Transmission Soda, Bead or Walnut Shell Blasting Options

[kconway]

I was wondering if it would be safe to soda, bead or walnut shell blast my transmission whole if I taped off the vent and perhaps the part lines in the case as to not hit the seals? I have a newly rebuilt transmission I'd like to clean up without tearing back down again.

Kev

[kconway]

I think the bottom line to this discussion is how does the media get inside? I've heard alot of folks say no way, but haven't heard a good explanation as to how the media gets inside if you take the proper precautions. I qualified my question with at least the common sense to completely cover the vent, where else is it vulnerable. If there was another path, my garage floor would be a huge puddle of tranny fluid.
Hey, I was dumb enough to rattle can it, I'm sure I can muster the stupidity to blast it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Tom_T]

I think the bottom line to this discussion is how does the media get inside? I've heard alot of folks say no way, but haven't heard a good explanation as to how the media gets inside if you take the proper precautions. I qualified my question with at least the common sense to completely cover the vent, where else is it vulnerable. If there was another path, my garage floor would be a huge puddle of tranny fluid.
Hey, I was dumb enough to rattle can it, I'm sure I can muster the stupidity to blast it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Kev - the good & the bad about soda & fine walnut media are that the fineness doesn't destroy the rubber & plastic lenses on a car when say you're blasting the body, but it is also fine enough to find its way under pressure into the damnedest places! It just gets by the tiniest of cracks or gaps, as well as being able to make the adhesive on tape fail, etc., etc. This is the bane of fine media blasting! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Any precautions which you take to close off all the gaps, vents, seals, etc. may or may not prevent any from getting inside a mechanical part such as a tranny. If it were a case prior to rebuilding, then you'd blast it, clean it & rebuild a clean case - but this is an operating tranny that we all presume you want to keep that way.

So I guess - proceed at your own peril with medial blasting, or else try some of the other suggested paint removal & clean-up methods here! ... it's up to Bud, because you're writing the checks on your 914! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)