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« on: April 09, 2022, 01:24:11 AM »
I don't know if ultrasonics will get that deep through the mass and around corners. In our shop in the USMC, we had an ultrasonic cleaner for teletypes, to get all the ink, paper dust and dried grease off them. Took about 30 min or so, for what is essentially an open frame typewriter.
I've heard ATF and Acetone, 50/50 is a good soak agent, but you will need a sturdy tank with a lid to keep the acetone from evaporating away ( and sucking humidity out of the air - leaving you with water and ATF ) and a safe place to park it for days, maybe shake it a bit daily, move the crud around. Auto transmission shops often have a hot tank cleaner, for aluminum transmissions, likely safe for Iron. Get the worst off before your month long soak.
I don't recall if hot Lye will cut carbon, but it will eat anything non-iron