Topic: Any tips on using 'The Works' tb cleaner on cast aluminum ?

[grcamna2]

I will be using 'The Works' toilet bowl cleaner on my engine crankcases(full rebuild & cases being cleaned individually inside and out)for the first time,never used the stuff before but a farmer friend told me he uses it when he rebuilds carbs and soaks the carb. bodies in there for a little..
Do you use the stuff 'straight'? or better to dilute it 50/50 w/ water like when cleaning a toilet.. Does it turn the factory silver finish on the outside of cast aluminum dark if soaked ?  please give me a few tips on using this stuff. The last thing I want to do is make my cast parts look dull or grey. 
                                                                                                          thanks 

[Don R]

Don't do it. A works bomb is works and aluminum foil. My brother sold an xs1100 to a guy that left on the petcock when he tried works in a gas tank. It blew up.

[RAFster122s]

Lye will do that to aluminum in no time flat. Dark grey oxide layer that would require mechanical abrasive to blast away or lots of time and sandpaper.

Home Depot carries Simple Green that is purple heavy duty that 50% strength in hot ultrasonic will clean nicely.

Vapor blasting is nicer way to go, or glass bead the outside... gives soft silwer finish with slight texture. Vapor blasting the better route. Nils in services section can quote you the price.

David

[ekpent]

  I was brain dead one day and thought I would try to clean some surface rust off an older drive chain. Dropped the chain in a 'metal' dish, poured in some Works and walked away. Came back to check shortly after to find a very violent reaction going on with lots of heat,smoke etc..  WHOOPS that pan was aluminum. Really cleaned the chain though   

[grcamna2]

Wow  ,glad I asked;thanks for the feedback guys.I know the stuff is aggressive and so I'll just use it on my toilet. Sounds like using it on cast aluminum is 'the sh+ts'  I imagine that's strong acid.

The guy who told me about it yesterday 'said' His farmer friend(this dude works on fuel tanks)told him about it.. Wow  ..am I Glad you guys told me about that !
I've got some standard blue Simple Green,I'll also be needing to clean-up a pr. of dirtbike cases that're very dirty from yrs. of baked-on junk:do you think the Simple Green is strong enough for that ?

[faux fiddy]

I've got some standard blue Simple Green,I'll also be needing to clean-up a pr. of dirtbike cases that're very dirty from yrs. of baked-on junk:do you think the Simple Green is strong enough for that ?

One way to find out is do it. I think with SG you aren't in any danger of harming anything.

I know TSP is a good grease cutter, but discolors aluminum as described above.

[flybox1]

Don't do it.

FTFY. Its acid. Acid eats aluminum. Acid eats metal too. It's only good for use to de-rust tanks, else it would not get anywhere close to my bikes. A decent degreaser is all you need.

+1 dont use it. 
...and a nod goes to ZEP Purple Commercial Degreaser.  A 50/50 mix w water cleaned my old cases up really well.
Rough stuff on the skin though.  Gloves and eye protection recommended

[grcamna2]

Don't do it.

FTFY. Its acid. Acid eats aluminum. Acid eats metal too. It's only good for use to de-rust tanks, else it would not get anywhere close to my bikes. A decent degreaser is all you need.

+1 dont use it. 
...and a nod goes to ZEP Purple Commercial Degreaser.  A 50/50 mix w water cleaned my old cases up really well.
Rough stuff on the skin though.  Gloves and eye protection recommended

Zep purple commercial degreaser huh? is it stronger than the Simple Green 'Pro HD' ? more $ ? if it's much stronger And safe on aluminum that's good  thanks for the feedback flybox1 

[flybox1]

Don't do it.

FTFY. Its acid. Acid eats aluminum. Acid eats metal too. It's only good for use to de-rust tanks, else it would not get anywhere close to my bikes. A decent degreaser is all you need.

+1 dont use it. 
...and a nod goes to ZEP Purple Commercial Degreaser.  A 50/50 mix w water cleaned my old cases up really well.
Rough stuff on the skin though.  Gloves and eye protection recommended

Zep purple commercial degreaser huh? is it stronger than the Simple Green 'Pro HD' ? more $ ? if it's much stronger And safe on aluminum that's good  thanks for the feedback flybox1 

$10-12/gal at the big box stores. 
Its good stuff.

[grcamna2]

I just came from Home Depot and went to look at the label on that Zep,they say "not for aluminum,brass,etc."   so I imagine it would work stronger even though that warning scared me away from getting it.
I did get some SG HD Pro,a light purple colored stuff.
I sure didn't use 'The Works'  either.

[flybox1]

I had no issues using it on my cases, and regularly use it to degrease my rims, spokes, any chain lube residue.
http://www.zepcommercial.com/product/Industrial-Purple-Cleaner-Degreaser-Concentrate

The Zep Commercial Industrial Purple Cleaner & Degreaser is a water-based alkaline cleaner formulated to clean heavy machinery, engine parts, construction equipment, fiberglass, unfinished concrete, masonry and asphalt. Avoid contact with painted surfaces, aluminum, brass, chrome, copper, marble, slate, granite, natural stone, wood and other alkaline sensitive surfaces as damage may occur.

Always test product in an inconspicuous area prior to use and allow to dry to determine compatibility. Directions: LIGHT SOILS: Mix 20 oz. of product with 1 gallon of hot water and spray or mop surface. TOUGH SOILS: Mix 32 oz. of product with 1 gallon of hot water. Apply to area to be cleaned with brush or pressure washer. Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry. Second applications may be required for some stains. Do not allow product to dry on surface before rinsing. -

[grcamna2]

I had no issues using it on my cases, and regularly use it to degrease my rims, spokes, any chain lube residue.
http://www.zepcommercial.com/product/Industrial-Purple-Cleaner-Degreaser-Concentrate

The Zep Commercial Industrial Purple Cleaner & Degreaser is a water-based alkaline cleaner formulated to clean heavy machinery, engine parts, construction equipment, fiberglass, unfinished concrete, masonry and asphalt. Avoid contact with painted surfaces, aluminum, brass, chrome, copper, marble, slate, granite, natural stone, wood and other alkaline sensitive surfaces as damage may occur.

Always test product in an inconspicuous area prior to use and allow to dry to determine compatibility. Directions: LIGHT SOILS: Mix 20 oz. of product with 1 gallon of hot water and spray or mop surface. TOUGH SOILS: Mix 32 oz. of product with 1 gallon of hot water. Apply to area to be cleaned with brush or pressure washer. Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry. Second applications may be required for some stains. Do not allow product to dry on surface before rinsing. -

it's actually less $ than the Simple Green HD Pro that i just purchased,I imagine w/o soaking any parts but just a blast on & off should do the trick. thanks for the quote and the reference to it treating your parts well.

[RAFster122s]

The USAF used to use Simple Green (std green stuff) on the flight line for all sorts of work on aircraft to clean them. Then they discovered that if not adequately rinsed on some parts it would attack them. Then on composite structures with Carbon Fiber and similar it was attacking the bonds and causing delamination failures. It was banned from use or even to be on base.

FWIW...

David

[ekpent]

 Ever see those poor little birdies caught in an oil spill ? Think they wash them down with Dawn or some other type of a product called soap. I always like Gunk or other cheap brand spay can  de-greaser out of a  can, hit and work it with a paint brush, blow it off with a hose and give it a good soapy bath. I had a friend who swore by JOY , the yellow stuff. Did his dishes, clothes and everything with that stuff. I really like a product from Menard's called 'Greased Lighting" that will put a hurtin' on most things I need serious cleaning. https://www.audubon.org/news/faq-how-oil-covered-birds-are-cleaned

[grcamna2]

Ever see those poor little birdies caught in an oil spill ? Think they wash them down with Dawn or some other type of a product called soap. I always like Gunk or other cheap brand spay can  de-greaser out of a  can, hit and work it with a paint brush, blow it off with a hose and give it a good soapy bath. I had a friend who swore by JOY , the yellow stuff. Did his dishes, clothes and everything with that stuff. I really like a product from Menard's called 'Greased Lighting" that will put a hurtin' on most things I need serious cleaning. https://www.audubon.org/news/faq-how-oil-covered-birds-are-cleaned

A scrub/small SS wire brush will work w/ any cleaner no matter how weak  I just used the cheap can of Gunk w/ a brush before I got to this next step now and I'll mix up some of that SG 'HD' and finish up w/ Brillo pads;I'll have those cast aluminum cases shining before I'm finished. thanks for the feedback and the article on how they save those birds Eric