The Ford Barn

snappydon · 03-01-2019, 09:45 AM

'37 Model 79 1-1/2 ton...Any suggestions on the best, easiest and or most efficient way to get rear end lube out of the housing?

This stuff has been in there for likely 40+ years. Of which the rig sat for at least 30 of those years.

I've had the drain plug and fill plug removed for at least 6 months and it has drained but the lube looks like thick wax.

Wondered about filling it up with solvent or similar and letting it sit, then rolling it over every few days.

WABOOM · 03-01-2019, 09:56 AM

Warm it up with a pan of lit charcoal under it.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

19Fordy · 03-01-2019, 10:16 AM

Try one of these style immersion heaters. Just rebend the element to fit in the fill or drain hole.
https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/sto...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

OR: Insert a dips tick style heater in the fill/ drain hole like we used to keep engine oil warm for easy starting during cold winters.Here's a good thread to read.
https://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=96096

deuce_roadster · 03-01-2019, 10:41 AM

I just used my weed burner (cheap at Harbor Freight) which works on Propane. Set the housing up so that the gunk runs out and shoot the fire inside. It doesn't heat the housing up much at all but the gunk turns quickly to something like the consistency of water and runs out into something like a pan that captures it. Leaves it pretty clean and solvent finishes the job.

Tim Ayers · 03-01-2019, 01:26 PM

I'd throw some kerosene or mineral spirits in there to help loosen it up.

Alaska Jim · 03-01-2019, 03:28 PM

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all of the above are good solutions, and I would add to be careful with the flames if the diff is still in the vehicle. you might also try a magnetic oil pan/eng. heater. there are several company's that make them. Kat's, and Zero Start are 2. being in WA. state a good parts store should be able to get one for you.

51woodie · 03-01-2019, 03:58 PM

I flushed the diff on my "46 with the car up on jack stands. I started flushing with Varsol, which is similar to diesel fuel, to a level about an inch below the fill hole. Don't fill to the fill hole for the flushes. I put the fill plug in and ran the car ad idle in 2nd gear for a few minutes, drained and repeated until the Varsol started to clear up. I did two flushes with some 5-30 motor oil that I had, running the car in gear each time. I let the diff drain overnight then filled with gear oil. I'll change the gear oil in the spring after run 100 mile or so, just to make sure the gear oil was not thinned by any of the previous flushes.

richard crow · 03-01-2019, 04:01 PM

like tim ayers says only jack up the car & run it in gear a while with the kerosene in it

snappydon · 03-01-2019, 04:21 PM

Right now the rear end is still mounted the frame but there is no cab or drivetrain from the driveline tube forward.

I was thinking about building kind of an insulated box around it and turning my forced air electric heater on blowing into the box. Some kind of "hotbox"...

Let it run for a few days then do the solvent/kerosene soak after I reinstall the powertrain.

alanwoodieman · 03-01-2019, 07:14 PM

I used a propane blower heater to warm the housing/lube and then pulled pan and let it drain. I also think I will run the truck this summer and when warm drain it out again. when I first pulled the plug the lube came out like a dog turd falling

deuce_roadster · 03-01-2019, 11:32 PM

Ha ha, I like it Alan! My suggestion was for a disassembled rear end, housings loose.

v8nut · 03-02-2019, 07:10 PM

I would put a couple of heat lamps on it.

03-01-2019, 09:45 AM	#1
snappydon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Hoodsport WA Posts: 150	Removing OLD Thick Gooey Rear End Lube '37 Model 79 1-1/2 ton...Any suggestions on the best, easiest and or most efficient way to get rear end lube out of the housing? This stuff has been in there for likely 40+ years. Of which the rig sat for at least 30 of those years. I've had the drain plug and fill plug removed for at least 6 months and it has drained but the lube looks like thick wax. Wondered about filling it up with solvent or similar and letting it sit, then rolling it over every few days.

03-01-2019, 09:56 AM	#2
WABOOM Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Minnesota Posts: 347	Re: Removing OLD Thick Gooey Rear End Lube Warm it up with a pan of lit charcoal under it. Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

03-01-2019, 10:16 AM	#3
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,950	Re: Removing OLD Thick Gooey Rear End Lube Try one of these style immersion heaters. Just rebend the element to fit in the fill or drain hole. https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/sto...E&gclsrc=aw.ds OR: Insert a dips tick style heater in the fill/ drain hole like we used to keep engine oil warm for easy starting during cold winters.Here's a good thread to read. https://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=96096

03-01-2019, 10:41 AM	#4
deuce_roadster Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Shelton, WA Posts: 3,800	Re: Removing OLD Thick Gooey Rear End Lube I just used my weed burner (cheap at Harbor Freight) which works on Propane. Set the housing up so that the gunk runs out and shoot the fire inside. It doesn't heat the housing up much at all but the gunk turns quickly to something like the consistency of water and runs out into something like a pan that captures it. Leaves it pretty clean and solvent finishes the job.

03-01-2019, 01:26 PM	#5
Tim Ayers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 6,182	Re: Removing OLD Thick Gooey Rear End Lube I'd throw some kerosene or mineral spirits in there to help loosen it up.

03-01-2019, 03:28 PM	#6
Alaska Jim Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Palmer, Alaska Posts: 1,575	Re: Removing OLD Thick Gooey Rear End Lube Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) all of the above are good solutions, and I would add to be careful with the flames if the diff is still in the vehicle. you might also try a magnetic oil pan/eng. heater. there are several company's that make them. Kat's, and Zero Start are 2. being in WA. state a good parts store should be able to get one for you.

03-01-2019, 03:58 PM	#7
51woodie Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Chelmsford, ON Canada Posts: 529	Re: Removing OLD Thick Gooey Rear End Lube I flushed the diff on my "46 with the car up on jack stands. I started flushing with Varsol, which is similar to diesel fuel, to a level about an inch below the fill hole. Don't fill to the fill hole for the flushes. I put the fill plug in and ran the car ad idle in 2nd gear for a few minutes, drained and repeated until the Varsol started to clear up. I did two flushes with some 5-30 motor oil that I had, running the car in gear each time. I let the diff drain overnight then filled with gear oil. I'll change the gear oil in the spring after run 100 mile or so, just to make sure the gear oil was not thinned by any of the previous flushes.

03-01-2019, 04:01 PM	#8
richard crow Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,770	Re: Removing OLD Thick Gooey Rear End Lube like tim ayers says only jack up the car & run it in gear a while with the kerosene in it

03-01-2019, 04:21 PM	#9
snappydon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Hoodsport WA Posts: 150	Re: Removing OLD Thick Gooey Rear End Lube Right now the rear end is still mounted the frame but there is no cab or drivetrain from the driveline tube forward. I was thinking about building kind of an insulated box around it and turning my forced air electric heater on blowing into the box. Some kind of "hotbox"... Let it run for a few days then do the solvent/kerosene soak after I reinstall the powertrain.

03-01-2019, 07:14 PM	#10
alanwoodieman Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: upstate SC Posts: 2,965	Re: Removing OLD Thick Gooey Rear End Lube I used a propane blower heater to warm the housing/lube and then pulled pan and let it drain. I also think I will run the truck this summer and when warm drain it out again. when I first pulled the plug the lube came out like a dog turd falling

03-01-2019, 11:32 PM	#11
deuce_roadster Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Shelton, WA Posts: 3,800	Re: Removing OLD Thick Gooey Rear End Lube Ha ha, I like it Alan! My suggestion was for a disassembled rear end, housings loose.

03-02-2019, 07:10 PM	#12
v8nut Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 202	Re: Removing OLD Thick Gooey Rear End Lube I would put a couple of heat lamps on it.