How to Degrease inside of Rudder Tube?

tartan30cirrus · Post by **tartan30cirrus** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 8:38 am

My rudder is out. I have a long rudder tube empty. It is dirty with very old sticky grease. i would like to degrease it. I am thinking of a large bottle washer type of tool stuck on a pole the brush loaded with degreaser. I can plunge into the hole and through to the bottom of the tube. ANy other ideas?

Cheers.

Post by **Tim** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 9:59 am

That would be as good as anything. You'll probably never get it all out, but at least you can remove the worst of it, and the dirt too.

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 10:26 am

A case of brake cleaner maybe?

Plug the bottom hole, fill with a water/detergent/ mix, let sit for awhile or until it leaks past your plug, then scrub... and then squirt several cans of brake cleaner down the hole.

I don't imagine having some old grease down there will make much difference anyway. We are not talking high precision machinery here. Of course if it were me I would want to be able to lick the tube before putting in new grease - totally unnecessary but I do those sorts of things anyway.

-Britton

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 11:21 am

I cleaned mine by stuffing a solvent-soaked rag back and forth with an old broom handle ... came out squeaky clean after several rags. (Make sure you safely dispose of the rags.)

Figment · Post by **Figment** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 12:25 pm

You habitually lick things prior to greasing them?

That explains a few things.... ;)

Post by **Tim** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 12:32 pm

You habitually lick things prior to greasing them?

Man, I hope nobody touches the possible innuendo in that statement!

Nobody except me, that is...hehe

tartan30cirrus · Post by **tartan30cirrus** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 3:14 pm

There are some sick puppies on this forum.

Anyway, I like licking most things on my boat.

TX for ideas.

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 7:32 pm

Okay, I asked for that one...

-Britton