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

dawn dish soap and warm water maybe??

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

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.

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

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.

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