Best Way to Clean Rocker Assembly?

[colnago]

What's the best way to clean rocker assemblies? Everything seems to be functional, and the "working surfaces" are clean, but the exposed surfaces are covered with 50 years of baked-on oil. I could get the ends off, and the outer stands and rocker arms, but the inner stands aren't going anywhere. Steel wool and elbow grease? Lighter fluid and a match? I hate to replace them, but I do want to clean them before I reinstall them.

Joseph

[tnlprt]

Rubber mallet will knock the stands off

The inside of the shafts also need to be rifle brushed

35/64 is the core plug for the ends of FE factory shafts

Good old parts washer solvent works well to clean every thing

[Jacksdad]

A can of oven cleaner will clean off years of baked on sludge with ease. Same stuff they use when they hot tank your motor - just don't get it on plain bearings like cam, rod and mains as it will damage them. Use an old brush and do it outside because of the fumes. And don't forget to wear gloves and eye protection - that stuff burns

[Manny]

Take them apart and then buy yourself and can of carb cleaner. Dunk the parts then wash them off after and reassemble.

[colnago]

I got a can of oven cleaner this morning. I didn't have much play time today, but I was able to clean the sludge on the shaft, which let me disassemble it all. I'm a bit hesitant to go hog-wild with the oven cleaner, since it said not to use on aluminum, and I think the stands are aluminum. So, I'll probably use a combo of the oven cleaner and carb cleaner. At least I now have a path forward.

Thanks,

Joseph

[MTM]

I brought mine to the local auto/ machine shop with a bunch of other parts and had them run it through their parts washer. I think it was $45 after tax for all of the parts that I could unbolt from the engine. Saved a ton of time and I would have spent almost that much for carb cleaner to do it myself.