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Starter in the dishwasher?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Abomination, Mar 6, 2009.

  1. Abomination
    Joined: Oct 5, 2006
    Posts: 6,719

    Abomination
    Member

    This may be a stupid question, but I've recently discovered dishwasher parts cleaning, and was wondering if I could throw a whole starter or alternator in there... I mean, my starter is immersed when I drive through a creek, and has withstood road salt and slush through many winters - do you think Cascade will kill it?

    SAVE ME FROM MYSELF!!!

    ~Jason

    [​IMG]
     
  2. temper_mental
    Joined: Oct 22, 2006
    Posts: 2,718

    temper_mental
    Member
    from Texas

    Please tell me you do not own a restaurant. As far as the dish washing thing goes only one way to find out.My 2 cents
     
  3. belair
    Joined: Jul 10, 2006
    Posts: 9,013

    belair
    Member

    I didn't know dishwashers had a starter. I just kick mine in the butt.
     
  4. Yes, you CAN put them in the dishwasher....but they will never work again...
     

  5. the-rodster
    Joined: Jul 2, 2003
    Posts: 6,945

    the-rodster
    Member

    Sure!

    And while it's in there...

    Use the blender to start your car.

    Rich
     
  6. It would probably be fine to do if you disassemble it first and put the pieces in the dishwasher. I'd leave the bits in the sun for an afternoon to dry out before re-assembly. Better still put the parts on a cookie sheet and bake them at lowest heat setting for a couple of hours. You want to make sure all water is removed from the coils. I've restored radios and broadcast equipment that has been sunken or flooded this way. FWIW the dishwasher is THE place to clean seat belts.
     
  7. loogy
    Joined: Mar 6, 2004
    Posts: 1,236

    loogy
    Member

    You kind of expected these types of answers, didn't you?

    The only thing that I would be concerned about would be that the soap is somewhat caustic and that it might etch the armature surface and that the grease from the bearings/bushings would most likely be washed away or at least compromised. Other than that, I don't see much difference between that and soaking the thing with Super Clean and hosing it down. But then again, maybe I'm wrong.
     
  8. What's next????????????????????????????????????//
     
  9. draginsteel
    Joined: Oct 21, 2007
    Posts: 463

    draginsteel
    Member

    Forget it, I'm not coming over for dinner!
     
  10. brandon
    Joined: Jul 19, 2002
    Posts: 6,368

    brandon
    Member

    just stick to using it for cleaning hub caps.....:D
     
  11. About 15 years ago I cleaned an oil pan and two valve covers in the dishwasher. The parts came out pretty clean, but there were ugly streaks of brown grease all over the white interior of the dishwasher, and the dishwasher smelled oily for a few months after that. My wife wasn't too happy about it.
     
  12. drock6570
    Joined: Aug 11, 2006
    Posts: 413

    drock6570
    Member

    you just wanted to stir the pot huh?
     
  13. MBog
    Joined: May 2, 2006
    Posts: 556

    MBog
    Member

    It should work, go for it. I have a high pressure jet wash cabinet and it uses concentrated "dish washing" powder. Works great, get permission first baahaha
     
  14. uncle max
    Joined: Jan 19, 2006
    Posts: 908

    uncle max
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    This very thing was one of my ex-wife's pet peeves. She told me, "It's either me or hotrods." I never called to thank her. . .
     
  15. autobodyed
    Joined: Mar 5, 2008
    Posts: 1,943

    autobodyed
    Member
    from shelton ct

    if you use cascade, it won't leave any water spots!
     
  16. UnIOnViLLEHauNT
    Joined: Jun 22, 2004
    Posts: 4,827

    UnIOnViLLEHauNT
    Member

    Id worry more about the dishwasher than the starter. A lot harder and more expensive to replace.
     
  17. Abomination
    Joined: Oct 5, 2006
    Posts: 6,719

    Abomination
    Member

    I've done this with iPods, MacBook logic boards, etc, with the same results. :)

    ~Jason

     
  18. Abomination
    Joined: Oct 5, 2006
    Posts: 6,719

    Abomination
    Member

    Yeah... <sigh>

    I expected 'em. :rolleyes:

    But the etching of the armature surface is EXACTLY the VERY THING that was cause for my concern, which is why I asked. Even in pieces, this was my concern.

    That pic is totally a mockup, by the way. :D

    ~Jason

     
  19. Abomination
    Joined: Oct 5, 2006
    Posts: 6,719

    Abomination
    Member

    I did on that bellhousing - it's clean enough to eat off of! There's virtually NO grease on it, period!

    ~Jason

     
  20. 303racer
    Joined: Aug 23, 2006
    Posts: 563

    303racer
    Member

    lol as long as you dry it, by baking it in the oven after

    [​IMG]
     
  21. fuel pump
    Joined: Nov 4, 2001
    Posts: 3,620

    fuel pump
    Member Emeritus
    from Caro,MI

    Back in the 70s I worked for Bendix in their starter drive sales area and visited more than one low class rebuilders that used old cafetera/commercial style dishwashers to "rebuild the starter cores:rolleyes: They would take the old starter core and run it through the dishwasher to clean it, blow the water out it with an air hose and hit with 12 volts. If the starter spun they would spray some paint on it and put it in a box and sell it:eek: And you woner why rebilt parts have a bad reputation.
     
  22. Abomination
    Joined: Oct 5, 2006
    Posts: 6,719

    Abomination
    Member

    Awwww, come on!

    It's good for your liver!

    ~Jason

     
  23. wetatt4u
    Joined: Nov 4, 2006
    Posts: 2,146

    wetatt4u
    Member

  24. jusjunk
    Joined: Dec 3, 2004
    Posts: 3,138

    jusjunk
    BANNED
    from Michigan

    I hope you unplugged the applefryer :)
    Dave N8DC
     
  25. blowby
    Joined: Dec 27, 2012
    Posts: 8,661

    blowby
    Member
    from Nicasio Ca

    Hmm, well I drug home a free dishwasher today and was thinking about using it as a parts washer, this was the only thread I found. Guess it's not a popular idea. :)
     
  26. tubman
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 6,916

    tubman
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    About 30 years ago, some friends and I rented a house with a dishwasher. I had purchased a 650 Triumph basket case about that time, and put the crankcase halves in the dishwasher. It cleaned 'em real good, and didn't seem to hurt the unit. After seeing some of the pots and pans I've seen put through them over the years, I think I might consider a "freeby" for installation in my shop (if I had a source for hot water and a drain).
     
  27. A dishwasher is nothing more that a poor man's hot tank. I don't see any problem with using one to clean parts. Just don't use the one in the kitchen. I'm sure you could find half a dozen of them, for next to nothing, in a few hours on CL
     
  28. i dont know about starters but other parts that i need really clean i take to the transmission shop. they have this "dishwasher" that heats up water and some other chemical to clean stuff. its actually made for it. that way i dont break the one i got...or piss of the one in charge.
     
  29. blowby
    Joined: Dec 27, 2012
    Posts: 8,661

    blowby
    Member
    from Nicasio Ca

    Thanks. When I picked it up today (along with a washer, drier and stove from a house remodel) my first thought was to put it on CL, but they are floating around for $20 there.
     
  30. das858
    Joined: Jul 28, 2010
    Posts: 1,014

    das858
    Member

    It will work great and won't hurt the starter at all , this is whar a jet wash cabnet is just a large heavy duty dish washer. I always take an air nozzle and dry it out thoroughly after cleaning.
     

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