Parts washer recommendation needed

I have to rebuild the motor in my FD, and I need to purchase a parts washer. Does anyone have a recommendation? Are the Harbor Freight $100 ones decent enough?

What is everyone using?

Thanks, James

I had one of those for a long time, worked fine. Pump wore out after a couple years and bought a new one for like 20 bucks. Sold it when I moved. wasn't worth transporting it.

I noticed it doesn't come with a brush on the end of the hose. Did you have a problem with that?

Watch Craigslist. Garages go out of business all the time. It's a pretty simple device.

+1 on using searchtempest.com to mine Craiglist for "parts washer".

I scored a real-live genuine Safety-Kleen brand unit sitting atop a VP racing fuel drum. A week later a friend gave me a barrel of Safety-Kleen solvent from his associates kart shop that had just closed.

It's large and awesome. Deep enough that you can keep a gallon can of carb-dip in the sink.

I keep a selection of baskets and stainless steel restaurant pans in the sink and don't really like a brush on the end of the discharge hose.

I have the $100 Harbor unit, and it worked fine for cleaning my 13B. My only complaint is that the power switch was really temperamental until I rewired it.

Well, I've found a jug of lacquer thinner and a big cooking pan are darn hard to beat for cleaning things.

Don't get me wrong, I love parts cleaners. Just that many of them don't have a very good cleaning solvent. The Harbor Freight ones and the like tend to disolve their pumps or pump seals in good solvents (plastic).

Like most things, bigger is better. Mine holds a small block intake, but a big block trans bellhousing is a bit of a challenge. I've had mine for probably 10 years. I don't use it often, but when I do, I'm so glad I have it. The brush on the hose is best, but you can just use the 'hose' with a separate brush. Make sure you buy protective gloves for parts cleaning. I got a pair at a swap meet that are rubber but the fluid makes the fingers weld together and they have no grip when wet. I find that the fluid is self-cleaning as it evaporates over time. When it's time for a refill I drain what's left and scrape the smegma out before I install fresh.

In reply to Rad_Capz:

Where did you get a pump to fit it? Mine's kaput as well...