Topic: Best way to get an engine looking brand new...?

[SClay115]

Working on a relavitely snotty SOHC Honda, and I know the engine is good under all the nasty aluminum corrosion and such, I just can't seem to get that beautiful natural aluminum finish I see on some of the bikes on here. Anybody have any suggestions? Someone up here at the job suggested media blasting, thoughts?

And when I say brand new, I am pretty much referring to the one CB350 up on Ohiocaferacers.com. That thing looks pretty much like it rolled off the showroom floor, maybe even better. I'm an engine guy, and I would love to have it look perfect as such.

Steve

[jalfonso]

I'm pretty sure there's more than one way to clean the engine but glass bead blasting would give it a nice satin finish.  I plan on doing that to my 550.  Just need to make sure you tape everything off REALLY well.

Good luck.

John

[736cc]

http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=17081.0

[seaweb11]

do some searches on the site for engine cleaning, polishishing etc. There are 50 some odd threads on just this topic.
You will find what your looking for

[kettlesd]

The BEST way?!?!?!?!?? Oh man, are ya BEGGIN to start a war here?

The two general camps on this matter are high-temp painting vs. stripping & polishing. Both have their advantages, but believe it or not, neither way is more/less work than the other - not if you want a quality finish.

Really. Honest. Swear to god. Don't believe anyone who says you can just bust out a spraybomb and have it looking like a million bucks, or anyone who says you can mirror-polish in the time it takes to down a six-pack.

My two cents - strip & polish.

[BobbyR]

It essentially comes down to sanding the cases down past the pits and using polishing them with rouge and wheels. If the paint is bad, well you just paint to suit. The area between the fins is the toughest part. The engine on mine was all white and now it looks very nice.

[736cc]

Vapor-blast the cases if completely split apart, and thoroughly clean all galleys w/ compressed air and pipe cleaners, then paint it (paint brands discussed here in several topics). If complete motor is simply removed from frame, plug the intakes and exhausts w/ milk container caps (they're a perfect fit), clean the motor w/ EZ-OFF OVEN CLEANER, flip it over and do it again, then give it a final bath in hydroflouric acid (Mothers Chrome Wire Wheel Cleeaner). Then do up the aluminum covers by sending them out for ceramic-coating in a polished aluminum finish. Use new screws or white zinc-plate all your original screws.

[medic09]

ya can't argue with success!

I've said it before, 736cc you have GREAT LOOKING BIKES.

[scunny]

drool, slobber, drool. I love that bike

[736cc]

an occassional rat-bike crawls in...

[eldar]

Did you dig that thing up from the bottom of the harbor or something?

[kettlesd]

Im pretty sure that's his Joan of Arc special. Came out of a shop fire!

[SClay115]

Vapor-blast the cases if completely split apart, and thoroughly clean all galleys w/ compressed air and pipe cleaners, then paint it (paint brands discussed here in several topics). If complete motor is simply removed from frame, plug the intakes and exhausts w/ milk container caps (they're a perfect fit), clean the motor w/ EZ-OFF OVEN CLEANER, flip it over and do it again, then give it a final bath in hydroflouric acid (Mothers Chrome Wire Wheel Cleeaner). Then do up the aluminum covers by sending them out for ceramic-coating in a polished aluminum finish. Use new screws or white zinc-plate all your original screws.

I'll have to give this a whirl, the acid dip. I'm really focusing on the upper and lower case, and the rocker box/cover. The side panels themselves are getting polished out, and the cylinder bores/head are getting Swain coated(black, but helps with heat dissipation), so I'll let the guy doing the coating strip them how he sees fit.

I really appreciate all the responses(even though I didn't search  ). I love having useful forums around like this, so many that I'm a member on is just senseless yammering, and no real information.

Steve

[736cc]

Just don't acid dip bearing surfaces or dip split apart cases.

[Lumbee]

....my process is...

>Plug up holes
>Spary motor down with engine degresser and let sit for 15 min
>Hose down
>If you have help take to the car wash and do the above process
>Remove the valve/gear shift/stator/chain cover, strip and polish
>reinstall polished covers and tape them over
>Spary with [aluminum or black] engine paint of choice


Reinstall and enjoy!!!

[slarty-bart-farst]

I have stuck an old dishwasher in my garage.  Its so usefull for cleaning up parts. So for engine parts I just stick um in the dishwasher with loads of extra powder then jet wash them off.
Of course you could use the one in the house! Which may have been where I got the idea from, however that would make your dishes  smell of engines for a month......I guess!!
If I want to polish I sand with 400 wet n dry with the paper wet until all pit marks are gone then Solvol Autosol ( alloy/chrome polisher ) on a cloth mop on the end of my grinder until I get a mirror finish.  If I want to paint I use 250 wet n dry  then spray in "Steel Wheels" Silver.

Good luck
Graham

[SClay115]

Just don't acid dip bearing surfaces or dip split apart cases.

Why is this bad? I haven't done so yet, but that was sort of my plan...even with roller bearings? I suppose I could reinstall the trans shafts/gears and crank shaft, but wouldn't that harm the pieces?

Steve

[736cc]

I'm not a metalurgist but I believe acid etching perculates the surface and skims metal by disolving it. I don't think thats good for bearings. It does wonders as a surface prep; however it also discolors clear coat, streaks aluminum, blackens magnesium and BURNS SKIN and EYES and NOSE. Squirt it on a piece of bare alumium and it turns it white. I wear rubber gloves, work upwind, and use scotchbrite and/or 000 steel wool as an agitator for aluminum covers and lotsa soapy water rinsing. Like I said, it streaks aluminum so you want to work fast and evenly.
Of course, sending the covers out for professional ceramic coating w/ polished aluminum finish gives instant gratification

[c_kyle]

If the engine is disassembled, I would bead-blast the the case and cylinders and polish all the covers.  I won't be breaking down my engine any time soon, so I'm going to degrease the engine real good, then use scotch-brite pads and brushes to clean everything up.  I'll probably polish all the covers or have them ceramic or powder coated.

[BobbyR]

All of these suggestions have their merit and will work. The real question is to what level do you want to take the motor. 736cc has produced museum quality work. My bike is a rider so I just buff them up every couple of years to keep them fresh.

[exdrocca]

I'm kinda interested in seeing what some of you guys did that didn't take so much time/effort. I just got my motor bead blasted. It's out of the frame, but still together. I just know I don't have the patience to make it look as good as the ones that were previously posted.  I was thinking about painting it, but I don't really have a place to that is warm. Also, I have a feeling it would begin to flake off in a couple months. Anyways, just wondering what some of you did to make the engine look not that brand new.

[736cc]

I like the idea of putting it in the diswasher

[BobbyR]

I'm kinda interested in seeing what some of you guys did that didn't take so much time/effort. I just got my motor bead blasted. It's out of the frame, but still together. I just know I don't have the patience to make it look as good as the ones that were previously posted.  I was thinking about painting it, but I don't really have a place to that is warm. Also, I have a feeling it would begin to flake off in a couple months. Anyways, just wondering what some of you did to make the engine look not that brand new.

I have bum wrists and fingers from years of abuse. I use power tools instead of hand sanding and polishing. Once you have the white oxide off, you really only need to use a buffing wheel and some rouges from Sears. I would not paint the barrels since I think thet will flake off. The lower cases do not get that hot and I painted them last year with a Krylon enamel paint. Enamel is very gas proof. It is holding up very well.

[TwoTired]

I would not paint the barrels since I think thet will flake off.

You do know that Honda painted them when first built, yes?

Cheers,

[slarty-bart-farst]

736 that is one amazing looking machine.............. best picture of mine is on www.wikipedia.com enter cb750. Having now got my bike to the level its at I can see the work that has gone into yours.  What sort of mileage do you do and do you ever end riding in the wet? I am not critical of anyone that chooses to keep the bike as a show bike so please dont think I am questioning your use its just that the picture is inspiring me to go back and finish of some more odd jobs.  Bikes like this just knock people out and show just how stunning the bike is and was on launch date,  amazing.

Graham