Topic: now for the engine clean

[bike54]

hi all
still cleaning the old girl but wondered if any one nows the original finish on the engine mines been painted and when the paint gave up painted again not always the same color is the sump and crank plain aluminium with a coating? and what colors where the head and block mine are aluminium, black, silver, and a touch of red in places so its a lot of scraping and down to the local auto store for high temp paint once i have sorted out the color
thanks in advance for any advice

bike54

[bike54]

chrome is one of the hardest metals around and if you had seen the state of one of the exhausts you would now why try it on some where you dont see it works its only crushed lime stone the abrasive in chrome cleaner is a lot harder
bike54

[Bob Wessner]

I've successfully used "0000" to "000000" steel wool and WD-40 on surface rusted chrome. Wipe it off then use some commercial chrome cleaner or Mothers. Pits, on the other hand, are pits, not much to be done with those.

[bike54]

hi all
i use it on all chrome good or bad good chrome only needs a quick whipe the bad stuff with pits is where it really comes into its own if you let it dry to the light grey powder before wiping off it helps to fill them a little bit but thats on exhausts which when done are coated with clear high melting point clear laquer (thanks steved) but also with pits after the first clean and wipe down i have been touching the rusty pits with krust it works on the rust and dosent affect the chrome apart from a bit of black staining that comes off with the next clean plus at the top where i have 27 years of blue brown staining it takes most of it off with a bit of work better than blue job which to me apears to be mainly powdered chalk and very very expensive in the uk
i use brasso as well but find the pre soaked wadding works the best or a soaked peice of old hessian sack
any chrome without laquer gets a good coat of furniture polish the bees wax in it sticks in the pits and helps to hide them although it does give a slight yellow tinge to the chrome again thats because the wax is not clear
i beleve just because its new it isent always best and a lot of old ideas have stood the test of time thats why i like my cb550k how many new bikes will be in the condition of our bikes in 25 years time or still road worthy for that matter

bike54

[Sam Green Racing]

It will probably get nicked again before it rots.

[bike54]

2 years your lucky
 living near the sea ordanary painted mild steel 2 mm thick rusts through in 2 years around me when mine start i am going to look at getting a stainless system made up if the price dosent make me faint
sorry your bike got nicked one cure at home get a couple of german shepards even delivery men wont come in the yard when they see them through the window and it keeps the local to rags nervous as well

merv

[bike54]

just fainted at that price i can see it being a purchase of a donor bike or getting stainless mufflers and having them welded on my down pipes its already been done on one of my exhaust but it was a original welded on the down pipe left top replaced with a left bottom welded to down pipe dosent do to much damage to the chrome strip about 5 mil all the way round where the weld is destroyed thats all

merv

[bike54]

only place i know of that does aftermarket exhaust for my k3 is http://www.cmsnl.com/ and its over £300 but 4 muflers are going to cost £60 each in chrome so the diferance is not so great just fainted again with the price of stainless i figure for a 4 into 4 well over 2k
if my old girl got any where neare the living room i would really be in the dog house although bits do make it when i want to watch the tv at the same time as polish a exhaust (surounded with newspaper)

merv

[jotor]

The exhaust tends to rot more from the inside out at least in the silencers  I bought a new system I’m just going to use it I don’t think I’ll be coating it, from what I’ve read about chrome  I’ll just give it a good clean and polish when needed and watch it fall apart  probably in about 2 years with our climate 

This is one battle that cannot be won.  I bought a new 1982 CB650SC in early '83.  I knew about Honda exaust systems and decided I was going to beat the system.  1)  I live in a very dry climate.  2)  I always garage my bikes.  3)  I always make sure the exaust is warmed up befor shutting the bike down.  4)  I made a habit of putting a dollop (ask your grandmother) of Marvel Mystery Oil in the tank about every third fill-up.  Result:  Number two muffler started to rust through after only 18 years.


Hmmm....maybe if I had put oil in every fill-up....

[jotor]

Jotor. It’s all about location we live by the coast with salt in the air from the sea and it rains quite a bit also on top of that, they put salt on the roads in the winter to stop them freezing up.  A little oil every other fill up will never fix that problem any chrome parts just rot, you’re lucky in your location with a good climate so enjoy your nice chrome. 

Note that my location isn't east of the Great Fresh Water Lake.     ;-)

They put a lot of salt on the roads here in the winter, too.

My observation was that no matter what you do, the exaust is going to rust out.  It might take 18 years, but eventually it will go.  Don't know why.

As far as oil in the gas, I have had a number of two stroke street bikes--Kawas and Bridgestones--and have never had or seen a rusted out exaust on one.  That made me think it was worth a try.

[Sam Green Racing]

Do I take it you are talking Bonneville Salt flats ?

[jotor]

Do I take it you are talking Bonneville Salt flats ?

Great Salt Lake.

[bike54]

hi jotor
seen your bikes in the members bike pages nice lot of work done their
where exackly is the great salt lake
trouble with the uk never get a dry atmosphere and with the amount of water generated by the bike plus condensation on cool down like you say you can not stop it only slow it down
as for two strokes to get the same type of exhaust gasses with that amount of unburnt oil in it would bugger the engine up very quickly although im going to pour neat oil down the inside of the exhausts before refitting them then burn it out try anything to slow down the rot

merv bike54

[Bob Wessner]

with that amount of unburnt oil in it would bugger the engine up very quickly

My 750 has drain holes just back of the header welds. I was wondering if anyone ever tried shooting some WD-40 through them at idle to try and help with internal corrosion in the expansion chambers. 

[jotor]

Merv,

trouble with the uk never get a dry atmosphere

Maybe that's why my ancestors left County Durham 150 years ago.   ;-)

The lake is in Utah, about 100 miles east of the Bonneville Salt Flats.  http://www.ugs.state.ut.us/online/PI-39/index.htm

You're probably right about the amount of oil needed in the gas.  Don't know what "neat" oil is--I understand that castor bean oil leaves a residue when it is burned.

I think Supersport CB400F has the right approach.  Besides, in another 18 years I'll have bigger worries than muffler rot.

Joe

[bike54]

i think your right joe  i think i will join you in not worying sort it when it hapens
castor bean oil was used in the uk for racing engines in the dim and distant past has a beutiful smell reminds me when i used to watch the racing in the 70s but your right it does leave a residue ill check out that web link looks like a beutifull part of the world you live in

merv bike54 

[Sam Green Racing]

Merv,

what are you on about, dim and distant past, I still use it today.

[Raul CB750K1]

I have sprayed a couple of times WD40 through the drain holes in my HM300 pipes. Also in the mufflers.

I was thinking about buying one of those black hi.temp spray paints for MX exhausts and painting them from inside (as much as they can take) Also I thought about spraying chain lube, that sticks like barnacles. By the moment I've done nothing.

Raul

[bike54]

sorry samcr750 did not know you could still get it reminds me of mini cooper racing round cadwell park (racing circuit in lincolnshire uk) back in the early 70s i have not smelled it for years thats how you new you where near the racing circuit apart from the noise that smell nothing quite like it good memorys

merv

[bike54]

hi Raul CB750K1
anythings got to beter than nothing if you want a oil that sticks try chainsaw lube that wont come off nowmatter what you do but its not the worlds best lubricator so not so good for bike chains i dont now about paint on the inside sounds good but my baffles have awfully small holes what i can see of them so it might block them up?
i see your in madrid bet its changed sinse i was last theire 1986 small world

merv bike54

[Sam Green Racing]

Merv,

Lots of the classic boys still use it, it's the only oil that is produced to its origional BS spec number.
By the way I am also in the UK, Warrington between Liverpool and Manchester.
We get up nearish to you racing at Elvington just outside York and East Kirkby in Lincs.
You will have to pay us a visit and see the CR750 and my Benly.

Regards  Sam.

[bike54]

hi sam
east kikby not far from me and if i ever get up your way i will look foward to aranging a visit
i live 10 miles out of skeggy what do you race?

merv

[jotor]

i see your in madrid bet its changed sinse i was last theire 1986 small world
merv bike54

I was there five years ago.  I bet it has changed since March 11.

[Sam Green Racing]

Merv,

It's a 155 mile trip for us, wish we lived that close.
Not sure when we will be there again if at all this year but will be next year.
I have an old Benly from the 60s and I have the odd ride on my mates CR 750.
Will give you a call if we can get there again this year.

Sam.

[bike54]

jotor everywhere has changed since march 11

sam look foward to meeting you some time

merv