Topic: CB550 - Engine Clean/New Gaskets on Top End

[peterfnfn]

Howdy everyone!
I'm new to posting, but have received a lot of help just simply browsing over the last year. Great insight all around! Now for my first post. My CB550 rebuild.

I'm replacing the gaskets and rings and have taken the engine out of the frame and disassembled the top-end. My question is regarding how to best clean the interior parts, like the piston heads, and then the how to best clean the exterior.

In my limited experience, Simple Green hasn't been the best, but maybe I'm using it on the wrong parts. Brake Parts Cleaner seems to get a lot of the exterior clean, but not all. Any suggestions of what to use on the various parts I will encounter thru thus gasket swap and engine clean? THANKS so much in advance for your time and insight.

- Pete

:: Posted a pic of my 77 CB550 before I had the seat fabricated and before I did the tear-down.

[goldarrow]

welcome.

soda blasting will get most of everything cleaned up nice without hurting aluminum surface, but be sure to wash off thoroughly once done. 

[rb550four]

Welcome. And if you aren't a soda blasting kind of guy, Paint thinner will cut right through the grease and dirt on the exterior of the engine.
 I use mainly kerosene to clean interior parts.... in a parts washer.... although, with years of other nasty cleaners entering this parts washer , it's probably really toxic but does a great job.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

welcome.

soda blasting will get most of everything cleaned up nice without hurting aluminum surface, but be sure to wash off thoroughly once done.

Goldarrow,

Do you have a good sodablaster in LA that you can recommend?

Don

[goldarrow]

welcome.

soda blasting will get most of everything cleaned up nice without hurting aluminum surface, but be sure to wash off thoroughly once done.

Goldarrow,

Do you have a good sodablaster in LA that you can recommend?

Don

Sorry don, I do that myself.  Very messy alright even with cabinet

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Do you use a HF unit?  Can you provide details of the blaster and media?

[goldarrow]

Do you use a HF unit?  Can you provide details of the blaster and media?

not sure if my cabinet is HF, bought from garage sale, it probably is.  here's pic 


i have the counter top cabinet, shop vac, and 5 gallon compressor.  works fine for small jobs.  good formula is to have good circulation and filter inside the cab. small compressor will take more time to clean parts. 

forgot to mention the media is washing soda HF sells 50lbs bag for $40, i think.  the blasting gun, you can get different size nozzles.  i've seen all those at HF

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Thanks!

[peterfnfn]

rb550four - would it be okay/effective to soak the interior parts in a 5 gallon bucket for a couple of days? If so, is there a specific glove I should have to handle the kerosene?

[calj737]

rb550four - would it be okay/effective to soak the interior parts in a 5 gallon bucket for a couple of days? If so, is there a specific glove I should have to handle the kerosene?

If you have Diesel fuel readily available, try it also for cleaning and de-fouling the internals.

As for the cases, elbow grease, Baby, elbow grease. A myriad of cleanser all work, but short of having the cases blasted with soda or other media, nothing will remove the grit, grime and grease of 40 years packed into the wedges and crevices that simply gets "sprayed on".

You "can" have the cases sand blasted by a pro, but that requires some careful work and knowledge on the part of the party doing the blasting. Even afterwards, significant clean up and rinsing and re-rinsing is an absolute requirement to remove any fine media from oil passages and threads. But, it can be done if you're diligent. Or elbow grease. 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I've also heard of pro builders "hot dipping" engine parts for cleaning, but depending on who you're speaking with this can mean a variety of things -- soaking in heated solvent or stripper, or even acid.