What would be the best cleaner to use to clean up a greasy wire harness. Being electrical, I don't want to use something that could cause any problems, or dry out the plastic coating around the wires.
About the best bet I know of. WD is optional ( to me ) but simple green is a very good product for greasy most things. I buy it by the gallon jug.
I've used simple green with a bit of baking soda. Works great! Keep a couple of gallons of simple green on hand for all sorts of reasons!
I use a lot of simple green, not overly exicted about WD40 (Not sure it's long term effects on the wiring?) Greasy delicate stuff, DAWN dishwashing soap. Give it a bath:bglasses:
Good ole lacquer thinner is my favorite cleaner/degreaser...nothing beats it!:TU: Just don't spill it on anything that's finished, ready to be installed...
Lacquer thinner is one of my favorites. Using it on the wires isn't a big deal as long as they are automotive grade, such as OEM stuff, because that wire is tuff. On cheap aftermarket wire it might affect the sheathing. I even use it on my spark plug wires. Simple Green is great all purpose. Castrol Purple cleaner is a bit heavier duty than SG. Way, way back at work we used to use Triclorethelene(?) for cleaning circuit boards. It made lacquer thinner look like a lightweight. What work called "dirty" was perfect automotive cleaner. Dangerous stuff I'm sure but back then they didn't have to keep track of it for disposal so I could just take it. It was just short of the old old school carb cleaner.
I'll give Simple Green a shot. I've used the purple Castrol to clean before and do not care much for it. It didn't do as well as I had hoped, and it really really really dries your skin out bad. I was wearing rubber gloves, but one of them split at a seam. I didnt notice it until it was too late. Castrol leaked in, and the skin moisture ran out. Took me 2 days of soaking my hand in moisturizer and lotion for them to not be so dry.
According to the 'How to Restore Your Muscle Car' book by Greg Donahue, they recommend using a quality paint stripper like Tal-Strip paint stripper. They say it's better than lacquer thinner as it won't fade the wire colors and leaves the wires more flexible. They wear gloves, let it sit for about :15 then wash off with water. FWIW.
Makes sense to me. You'll still have clean hands when you're finished. Thanks, and sweet sweet car you have there.
