Clean fuel pump case

[Joe]

Does anyone have advice on how to clean the inside of the fuel pump case, when the pump is apart? I'm working on mine, a long pump, and the inside is pretty dirty and oily.
Thanks,
Joe
1965 230SL

[Tyler S]

Joe, I ended up buying an ultrasonic cleaner on Amazon. Filled it with carburetor cleaner (1 gallon chemdip). Cleans everything up in 20 minutes. It is good for other parts around the house as well so worth the up front cost. About $80

[Pawel66]

Tyler, an ultrasonic cleaner big enough to clean the fuel pump cover for less than USD80? You still have a link you could post?

A friend of mine needed to clean tail lamp plate - my wife did it half by half in the cleaner she uses to clean her jewelry...

I could use a big cleaner like you say.

[Joe]

I have an ultrasonic cleaner. Bought from Grizzly, and made in China. It doesn't have much power.
My concern was what inside the case, viz. wires or glue, could be affected by particular solvents.
Joe

[Tyler S]

Pawel. Looks like the price went up by $10. Here is the link. They also offer a 6L tank that would fit all of the parts in one go.
https://www.amazon.com/Mophorn/dp/B07RT4HG2Z

Joe, I have rebuilt about 8 fuel pumps so far using this setup with the carburetor cleaner. It didn't effect any of the winding shellack. I even dropped the plastic terminals in with the pump parts. I haven't tried to include any rubber o-rings in the cleaning as they get replaced during the rebuild anyway but from experience they tend to swell when they come in contact with solvents. Link to the cleaner below.
  https://www.amazon.com/Gunk-CC3K-Carburetor-Cleaner-Basket/dp/B000ABGA4E

[Pawel66]

Thank you!
Will brief my wife.

[Joe]

Thanks, Tyler. That's what I needed to know.
Joe

[BaronYoungman]

BE CAREFUL WITH CARB CLEANER. As the name indicates, flammable cleaning solutions give off vapors that are both unhealthy for personnel and may be explosive.   Vapor generation is greatly increased due to cavitation action in the ultrasonic cleaner tank. There are many instances when flammable solvents such as IPA, acetone and toluene are used for cleaning parts that must be residue-free after the process. Extreme care must be taken under all circumstances but it is especially called for when using flammable solvents in ultrasonic cleaners.  I use a water based cleaner in my ultrasonic cleaner.  They have cleaners that are specifically for cleaning aluminum and water based.
Bob

[66andBlue]

Bob,
which brand are you using? Diluted or undiluted?

[BaronYoungman]

I use Simple Green Extreme Aircraft and Precision Cleaner.  It is meant for aircraft use so when diluted properly will not etch or destroy the underling materials.  From their ad
 New aircraft and precision cleaning product, cuts through tough, built up grease, oil, dirt, pollution, insect residue and impact soils
It causes no harm to aircraft structural metals, plastics, paints, or coatings
Documented conformance to variety of aircraft testing specifications. Safe for use on aluminum, carbon fiber, and more. The components of extreme Simple Green are all low-toxicity compounds and the product contains no "solvents"
I use at 7 to 1 ratio.
Bob

[Tyler S]

I will also add that the ultrasonic cleaner has a lid to minimize vapors and I do not heat the solution. 20 minutes is all it takes.

The Gunk carb cleaner comes in a 1 gallon paint can. It is Not an aerosol can and is chemically different. It can also be used stand alone as the can it comes with contains a parts basket for dipping parts. Works well this way just takes a little longer.