Topic: Can someone help me decide if my engine is trashed or not? (Pics inside).

[psykod]

Well, I sent my '77 CB550F engine pieces out to have them soda blasted in preparation for a new paint job and what I got back is a huge mess. 

The company assures me that they soda blasted it but I know from my own experience that they either sand blasted it or had sand mixed with the soda.  I've sand blasted and soda blasted parts myself and know exactly what the results of each looks like on aluminum. 

I've never seen any damage to metal from soda blasting.  They even left pits the iron cylinder liners.  I asked why they kept blasting when they saw what it was doing to the parts and he didn't have an answer for me.

Anyway, I'm trying to decide now whether or not I need to waste any more money on it or just buy some used pieces off ebay.  Here's some pics of the problem:

[BLUE71TURBO]

Do you have a reciept that states that they were to soda blast the parts ? If so,call the better business bureau of
mesquite texas......http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&rlz=1T4SUNA_enUS291US291&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=better+business+bureau+mesquite+texas&fb=1&split=1&gl=us&view=text&ei=V3WHSo2pCIeosgO66qzlAg&sa=X&oi=local_group&ct=more-results&resnum=1

Also call Bureau of Automotive Repairs in your area and tell them your story.  First, talk with the shop and tell them they destroyed your cases and that they need to remburse you for damage or you will turn them in to the bureau's that i mentioned . Also document everything as it happend, pictures and such. Also get a written statement from a honda mechanic that states the cases are junk. With B.A.R and, the B.B.B after them, they'll sh$t their pants. You can take them to small claims court too ! Up to $5,00.00 here in calif. Were the cases original to your frame ? If so, that could warrant even more $ because of all the hassel of differant cases and having to go to the CHP for new id numbers !!
I'd hit them up for at least $ 1,500.00 for everything, including the stress factor!!  

[bistromath]

Those bearings are hosed. That might have been aluminum oxide grit or sand but either way it sure as #$%* wasn't soda.

[The Cheese]

I cant say with authority either way. I can tell you what I would do.

Ask to talk to the highest up person in that place. Make a HUGE stink over it. Have them replace every part. It sounds like blatant ignorance on the workers part. And probably not the first time it happened.

Pic number four bothers me, looks like a lot of AL was removed. If the cyl walls are pitted, you must hone them at the least. Maybe even overbore them. Can you get over-sized pistons?  I have no idea.

You payed them for this? Sorry to hear about your set back, BTW. Hell it looks like the engine numbers were removed.

Michael

[B.O.X.N.I.F.E.]

I would go ape #$%*. They sand blasted your cases.

I think it's something like 40$ to file in small claims court here, maybe similar where you live. I'd let them know you're persuing legal action. And not just BS, I'd actually do it in this case. Maybe they'll try to resolve it before it comes to that.

[mcuozzo]

Just another confirmation, they definitely blasted with something other than soda.  Soda blasting just removes paint maybe the faintest rust.  It removes no metal, creates no pits.
Either they blasted with something else or their soda was severely contaminated.

In this picture the bottom half of the left bracket is soda blasted.  The right bracket is blasted with coal slag. 




Hope you get a satisfactory resolution.

[GodJockey]

Just another confirmation, they definitely blasted with something other than soda.  Soda blasting just removes paint maybe the faintest rust.  It removes no metal, creates no pits.
Either they blasted with something else or their soda was severely contaminated.

In this picture the bottom half of the left bracket is soda blasted.  The right bracket is blasted with coal slag. 




Hope you get a satisfactory resolution.

I absolutely agree that they did not use soda, infact they must have used something that I'd believe to be more abrasive then just normal sand

[psykod]

Thanks for the comments.  I suspected as much.  

I went ahead and bought a couple of cases and a jug off a '75 550F on Ebay last night.  Just goes to show that if want something done right, you've got to do it yourself.  That's the only thing I've had taken to a "professional" to do and of course it gets hosed.

[Don R]

looks like one of those rare sandblast engines probably worth a lot of money.

[mystic_1]

In the last pic, the serial number is almost completely worn away!      

mystic_1

[BLUE71TURBO]

Thanks for the comments.  I suspected as much.  

I went ahead and bought a couple of cases and a jug off a '75 550F on Ebay last night.  Just goes to show that if want something done right, you've got to do it yourself.  That's the only thing I've had taken to a "professional" to do and of course it gets hosed.

I still think you should still go after the shop. All of us as paying customers have rights, and you should use them
to your advantage! You still have to spend more money and time to hassle around with the chp and the dmv to get new
id numbers. Then the CHP has to drill and tag your frame. Believe me, you have a very solid case !!   

[psykod]

Normally I would be all over them.  However, I feel it's partially my fault for not masking off the surfaces I didn't want blasted.  I just assumed that: 

#1:  They were smart enough to know what not to blast (I instructed them not to touch the interior at all).
#2:  And from my own experience that soda wouldn't damage anything even if they did accidentally hit the insides.

[fmctm1sw]

Do you have "before" photos?  That would definately help you...

[mcuozzo]

It's not your fault at all.  Soda blasting does not require any masking.  Look at the pictures on eastwood's website.  They soda blast with the rubber and glass still on the car.  Soda is the gentlest form of blasting.  It's not destructive to the underlying metal.  That's its big advantage.

If you requested soda blasting, you should ask for your money back.  They did not use soda.

And even if you requested 'sand' blasting.  Any place should know enough not to blast the inside of an engine.  For what it's worth, it's the masking that is the more labor intensive part in a lot of blasting work.

[Qingdao]

Do you have "before" photos?  That would definately help you...

Pretty sure the BBB will want before shots.

[paulages]

not seeing the jugs, the only places that matter here are the mating surfaces and those bearing lands. the #4 pic is just a trans roller bearing, so clearance isn't an issue like it would be on the mains. i'd assemble and plastigauge the main bearings before calling them ruined. that said, bear in mind that the oil galleys and screw holes all need to be thoroughly cleaned out.