Danb Posted September 30, 2016 Report Share Posted September 30, 2016 That time of the year again. I keep the belly of my plane clean throughout the year but usually do the wheel wells etc. in the fall and spring. What are the recommendations for a good cleaner to use in the wheel wells that will not hurt or damage anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markejackson02 Posted September 30, 2016 Report Share Posted September 30, 2016 Wash and Wax, the blue stuff works pretty well. Plain old gasoline works to remove stubborn oil stains. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browncbr1 Posted September 30, 2016 Report Share Posted September 30, 2016 i use wash&wax blue for top of plane and red for the bottom. lots and lots of paper shop towels tip: wheel wells will stay much much cleaner if you make sure to hit the breaks before retracting gear. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danb Posted September 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2016 Good tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbarry Posted September 30, 2016 Report Share Posted September 30, 2016 One of the best cleaners I've found for that type of job is Crazy Clean by Sprayway. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slowflyin Posted September 30, 2016 Report Share Posted September 30, 2016 For me, hands down, Belly Wash. https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/aerobellywash.php Get the pad with it and the sticky, sooty stuff just wipes off. Fantastic stuff. I use the W&W Blue for bugs on leading edges and like it as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jsavage3 Posted September 30, 2016 Report Share Posted September 30, 2016 For a degreaser, I've found 100LL and lots of shop towels to work the best. Kerosene works good too, but the fumes nearly make me ill... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emmet Posted September 30, 2016 Report Share Posted September 30, 2016 Baby wipes - cheap, degreases nicely and no shop towels required :-)Works great ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonal Posted September 30, 2016 Report Share Posted September 30, 2016 Gojo hand cleaner takes it right off. Brush it on hose it off or use wet towel to wipe if you don't like spaying water on your plane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKSmith Posted September 30, 2016 Report Share Posted September 30, 2016 I'm not sure if it was my fault or the elements fault, but my main wheel bearings somehow had got water in them and had to be replaced. Not sure if it was because of washing, or humidity from the hanger, or lack of use but it's just a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradp Posted October 1, 2016 Report Share Posted October 1, 2016 Isopropyl alcohol is a good polar cleaner that won't take your paint off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DXB Posted October 1, 2016 Report Share Posted October 1, 2016 8 hours ago, Emmet said: Baby wipes - cheap, degreases nicely and no shop towels required :-) Works great ! On the other hand, aviation products like 100LL should NEVER be used to clean your child's bottom. 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
par Posted October 1, 2016 Report Share Posted October 1, 2016 WD-40 will also remove the grime/soot/grease. It worked exceptionally well last time I cleaned up the belly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bravoman Posted October 1, 2016 Report Share Posted October 1, 2016 Diluted aviation simple green or Belly Wash has always worked for me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonal Posted October 1, 2016 Report Share Posted October 1, 2016 I'm telling you your working too hard at this Gojo is mild it brushes on easy and washes off with no residue. I have a kind of messy old C and this stuff takes it right off. And when your done you can use it to wash your hands. Just make sure you get the non abrasive one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Txbyker Posted December 3, 2017 Report Share Posted December 3, 2017 Tub O’Towels $12 on Amazon as belly cleaner? Wipe and dispose, throw away. Trying to find something I don’t spray. Work as well as orange degreaser. Thoughts? Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N201MKTurbo Posted December 3, 2017 Report Share Posted December 3, 2017 37 minutes ago, Txbyker said: Tub O’Towels $12 on Amazon as belly cleaner? Wipe and dispose, throw away. Trying to find something I don’t spray. Work as well as orange degreaser. Thoughts? Russ Works as well as orange degreaser because it has the same solvent. d-limonene a good choice around the plane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N201MKTurbo Posted December 3, 2017 Report Share Posted December 3, 2017 On 9/30/2016 at 1:05 PM, bonal said: Gojo hand cleaner takes it right off. Brush it on hose it off or use wet towel to wipe if you don't like spaying water on your plane The active ingredient in GOJO is deodorized kerosene. Also safe on the plane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetdriven Posted December 3, 2017 Report Share Posted December 3, 2017 Kerosene or mineral spirits. Aviation simple green is still not safe for aluminum. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike_elliott Posted December 3, 2017 Report Share Posted December 3, 2017 1 hour ago, jetdriven said: Kerosene or mineral spirits. Aviation simple green is still not safe for aluminum. Agreed, yet in this months Mooney Flyer, they recommend using It. They also do not warn of using Wash N wax red on plexiglas, which also is a no no. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Posted December 3, 2017 Report Share Posted December 3, 2017 59 minutes ago, mike_elliott said: Agreed, yet in this months Mooney Flyer, they recommend using It. They also do not warn of using Wash N wax red on plexiglas, which also is a no no. I love Wash N Wax--red for the belly, blue for everything else, Plexus on the windows, inside & out. No muss, no fuss, lots of wiping and very little scrubbing. Makes it really easy to remove bugs, too, but it's getting to be bug-free time of year now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenL757 Posted December 4, 2017 Report Share Posted December 4, 2017 On 9/30/2016 at 2:37 PM, slowflyin said: For me, hands down, Belly Wash. https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/aerobellywash.php Get the pad with it and the sticky, sooty stuff just wipes off. Fantastic stuff. I use the W&W Blue for bugs on leading edges and like it as well. Yeah, and agree with Browncbr and Hank as well...been using the Wash-WaxAll for several years, and love it, love it, love it. My routine has been... - Degreaser for cleaning the belly panels...initially - Belly Soap (formerly BellyWash) next to remove the exhaust stains - WWA “blue” stuff to finish them off (leaves a nice waxy-like texture) - WWA “pink” stuff for the windows inside and out Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raptor05121 Posted December 4, 2017 Report Share Posted December 4, 2017 I use 1/2 mix of dawn dish soap and water in a foam cannon, get in there, and just scrub scrub scrub. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonhop Posted December 4, 2017 Report Share Posted December 4, 2017 (edited) On 10/1/2016 at 3:23 AM, par said: WD-40 will also remove the grime/soot/grease. It worked exceptionally well last time I cleaned up the belly. +1 for WD-40 on the underside and gear wells. Then I use a light squirt of dish-washing soap and water and go to town on the upper-sides. I follow that up with wax. I keep bugs off the leading edges and cowl with liberal use of pledge after each flight. They normally wipe off because there is nothing to adhere to... Edited December 4, 2017 by jonhop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy95W Posted December 4, 2017 Report Share Posted December 4, 2017 I've wiped down/degreased more bellies with either mineral spirits or kerosene than I can count. Never found anything faster, easier, or cheaper. I think the WD-40 might be easier, though not as inexpensive. (when you start as a mechanic's helper, you get all the shit jobs first) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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