs and a whole new ballgame of problems to solve.

 

[Ducked]

That kinda ting I generally get a piece of aluminium foil oiled or greased fairly evenly and then crumple it in a ring around the fastner. Crumples fit the thread, then I wind it up and down the fastner a few times.

If its quite dirty I might toothbrush it first (though you'd need containment in your situation. Bag idea should work, maybe with a rubber band) or use a greased bit of dental floss, depending on access.

Greased and cut nut is probably better, except that it doesn't leave aluminium on the thread (aluminium on threads is generally a good thing outside the engine) and its a bit more trouble to do.

A moderator would probably just use

 

[AZjeff]

^ FTW