Disassembling An American Leather Splitter

[Andrew Chee]

I just purchased an American leather splitter. Everything is in goof condition but the thing is extremely dirty. Looks like it hasn't been cleaned in like 50 years. There's some light pitting but not tht big a deal. I want to wake the thing apart and give it a good cleaning. I've started the disassembly but I can't figure out how to take the gear assembly off. Anyone know how to do this?

Andrew

[bruce johnson]

Andrew,

If you just want to clean it, then take the blade off and have somebody steam clean it. Mechanics usually have a steam cleaner. Oil it up well afterwards. If you want to take it down and repaint the frame and parts that gets a lot more involved in a hurry. There are all kinds of little fasteners that hold them together - square keys, set screws, etc. It has been about a year since I stripped one down, so I can't remember off the top of my head what fasteners are where on them.

[Andrew Chee]

Andrew,

If you just want to clean it, then take the blade off and have somebody steam clean it. Mechanics usually have a steam cleaner. Oil it up well afterwards. If you want to take it down and repaint the frame and parts that gets a lot more involved in a hurry. There are all kinds of little fasteners that hold them together - square keys, set screws, etc. It has been about a year since I stripped one down, so I can't remember off the top of my head what fasteners are where on them.

Hm... I've never heard of steam cleaning. Will it get all the crud and oil out of all the nooks and crannies? I don't want to paint it, just clean it and I couldn't think of any way of getting to the parts inside without taking it apart. Do you know what kind of mechanic I would call for this? I've never heard of such a thing. Thanks.

Andrew

[Sovran81]

Hm... I've never heard of steam cleaning. Will it get all the crud and oil out of all the nooks and crannies? I don't want to paint it, just clean it and I couldn't think of any way of getting to the parts inside without taking it apart. Do you know what kind of mechanic I would call for this? I've never heard of such a thing. Thanks.

Andrew

Steam cleaning is done with heated high pressure water. Not only will it remove grease and grime it can blow loose paint off also. It usually leaves the metal hot enough so the remaining water evaporates so fast it doesnt rust. Just about any good size auto shop will have one and most truck shops have them also. It sucks trying to work on an engine when crud keeps falling inside the engine. I would repaint it or oil it as soon as possible after cleaning to prevent moisture in the air from beginning to rust it.

[Andrew Chee]

Steam cleaning is done with heated high pressure water. Not only will it remove grease and grime it can blow loose paint off also. It usually leaves the metal hot enough so the remaining water evaporates so fast it doesnt rust. Just about any good size auto shop will have one and most truck shops have them also. It sucks trying to work on an engine when crud keeps falling inside the engine. I would repaint it or oil it as soon as possible after cleaning to prevent moisture in the air from beginning to rust it.

Thanks, I just got the thing disassembled (mostly). I was gonna use brake cleaner fluid and a brillo pad to clean the parts but steam cleaning sounds a lot easier. BTW, any particular oil you guys recommend for protecting the surface as well as any particular grease for the gears? Thanks.

Andrew

[electrathon]

Take it to the do it yourself car wash and use the engine cleaner setting. It will cost you about $2 to have it totally clean.

Aaron