Topic: Cleaning engines...

[.RJ]

So, I started cleaning up the engine for my 750 this evening - hoping to have it painted and installed in the frame this weekend so I can start putting the rest of it together.  The top half was fairly clean and i got it as clean as its going to get with some purple cleaner and various brushes - its not pretty but it'll look great after paint.  The bottom half is covered in a fair amount of "road snot" - whats the best way to get this stuff off?  The purple stuff and brushes was barely making a dent - there's gotta be a better way.  Pressure washer?  I've got a 150psi compressor in the garage that could be put to use.

[736cc]

EZ-OFF OVEN CLEANER blows everything away, wear gloves and eye protection!

[.RJ]

EZ-OFF OVEN CLEANER blows everything away, wear gloves and eye protection!

Hmm... the stuff you get at the grocery store?  That is some pretty nasty stuff.  What about aircraft stripper?  I was thinking more along the lines of a "force" method to knock it off rather than chemicals.

[BobbyR]

I would try simple grren, for some reason, it cuts through crap, but leaves everything else alone.

[.RJ]

I would try simple grren

I'm using the "Heavy Duty" purple simple green... for most of the engine it worked GREAT.  For the caked on road snot/chain grease... its barely making a dent.  If i could pick up the motor and put it in a bucket of simple green I would do that overnight

[Jinxracing]

Carb or Brake cleaner isn't the cheapest way to go, but it works pretty well.

[seaweb11]

I have done 5 now with nothing more than tooth brushes and varsol.  A small screwdriver and rag to get in the hard to get places.  The guy building my latest 836 says every one who comes into his shop thinks it was powder coated!!

Once It's all clean I use a fine scrub pad and finally a bit of 400 / 600 wet sanding for places that will be seen easily.

You don't need to over think this, just get er done.  Varsol is CHEAP! and it works.

[.RJ]

varsol

Never heard of this stuff - where can I get it?  Your engine looks great

[snyquist53]

aircraft stripper works awesome and cut down on the elbow grease.  just make sure you don't get it on your skin.( it's burn something fierce)

[seaweb11]

varsol

Never heard of this stuff - where can I get it? Your engine looks great

It's just Paint Thinner. No rubber gloves, no toxic acids, no "burning" just a solvent to remove grease.  It just doesn't get any easier.

[Tim.]

That's where I'm heading this weekend.  Need to clean my xs650 engine and remove the horrible black spray paint at the same time with any luck!

Thankfully the cylinders and head will be rebuilt and bead blasted so I don't have all those fins to sweat.

Any danger of varsol getting in the engine or concerns about the oil seals?  I would think this stuff would eat up the rubber and any gaskets pretty quickly.

[Short Round]

Brake Cleaner will get just about anything off. 

[seaweb11]

Paint thinner is fine on rubber, it's Acetone you want to stear clear of around rubber.

As for getting it in the engine......it's just a tooth brush dipped and brushed then wiped off. You don't have to soak the engine in  it.

[mcpuffett]

I use turpentine or white spirits with good affect , apply with a paint brush and let it soak and i use my compressor to blow air on to it to get rid of stubborn bits  ,   cheers mick.

[rhinoracer]

Last weekend I borrowed a sandblaster. In less than 15 minutes cylinders, head and cover came out like new, white cast aluminum. I won't even paint over it, just let it age naturally.

[.RJ]

Last weekend I borrowed a sandblaster

Was the engine apart?  I've got a small pressurized sandblasting setup... once you get grease/grime in your sand you cant re-use it.  Maybe I'll get the snot off and then give sandblasting it a shot.

[Jinxracing]

Sounds scary to me. That sand has a way of working itself into places you'd never imagine. I definitely wouldn't have the balls to sandblast any part that wasn't completely disassembled.

[.RJ]

That sand has a way of working itself into places you'd never imagine.

Yep...  I was finding sand in my ears for 3 days after blasting my frame.

[coolcat2002]

I don't have access to Sand Blaster, or Glass Bead or Walnut.  Plus, if I rent one at Home Depot, don't I need an enclosure?  I don't know too many places that do this off hand and I'd rather not pay it if it's more than $40.

The hardest part is the fins and those in between spaces. 

I don't have a pressure wash either and am doing all this in my front grassy yard.   

Ah, but someone mentioned using Gun barrel brush.  They can get quite pricey.  Some of them have a minimum order.
http://www.solobrushes.com/WebCatg2.asp?Cat2ID=6&Cat1ID=4



or this website is good too:

http://www.brushtechbrushes.com/index.php?cPath=1




I hope people would start putting down how much things cost to sand blast with walnuts or whatever because we all would like to know a cost effective way to do things.  Don't be modest, it's not like I'm asking you your income.

[.RJ]

I hope people would start putting down how much things cost to sand blast with walnuts or whatever because we all would like to know a cost effective way to do things.  Don't be modest, it's not like I'm asking you your income.

I bought a sandblast setup on sale from Harbor Freight for ~$80.  A 50lb box of alum oxide for blasting was $25.  I either use a big cardboard box to blast small things in, or make a 'sandbox' out of 4x4's in the driveway and blast what you need, sweep it up and put it back in the blaster when you're done.  Not the most elegant solution... but it works.  You can get a blast cabinet for about $200 as well - its probably better that way but I just dont have space for one.

[BobbyR]

I hope people would start putting down how much things cost to sand blast with walnuts or whatever because we all would like to know a cost effective way to do things.  Don't be modest, it's not like I'm asking you your income.

I bought a sandblast setup on sale from Harbor Freight for ~$80.  A 50lb box of alum oxide for blasting was $25.  I either use a big cardboard box to blast small things in, or make a 'sandbox' out of 4x4's in the driveway and blast what you need, sweep it up and put it back in the blaster when you're done.  Not the most elegant solution... but it works.  You can get a blast cabinet for about $200 as well - its probably better that way but I just dont have space for one.

I think trying some simple green is cheap easy and safe. You can step that up to denatured alcohol which will also soften the pant which is great before you repaint. Use gloves when using the denatured alcohol.

[DrMark]

Use Simple Green on a warm motor...works wonders. Then I uses a pressure sprayer on my garden hose. Did not look like the same engine after I was done. Total time...30 mins work.

[diamondd]

I think HondaBrite does a good job on cleaning motors.

[TwoTired]

Last weekend I borrowed a sandblaster. In less than 15 minutes cylinders, head and cover came out like new, white cast aluminum. I won't even paint over it, just let it age naturally.

You like the white chalky speckled look?  Or, are you planning on keeping it well oiled?

Cheers,

[.RJ]

Phew!

Combonation of paint thinner/stripper, simple green, elbow grease and a few small hits of aircraft stripper on the most stubborn spots and i think I can start painting - going to let it dry overnight, and blast it with compressed air one more time tomorrow before I start that task.  It looks like its been painted 2 or 3 times (2 different silvers and some black paint came off).  Must have had an interesting life... 

The little cart was a big time saver... took me 15 min to make and $15 in wood/casters from home depot