Topic: What's a product I can use to clean this in my apt.?

[grcamna2]

I live in a 2nd floor apartment(I don't have a shop)and need to clean the carbon off this piston:what do you recommend?
I scraped the majority of it off the surfaces so far using a dull razor blade.

[Don R]

 Lava hand soap and a brush? Dishwasher detergent is pretty potent too.

[grcamna2]

Lava hand soap and a brush? Dishwasher detergent is pretty potent too.

I don't have either of those Don.
How about Comet & a toothbrush ?

[rluser]

Hoppes #9 and a toothbrush.

[Alan F.]

Would a soak in baking soda and water loosen that carbon? It works on baked on carbon cooking pans... Cheap too.

[simon#42]

you can buy very cheap ultrasonic cleaners on amazon . they are only small but after you have cleaned the piston you will find at least another 100 things to clean in it .

[grcamna2]

thanks 

[PeWe]

Oven cleaner spray?

[jgger]

I don't know if it will work on carbon, but for oily or greasy stuff Dawn in the spray bottles is my new go to. The new  "spray and wipe clean" stuff, not just Dawn mix in a regular spray nottle.

[grcamna2]

Would a soak in baking soda and water loosen that carbon? It works on baked on carbon cooking pans... Cheap too.

I had hit it with a 1/2 can of spray carb cleaner yesterday;it helped soften the stuff up a bit.
I have it soaking in baking soda now.

[PeWe]

Drive chain cleaner spray and a metal brush on a drilling machine.
Doctor at work

[calj737]

So, each upside down in a dish of SeaFoam Deep Creep. Let them soak for a few days and then a stainless steel brush to scrub them clean. You can get stainless steel wooden brushes (small type like a big toothbrush) at the Home Center in their welding aisle. Make sure it’s stainless and not carbon steel bristles. The stainless is soft enough not to gouge the ally pistons.

[grcamna2]

Okay,the Seafoam deep creep is strong stuff and should melt this carbon;I'll use a firm 'tooth brush'.
I was running a main jet that was too rich for a few thousand miles..,plus my crankcase breather is the type that feeds itself right back into the air filter..:I plan to change that by installing a K&N breather filter.

[grcamna2]

Would a soak in baking soda and water loosen that carbon? It works on baked on carbon cooking pans... Cheap too.

I'm impressed with how well it's working after only 2 hours;I rinsed it off and reapplied it,will do a hot water soak of it a bit more.
I can also rinse it down the sink when I'm done.

[grcamna2]

Drive chain cleaner spray and a metal brush on a drilling machine.
Doctor at work

Looks good Per.
Did you remove the rings also? or were you only needing to clean the domes ?

I like those chromoly cylinder studs;is this for your 1000+cc engine ?

[PeWe]

Only dome cleaning, covered rings and engine to avoid carbon particles in there. The 2 inner studs for oil transport to head especially.

I did not want to take off rings when not needed if one will snap off.

I just remembered that I had used my electrical toothbrush for cleaning an engine part once.
Braun Oral-B. Used an old brush. It worked really fine with  its vibrations

Dirty jobs possible if cover it with a plastic bag, only brush sticking out. Maybe another time.
The studs are Kibblewhite.
Yes, engine for 1005cc 71.25mm cylinder (Billet block), now stock cylinder with 970cc,  70mm pistons on the photo.

Billet block might go back on later or on another build where it fits too. Its pistons are now gas ported, horisontal. I'm eager to find out how that will work. The 970cc setup work too good to take apart.

[grcamna2]

The piston has cleaned-up with 6 hrs. soaking in baking soda and some scrubs with it using a toothbrush.

[Alan F.]

And it probably cost pennies at most, used no electricity, didn't require a trip out to buy anything, no need for safety equipment, produced no fumes or dust, and left the part shining.

Bill wins.

[Stev-o]

What bike is that for Bill?  Missing 3 more!

[grcamna2]

What bike is that for Bill?  Missing 3 more!

Stev-o,this particular piston(63.25mm)is for my 1979 Honda XR185 dirt bike engine,.25mm oversize.

[grcamna2]

And it probably cost pennies at most, used no electricity, didn't require a trip out to buy anything, no need for safety equipment, produced no fumes or dust, and left the part shining.

Bill wins.

Alan,I feel good about using this procedure again for other bikes which I want to clean the carbon.
I would prefer vapor or very fine glass bead blasting which is quicker;it's on my wish-list  when I get myself a Real Shop w/ 'all the fixins' 

[Alan F.]

You and me both Bill.

[RAFster122s]

Congrats Bill... Nice outcome

[grcamna2]

Congrats Bill... Nice outcome

I like how it came out w/ just light applications of a standard toothbrush which I spent the most time with in the ring lands. The rings are still good and they moved very well so I will re-install them with the same orientation of gaps as before and leave the cylinder alone. I would normally have used a piece of broken ring to removed every last bit of light deposits that're left at the bottom of the middle ring,but I don't have any broken rings left.

I was curious if anyone knows whether a stock set of 4) XR200R 65.5mm pistons would be useful for a CB750 for a big bore? I imagine the deck-height isn't compatible.. although the wrist pin is the same @ 15mm on them.

[Alan F.]

Check this out:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqQipwHpr_B/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==