Topic: piston cleaning

[illrational]

I let soak for about half hour took out toothbrush scrubbed put back in for hour scrub again and still not clean

[m in sc]

let soak overnight.

[illrational]

I did..... a world of difference

[mycb750k6]

So I've found (and verified) that simple green is not a friend of aluminum. If you leave a piston in simple green overnight, as I did, you may have a black piston in the morning which will not come off. Look up simple green and aluminum. Even "Simple Green" says on their web site ten minutes should be the max with aluminum without causing corrosion - http://www.simplegreen.com/solutions_faqs.php?search_query=aluminum ) .Soda blasting is great. Wish I had one (or a place to use it). I use vinegar in HF ultrasonic which is mildly acidic which works great on carb bodies as well. You can soak the aluminum in vinegar in the UC overnight without problem. Vinegar is a mild acid. SG is a base.

[rklystron]

Great information on Simple green. Thanks for posting that. I will look at other alternatives even though I have not had a problem as of yet.

[rklystron]

From their website: Aluminum - Is it safe to use Simple Green® on aluminum?
When used with caution and according to the instructions, Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner has been safely and successfully used to clean aluminum. Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner, Crystal Simple Green® Cleaner/Degreaser, Simple Green Pressure Washer Concentrates, and Pro Series™ Simple Green® Automotive Cleaner have been used on aircraft, automotive, industrial and consumer aluminum items for over 20 years. However, caution and common sense must be used: aluminum is a soft metal that easily corrodes with unprotected exposure to water. The aqueous-base and alkalinity of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner can accelerate the corrosion process. Therefore, contact times for unprotected or unpainted aluminum surfaces should be kept as brief as the job will allow - never for more than 10 minutes. Large cleaning jobs should be conducted in smaller-area stages to achieve lower contact time. Rinsing after cleaning should always be extremely thorough - paying special attention to flush out cracks and crevices to remove all Simple Green® product residues. Unfinished, uncoated or unpainted aluminum cleaned with Simple Green products should receive some sort of protectant after cleaning to prevent oxidation.