Cleaning a Thermostat

[Longmont1302]

I just received an old thermostat and bracket for my 71 Super Beetle which does not currently have one. When I use the heat gun to warm the thermostat, it expands, so I'm optimistic it will work. The bracket is a little rusty so I'm going to clean it up with a wire brush and some black paint.

The thermostat itself is grimy and I'd clean that up too, but I don't know if I should take any special precautions in doing so. Any suggestions for the best way to remove grime without damaging the thermostat?

[mikewilkinson007]

First of all, DO NOT heat it up to expand it. If it is retracted then it is good. You can damage it by over expanding it while heating it.

As far as cleaning, I used a firm toothbrush and that green cleaner to get the oil gunk out of it.
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[busdaddy]

X2, do not heat it out of it's bracket.
Solvent or brake cleaner and a stiff brush, squeeze one side and brush in the opened up fins on the opposite side, work your way around. And no paint afterwards.
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[DeathTrap]

It's a thermostat
ya think it would get hot where it resides?

put it in a big pot of boiling hot soapy water on the stove

[Buggeee]

Sounds like the idea is to keep the thermostat in the bracket if it is warmed for cleaning or testing so the bracket stops it from expanding beyond its ordinary operating range, stressing or cracking the metal at the folds. I would imagine any warming would best be kept to the ordinary operating temperature range as well as it works by vaporizing a liquid chemical in there that creates pressure inside to expand the bellows. I picked up a dirty used one too in order to put back the system that had been deleted by some PO so this was a well timed thread. My bracket needs some paint but I won't get any on the thermostat bellows so nothing interferes with its precisely engineered temperature sensitivity. Thanks for the info.
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1966 Sportsmobile Camper https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
72 Super Duper http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=672387
(adopted out) 61 Turkis Pile https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=728764

[68Bug-lite]

[Longmont1302]

Thanks to everyone for the feedback!