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How do I remove grease from plastic gears?

How do I remove grease from plastic gears?

Old 06-06-2012, 03:03 PM
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Default How do I remove grease from plastic gears?

Not a vintage machine this time, but a relevant question I think.

We bought a Singer 4622A ZZ machine last year. This was before I learned about greases and lubes. It was dry dry dry inside even though it has few actual lube places.
I oiled what ever moved using a good oil, but not a sewing machine oil. That is easy to correct.

But I lubed the plastic cam stacks with white lithium grease. Now that I've learned that was a no no I want to remove it and some really solidified amber colored grease that was in the machine from before.

What can I use to remove the grease that will not damage the plastic cam stack and other gears?
Some I can simply wipe off, but others will take more than that.

Joe
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Old 06-06-2012, 05:23 PM
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dawn dish soap and warm water maybe??
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Old 06-06-2012, 05:27 PM
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Well, that's an idea. I actually was able to get it out with a flat blade screw driver and paper towels followed by a tooth brush.

The grease had not solidified any at all, so it was pretty easy.

Joe
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Old 06-06-2012, 06:03 PM
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Hi Joe, why is lithium grease a "no-no" for plastic gears? I don't have any plastic-geared machines but I'm curious.

As for removing it, I second Jacquie; if I had to remove grease from plastic parts, I'd give it a good soak in water and dishwashing detergent followed by a good rinse.
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Old 06-06-2012, 06:35 PM
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Well, lithium grease is kind of heavy and it will gum up. My wife was using it some a couple days ago and it ran well but seemed to me to be sluggish. Could be just because it's a new plastic machine. Anyway I cleaned the cam stack off and a couple other gear sets too. And it seems to be running freer.

The grease won't actually damage anything, it just gets gummy over time.

Joe
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Old 06-06-2012, 07:25 PM
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Rubbing alcohol will work too. It won't harm plastic...it's sold in plastic bottles. I'm not crazy about putting water on the inside of my machines. The alcohol will evaporate quickly & they'll be less chance of any leaving moisture inside the machine.
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Old 06-10-2012, 10:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Vintage.Singers.NYC View Post
Hi Joe, why is lithium grease a "no-no" for plastic gears? I don't have any plastic-geared machines but I'm curious.

As for removing it, I second Jacquie; if I had to remove grease from plastic parts, I'd give it a good soak in water and dishwashing detergent followed by a good rinse.
Rain,
I've been doing a lot of reading the last 8 months and some things have become mixed up in my memory. Here is where I read not to use lithium grease in sewing machines:
http://blog.sew-classic.com/2009/01/...g-machine.aspx
Although Jenny is discussing removing it from steel gears, she also cautions about using greases on non metal gears unless it's called for.

Joe
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