I have used isopropyl alcohol 70%.

70% is not very effective as a paint remover, or thinner for acrylic paints, but I have used the 70% on Athearn plastic wheel sets without problems.  I suspect that the plastic used in Athearn gears is the same as in the wheelsets.  I have cleaned plastic gear sets with the 70% rubbing alcohol without seeing any problems.

Me too..

I soaked them for a few minutes in alcohol, then cleaned with tooth brush and tooth picks, some grease was real old. Wipe them off, alcohol will evaporate, then re-lube!

Super Clean

Just wondering about that product SuperClean? I recall reading that it was a very good product for striping paint off of plastic shells, so it must be harmless to that plastic.

Gear cleaning

In short:  Faucet water, gritty hand soap (ex: Lava, Orange), firmest toothbrush you can find, rinse, dry, reassemble, lube with 85 wt. Nano Oil on gears and 10 wt. Nano Oil on bearings.

For more, see:  "Engine Prep" on pg. 15 of my blog.

Cleaning Gears

I've always used denature alcohol. No damage to any kind of plastic. The only gear I lube is the worm and worm wheel. The spur gears really don't lube since there is no sliding motion. The bearings need lube but that's about it.

Bernd

Isopropyl alcohol for me as well

Clean the gears with IPA using a fine, soft toothbrush. Follow up with the LaBelle treatment. Works for me.

What I do!

As you know, I usually tell only what I know. Alcohol/70% is useful for 90% of our cleaning. Even track in an emergency. With track, I then follow up with mineral spirits and graphite. This has been explained before. But it does work for gears/bearings, etc. But for lube, I stick with LaBelle products. They are the best. I have no affiliation with any company, just satisfied with the products.

Chemical resistance for Acetal plastic (Delrin)

https://www.calpaclab.com/acetal-polyoxymethylene-chemical-compatibility-chart/

most common solvents acetone, xylene,All alcohols appear ok.

don't use MEK . Watch out for off the shelf automotive de-greasers some have MEK . 

The best de-greaser I've ever found is cheap shampoo  low paraffin ,no conditioner and no water at least not till rinse. 

Most dish washing soap is diluted  and has a lot of water doesn't always mix or dissolve grease that well. You have to use the high dollar stuff like Dawn.

Plastic Gear Cleaning

I try to stay away fro strong chemicals, so no alcohol of any type. 

I use an Ultra Sonic Cleaner with dish soap, the grease cutting type. About a bottle cap into two cups of warm water and run it through the cycle about three time. I also do wheels and axles with gears on them as well?

Works great! Re-assemble re-lube and be sure to use plastic compatible lube and or grease!

Ralph

Plastic gear cleaning

Hand cleaners like GoJo or Goop will work as theyaredesigned to cut grease. Dawn detergent is hard to beat. As noted, a toothpick and elbow grease can't be beat.

Hand Cleaners

I like that idea much more than any solvents.

Those hand cleaners do a pretty good job of dissolving grease

.

I can just imagine the response to this, but I've always cleaned the gears and gear cases with lacquer thinners. Delrin is impervious to chemicals even as strong as lacquer thinners. Gets rid of the lubricants easily.

I can only recall ONE gear case out of hundreds of engines that wasn't a delrin derivative. If I'm unsure, I just wet my finger with thinners and rub the surface. If it gets tacky, don't use the thinners. It was an old off-brand of source I don't recall now. Most all current production use the delrin type castings.

Mark.

Yes you can

Yes, imagine is right!

Lacquer thinner in today’s environmentally conscious world is not a great choice. Such harsh and unfriendly chemicals are just not needed for this kind of job.

I gave up using lacquer thinner long ago, having replaced it with ethyl acetate. Ethyl acetate is strong stuff as well in concentrated form, but at least ethyl acetate is found in nature — it’s what gives fruity wines their taste, and your metabolic processes make small quantities of ethyl acetate as a by-product.

You won’t find lacquer thinner in food and your body's metabolism does not produce lacquer thinner. Move to the 21st century and find friendlier alternatives to lacquer thinner. I have no place for the stuff in my home these days.

CLEANING WITH WD-40

WD-40 works great for cleaning grease from parts. 

Try it for cleaning bugs and tar from your car panels. Try it to get grease, tar, paint, etc. from your hands.

Mark

Moving Forward ....

Joe - I'll keep my old schools ways to myself going forward. The EPA would probably have a stroke if they took stock of my chemical cabinet ! Still use all the same stuff I learned to use fifty years ago. I'll go down kicking and screaming.

Mark.