Topic: I like to make my bike's engine look like new

[VTEC]

Paint and polish, in my opinion. Cliff.

What kind of oil filter is that?

[Magpie]

That's an early sandcast engine which is supposed to have a smooth oil filter cover. That's a finned one that has been turned down to look like the correct one. Cliff.

[Accolay]

I did about the same as cycle ranger, but used Duplicolor Engine Paint DE1615 Aluminum. I do not recall if I used the engine primer, but I may have because there were a few bare spots under the carbs where gas had leaked previously. The duplicolor worked well and have had no problems  in two riding seasons with it- still looks great. The better the prep, the better the paint will look.

Paint and polish, in my opinion. Cliff.

How often do you have to repolish, or did you use some clear on it?

[Magpie]

I repolish with Blue Magic maybe once a year, just before the season starts again. No clear coat. I enjoy it with a cold beer or two, maybe 3.I used the same paint a Accolay, no primer and have good success with it. Cliff.

[CycleRanger]

I repolish with Blue Magic maybe once a year, just before the season starts again. No clear coat. I enjoy it with a cold beer or two, maybe 3.I used the same paint a Accolay, no primer and have good success with it. Cliff.

Yeah, I didn't clear coat the 750K5 either. I try to hit it with Mother's Aluminum polish a couple times a year.

I did however clear coat the fork lowers on my XL250s and they turned out rather well.
I may consider clear coating when I rebuild my K3.

[grcamna2]

I envision a rack to cook hotdogs on the back of the fins while I ride.  At that point, I am justified painting it with grill paint.

Lotta space back there, I think you could cook up a fine meal back there!

http://www.wisebread.com/cooking-great-meals-with-your-car-engine-the-heat-is-on

Personally, and it is just personal taste here, I like the less-than-polished patina look. Not grease, just patina.

Here I am, I am a Honda with a lot of miles with stories, not a show bike with pretty ribbons. Now love me, or get the hell out of the way!

lol & LOL on that grill  ...+1 0n the Original cleaned patina..it shows the bikes true Vintage character; as long as the paint isn't too bad on the engine it'll clean up nice w/ a scrub brush and Simple Green.

[grcamna2]

After some deep thought, I may paint the jugs of my K7 with grill paint! But no hot dog rack for me, I wanna smoke some baby back ribs!!

lol..it may take a bit of fabricating to design a 250 mile tenderloin "cabinet" back there but I know the heat is available along with the room;I need a good meal after a 250 mile road trip ! LOL   

[Rigid]

You'll need engine degreaser, acetone, simple green, scotchbrite, a couple of brass brushes, a buffing wheel, Duplicolor Hi-temp silver, elbow grease, and patience!     The engine stand really helps too.
The carbs & hardware were soda-blasted.

+1, Ranger nailed it right down the line.  VHT caliper paint in aluminum looks good and is durable after heating.

[Duanob]

Of course all the cleaning in the world won't do much good if you don't fix all your oil leaks. 1 year, 2 head gaskets, many oil seals later I finally fixed all the leaks and cleaned my engine.

[vistirus]

Any ideas on how to clean the dark splotches on the aluminum. My bike has this present in places on the valve covers, the side cases and the fork lowers. Is this simply a matter of hours of polishing or is it something that can't be fixed at all?  I hit it with some Mother's and a power buffing wheel - didn't spend too much time - but wasn't very successful. I sure don't want to pull these parts and send them out.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Accolay]

Honda had some really tough clear coat on those parts (please correct me if my memory fails), so you're going to have to strip the parts first.

[Deltarider]

Of course all the cleaning in the world won't do much good if you don't fix all your oil leaks.

If you intend to ride your bike, be prepared that the engine will be dirty again. IMO it's useless to put much effort in cleaning let alone polishing. Most SOHC engines will always leak somewhere and will always get dirty. Consider it ORIGINAL.
I use a biodegradable degreaser every few years, followed by some water from the hose. Not spectacular but sufficient.

[lucky]

This topic might had been discussed before but could not find it. Anyways, I am trying to figure out how to clean my engine, and get rid of old oil and gas stain. I am planning to pull off the engine from the bike, but not sure what to use to restore its original color. I kind spray a little bit of brake cleaner by accident the other day and noticed that took off the varnish with not effort. Is this safe for gasket and engine paint? if not what should I used that will work better? should I better powder coated and paint it? or soda blasted? if this last option is the best way, do I have to take the engine apart to do so?
Any input will be helpful !

Thanks

Brake cleaner is trichlorethyelene or one of the other 20 names they have given it.
It cleans very well but it will make rubber parts swell up and they can be ruined.