Brian & Listers,
My wife gave me a very similar one from Harbor Freight about 3 years
ago for my birthday. I really have used it a lot. I did remount the
pump and switch assembly so that it was more rigidly attached to the
side of the tank though. I also built a support for the shelf inside
the tank as it is only thin sheet metal, supported with a 90 degree
bend along the edge for rigidity, NOT! I built the support out of a
pair of 2" pipe flanges and a short nipple screwed into the flanges so
that the top flange just meets the shelf. When I cleaned my TR3's
tranny, I just set it on the shelf on the bell housing, and brushed
away. I didn't have to worry about the shelf collapsing.
I use "solvent" that I buy from a petroleum distributor in San Jose,
CA, it costs about $30.00 or $35.00 for 5 gallons and includes the
container. I put one can as a fill for the 20 Gallon cleaner and it
works fine. I suppose it would hold more, but 5 gallons works fine. I
have bought two 5 gallon cans since it was new, and I'm due for
another now. This solvent doesn't smell too bad and I think it smells
better than kerosene. It has similar strength in dissolving grease and
gunk to kerosene. I prefer the solvent from SafetyKleen that I used
in my service stations (in another life). When I tried to buy/rent
solvent from them, they just ignored my requests for info and pricing!
One problem is the disposal of the old solvent, I must confess that I
recycle the 2 or 3 gallons of dirty solvent left when I change it,
over the next several months with the used motor oil out of our four
cars! Probably not legal but it is petroleum based and no one would
take it as "used/dirty" solvent! I suppose I could get rid of it as
hazardous waste.
The cabinet is in my garage and also serves as an extra work surface
in my shop. I covered the top with a sheet of corrugated cardboard cut
to size and taped to the rear edge (with duct tape!) and I use it as a
small, light duty bench.
As always, NFI and YMMV!!
Jim Bauder
'58 TR3
Palo Alto, CA
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