Removing cosmoline?

[Chris P]

I have an NOS transfer case & parking brake assembly. What is the best way to remove heavy coats of cosmoline? I don't want to us anything that will mess with the brake pad on the parking brake. Thanks.

[w30bob]

Hi Chris,

Normally I'd say diesel fuel, but you don't want to mess up the asbestos brake lining......so the answer is Mineral Spirits. You could also heat it up (if you had an oven) and the Cosmoline would become liquid and run off.

regards,
bob

[Chris P]

Thanks! How hot does it need to be for the cosmoline to run off? Might the South Carolina sun do the trick?

[Jess]

Once upon a time, in a life long ago, when issued SMGs out of a drum filled with cosmoline solution, we stripped them and took them into a hot shower, then a full cleanup and oiling. After the training, they went back into the drums for storage until the next time...

It will come off with reasonable heat but sunshine will take all summer. Any good solvent will help but then you have the runoff to recover and dispose of. A poly sheet, a putty knife and stiff brush on a hot day may get a lot of it. A heat gun may also aid softening it up a bit.

Jess

[T. Highway]

Hot soapy water has worked well for me in the past.

Bert

[Cal_Gary]

I use carb cleaner-quick as a whistle-use an old t-shirt to wipe it off.
Gary