Topic: Engine cleaning???

[nevernoluck]

I've searched and looked in the FAQ section but can't seem to find what I was looking for, if I recall correctly I believe reading about some guys using aircraft stripper to bring back the shine to their engines, anyone know what I'm talking about or any other suggestions for cleaning?

[flybox1]

no 'product' will bring back shine better than elbow grease...and a compound wheel.
just use simple green or S100 and a few brushes to clean your engine.
0000 and some sort of metal polish works well on the chromed bits.

[tlbranth]

Never- the aircraft remover is used to remove the clear coating Honda puts on their shiny bits. I've never cleaned up an engine like the ones I've seen on this site but from what I've read, Flybox said it: elbow grease and a buffing wheel.

[Gordon]

Every surface of your engine that isn't chrome plated is painted.  The only way to make it look good again is to strip the paint and then either repaint or polish it. 

[Bankerdanny]

When I cleaned and polished the legs to my GL1000's forks Sunday I used aircraft stripper to remove the clearcoat.

The actual polishing part involved LOTS of elbow grease, 6 increasingly fine grades of wet/dry sandpaper, semichrome polish and a buffing wheel on my drill.

[nevernoluck]

Thanks guys got the info I was looking for

[davidtime]

Oven cleaner works good on the clear coat as well. I used it on my wheels the other day and it worked pretty good. I only left it on about 10 minutes though.

[davidtime]

I used fast 505 on my engine and I said good bye to my nicely polished covers. I learned a nice lesson on that one.

[Bankerdanny]

I used medium steel wool in combination with the stripper to remove the clearcoat. Wear gloves.

[surveywaters]

I used fast 505 on my engine and I said good bye to my nicely polished covers. I learned a nice lesson on that one.

Did this dull out the polish? How long did it take to rebuff? Do you feel it was some sort of etching process?

 I have my covers taped off and want to degrease my engine before repainting and am searching for options like the OP.

[reddyvv]

Aircraft stripper is superb for removing paint and clearcoat. You can literally wipe the bubbled up residue off with a cloth after 10 minutes. Some areas may need a 2nd application.

[davidtime]

I used fast 505 on my engine and I said good bye to my nicely polished covers. I learned a nice lesson on that one.

Did this dull out the polish? How long did it take to rebuff? Do you feel it was some sort of etching process?

 I have my covers taped off and want to degrease my engine before repainting and am searching for options like the OP.

Are you planning on refinishing the covers or are they already polished or painted?

[surveywaters]

The covers are polished and covered with painters tape. I would like to degrease the case, cylinders and head. Then, lightly coat with some engine paint.  I am mainly concerned about the cleaner/degreaser making the adhesive on the painters tape goppy and difficult to remove.

[Muckinfuss]

Blue house painter's tape will let solvents right through.  Green auto body painter's tape is solvent resistant.

[surveywaters]

That's a good clarification, thank you. All of my polished bits are masked with automotive painter's tape.