I've got a new Brillelli 40 (barely 1 gallon through it) on my Giant Sportster that is still spitting black crap all over the nice, shiny white monocote. Man, that stuff doesn't like to come off. Any suggestions? I've been using regular windex which does a very poor job. I did notice that if I drip some gas on the wing when fueling that the crap comes up really easy, but I don't want to take to cleaning the plane with gas. I was thinking about trying denatured alcohol, straight or dilluted, but thought I'd ask and see if anyone had ideas.

Thanks

WD-40 on a rag...........

for the running in process, add an extension to the muffler exit pipe.
Use white gas, WD40, Straight Gas etc. for cleaning.

THere are "pre moistened" cleaning wipes in a round plastic container available in the Household cleaner aisles in Wally World, probably most drug/discount stores. Made for cleaning up kitchen messes - have no idea what is on them (it isn't gas), but they remove that black stuff pretty easily, and they have enough moisture to let you do the whole fuse with one.

The ones I use are "Sani Cloth" Disinfecting Wipes.

Thanks for the suggestions. The petroleum products make sense, but I'd like to try and keep the stink to a minimum

Think I'll try Aerobob's Sani-wipe thingies. If they don't work, I can use them in my kitchen.

Let me know how they work for you. I know those black dots get annoying when motors are new.

Remember, water based products don't work to well with gas and oil.

Check the label and ingredients list. Has a pretty good amount of isopropyl in it in suspension. Must be why they work.

I'm guessing that's why windex doesn't work...or 409...

Pledge makes a product that comes in a blue spray bottle that is called multi surface cleaner It works great

I've tried a number of things and as you've noted, the petroleum based stuff seems to work but stinky.

Regular rubbing alcohol (70%) works much better than window cleaner, but I think there is too much water in it. The 91% Isopropyl you can also buy where ever you get rubbing alcohol works really well and is what I use now. I buy those spray bottles at the grocery store and the pump sprayer will fit right on to the Isopropyl bottle and I know what's in it. Some folks use that concentration for thinning epoxy as well, but I prefer denatured alcohol. I've not tried that for cleanup yet as I still have some 91%, but will give the denatured a try as a cleaner when that's gone.

The other thing that works especially on some of that stubborn stuff I get on the belly where the antenna move around a bit is to take the Isopropyl and use one of those Mr Clean Magic Eraser things. They are not abrasive and will clean lots of stuff off that white covering...

When I fly my gas planes I've been using Simple Green cut 50/50 with isopropyl alcohol. Seems to work well.
sam

Thanks again for all the suggestions. Lots of stuff to try and some that I already have around the house. I've got 91% isopropyl that I use for cleaning CDs and DVDs which is fairly cheap, so I think I'll try that first.

Gas will work but it is very dangerous to use due to the chance og ignition from static electricity. This is especially true for plastic film coatings and conditions of low humidity. If you have ever zapped yourself getting out of your car or walking across carpet in your house you know what type of spark can be generated by sliding or rubbing a surface.

A bit of Oil, WD-40, Automotive paste wax, or like petroleum based product on a paper towel or rag will take off the black spots without the fire risk.

Be careful with Isopropyl Alcohol around your clear canopys. They may not be so "clear" anymore after exposure to rubbing alcohol. Don't ask how I know![X(]

I too learned the hard way that isopropyl/rubbing alcohol will cloud a clear canopy.

All I use these days is denatured alcohol (DNA). It's cheap and works wonders on glow fuel residue. I went out and tested it on my gasser plane today after reading this thread and it worked very well there too. I haven't clouded a canopy with it yet, and it appears to not affect painted surfaces when applied on a rag.

I have to point out that I *also* learned years ago about clouding canopies with Isopropyl. The wipes I referred to are used for the plane - I don't do the canopy with them. I have a plastic cleaner/polish from the aviation industry that I use for the canopy only. It may seem like a pain, but I like the canopy to remain as good looking as it can.

Bug guts make cowls and canopies a special challenge in our location.

Meh...my canopy already looks like crap due to my own idiocy, but I'll keep that in mind.

A few years ago after building a Great Planes Extra I decided to clean my canopy thoroughly before permanent attachment. There was a fresh bottle of 91% Iso alcohol on my bench so I proceeded to ruin my beautifully painted (frame) canopy. This was the second canopy as I destroyed the first one by applying too thick of a coat of Lustrkote to the canopy frame[:@] I called Great Planes again for a THIRD canopy and they felt sorry for me and sent me another one free of charge. Well, the third one was the charm!

One of the absolute best cleaning products is made by Castrol. It is called Super Clean and comes in a purple bottle. It's available at a lot of auto supplies. It's good for taking those break-in black spots off of an airplane.

I have just the cleaner you are looking for. In fact, I believe in it so much, I contacted the manufacturer about marketing it to the hobby industry. It works great on the black specks from gassers, and you won't believe what it does for oil residue from nitro methane. The oil balls up and is easily wiped off. We had an accident with some black grease from a grill that got on white carpeting. We used every carpet cleaner available, and they wouldn't touch it. I sprayed this stuff on it, and the carpet turned back to white, before my eyes. Try this cleaner, it is reasonably priced and will replace 95% of the cleaners around your house. It is Spray Power Orange or Spray power Orange Plus. It is available at Menards. Here is a link to the website: http://www.spraypower.com/orangeprodpage.htm I don't know if they will take my advice to advertise here and in the magazines, but they need to! If anyone doesn't have the same results I have had, with this product, please post here. I am confident I will not be eating crow!!!

I was also searching for a remedy for cleaning the black smutt off from breaking in my DA50. I saw some guys suggested those moistened disinfectant wipes. The closest thing I had in the house were baby wipes. I first tried the ones covered in poo, but that didn't work. So I grabbed a few clean ones and it worked like a charm!

I got ticked pretty quick when I tried the windex, thank goodness for Pampers!

Not for the sky is falling crowd; Spray a little Ether on a cloth towel and wipe them off. It evaporates real quick with no smell. Of course do not use it in your livingroom. Unless you are single, and have a Harley parked there.

I use a homemade brew from a recipe I got here on this forum some time ago which works on both glow and gas fuel residues.

To 3 quarts of water, add 1 cup of rubbing alcohol (70%) and then add 1/3 cup of dish washing liquid. Works great and gives all plastic and painted surfaces a nice shine.

Karol

3 equal parts:

Alcohol--I use denatured that you get in the gallon metal can from the big box.
Ammonia
Water

And about 1 tablespoon of liquid dishwashing per gallon.