Topic: Cleaning old Honda motor

[Hush]

Anyone got a cure for cleaning a motor (still in bike) that looks like it has been at the bottom of a well for the past 30 years?
Someone told me lemon juice someone else a form of acid!
All seems too damaging to me but engine is seriously dull and stained, what have other restorers found best to use?

[trav72]

Lots of simple green and a fine wire wheel will do the trick.

[Hush]

Simple green? What form does this magic stuff take?
Remembering that not all products are available world wide, I'm looking for a generic cleaner.
I am so envious of the engines I see in some of the bikes on here, in fact I'm a bit embarressed by mine now.

[troppo]

I havent seen simple green this side of the equator hush, but i`d use a generic degreaser and various stiff bristle brushes with lots of elbow grease

[kghost]

Well it may be somewhat of a dark magical subject.....

First ya have to degrease the sucker....

Then wire brush it and then ...

Repaint it.

Easy right?

I used simple green on the last one for the 400.

Its a biodegradable cleaner. Says something on the label about polyethyleneglycol ether derivatives.

I use it full strength. Screw diluting it.

Bout six washes did the trick for me.


I used various shapes of nylon brushes on an electric drill to clean the cases and between the fins.

Also used nylon scrub pads for the same.

It sucks and is alot of work.

[Hush]

Think I have a 40 gallon drum of elbow grease around here somewhere.
Already emptied 3 cans of degreaser from Supercheap on it, was good for washing away the excess oil and crap but engine still looks dirty.
Also, strangely the stator cover appears to have had a colour on it, maybe painted or coated, not sure but is cracked and crazed.
Having seen an identical ex police CB650 (see the picture I'm using for my avatar) and noting that it was just bare metal I'm not sure why mine would be coated.

[troppo]

Well from what i`ve read a lot of these bikes were actually painted from the factory, i`ll be shot down if i`m wrong but thats what i`ve read.
Use a paint stripper once you have it fully degreased, make it a good one too, but dont leave it on to long in case it effects the ally. You can get an acid based ally cleaner but its useless if the metals been painted.
Once you get the parts clean have a think about whether you want to leave them bare, polished or painted, each has its advantages and drawbacks
Cheers
Troppo

[fastbroshi]

  I'm with kghost on this one.  I used it on my carbs and it does wonders.  They were literally squeaky clean when I got done.  It's pretty strong though, I'd use gloves at least.  It will dry your hands out and they'll peel for a couple weeks if you don't, even though it's not environmentally dangerous.  Don't ask how I know.

[scunny]

simple green is available in NZed, got some at repco I think. the 650 motors are painted, or at least both mine are.

[seaweb11]

If all else fails, Varsol and a tooth brush.
That's how I did all mine

[Hush]

"Varsol"! sounds like what I call her when she wont fire for me.

[chrislib]

  I'm with kghost on this one.  I used it on my carbs and it does wonders.  They were literally squeaky clean when I got done.  It's pretty strong though, I'd use gloves at least.  It will dry your hands out and they'll peel for a couple weeks if you don't, even though it's not environmentally dangerous.  Don't ask how I know.

YES, gloves are a MUST, my hands looked like snake skin after only a short immersion (at 100% strength). Works awesome but is harsh on skin. If you can`t get Simple green I would look for a Citrus based cleaner, they work well and are usually a little less harsh on things like paint etc (in case you OOOPS some on there).

[Hush]

Found some Simple Green, sold at Supercheap for $13.75 for a big trigger squeeze bottle here in New Zealand, next time the sun is shining I will wheel the bikes corpse out onto concrete and give her heaps.