Brake fluid will damage plastic, painted or plated
surfaces. Use extreme care when working with
brake fluid. Immediately clean up any spills with
soap and water. Rinse the area with plenty of clean
water.
Hydraulic brake systems require clean and mois-
ture-free brake fluid. Never reuse brake fluid.
Brake fluid absorbs moisture, which greatly re-
duces its ability to perform correctly. Keep brake
fluid containers and reservoirs properly sealed. Pur-
chase brake fluid in small containers, and discard
any small leftover quantities properly. Do not store
a container of brake fluid with less than 1/4 of the
fluid remaining. This small amount absorbs mois-
ture very rapidly.
WARNING
Never put a mineral based (petro
leum) oil into the brake system. Min
eral oil will cause rubber parts in the
system to swell and break apart, re
sulting in complete brake failure.
Cleaners, Degreasers and Solvents
Many chemicals are available to remove oil,
grease and other residue from the vehicle. Before
using cleaning solvents, consider how they will be
used and disposed of, particularly if they are not
water-soluble. Local ordinances may require spe-
cial procedures for the disposal of various cleaning
chemicals. Refer to
Safety
and
Cleaning Parts
in
this chapter for more information on their use.
Generally, degreasers are strong cleaners used to
remove heavy accumulations of grease from engine
and frame components.
Use brake parts cleaner to clean brake system
components when contact with petroleum-based
products will damage seals. Brake parts cleaner
leaves no residue.
Use electrical contact cleaner to clean electrical
connections and components without leaving any
residue.
Carburetor cleaner is a powerful solvent used to
remove fuel deposits and varnish from fuel system
components. Use this cleaner carefully, as it may
damage finishes.
Most solvents are designed to be used in a parts
washing cabinet for individual component clean-
ing. For safety, use only nonflammable or high flash
point solvents.
Gasket Sealant
Sealants are used in combination with a gasket or
seal and are occasionally used alone. Follow the
manufacturer’s recommendation when using seal-
ants. Use extreme care when choosing a sealant
other than the type originally recommended.
Choose sealants based on their resistance to heat,
various fluids and their sealing capabilities.
One of the most common sealants is RTV, or
room temperature vulcanizing sealant. This sealant
cures at room temperature over a specific time pe-
riod. It allows the repositioning of components
without damaging gaskets.
Moisture in the air causes the RTV sealant to
cure. Always install the tube cap as soon as possible
after applying RTV sealant. RTV sealant has a lim-
ited shelf life and will not cure properly if the shelf
life has expired. Keep partial tubes sealed, and dis-
card them if they have surpassed the expiration
date.
Applying RTV sealant
Clean all old gasket residue from the mating sur-
faces. Remove all gasket material from blind
threaded holes; it can cause inaccurate bolt torque.
Spray the mating surfaces with aerosol parts
cleaner, and then wipe them with a lint-free cloth.
The area must be clean for the sealant to adhere.
Apply RTV sealant in a continuous bead, 2-3 mm
(0.08-0.12 in.) thick. Circle all the fastener holes
unless otherwise specified. Do not allow any seal-
ant to enter these holes. Assemble and tighten the
fasteners to the specified torque within the time
frame recommended by the RTV sealant manufac-
turer.
8
CHAPTER ONE
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