How do you get the cylinder and Head so CLEAN ???

[Bob Kelly III]

I have noticed Many machines that are better than just clean their spotless !
and look like they just came off the show-room floor !
but I cannot get that kind of clean on my cylinder and head like you guys are getting ....
what are you doing to get them so clean and fresh looking ?
I've tried steam cleaning and it only makes it wet ! LOL
I haven't tried sand blasting but I am under the impression that THAT is the only thing that will do the trick......
would you care to explain how you get the cylinder and head so clean ? I and others I am sure would love to know the secret !
.....thanks !
Bob..........

 

[angus67]

I use engine brite, a soda blaster, some sneak parts into the pets dishwasher, others get stuff vapor blasted, and some go the dirty route- tooth brush and kerosene

 

[queenslegs]

Hi Bob, I'm sure there are more elbow grease intensive methods but when I redid the top end I had everything vapour blasted, www.rocketperformance.com

 

[Royboy]

Hey Bob,

There is a ton of "how to" stuff about polishing these old aluminum beasts in the archives. Here is a thread from a while back. http://www.xs650.com/threads/how-to-clean-aluminum-casings.33040/page-2

roy

 

[Bob Kelly III]

Thanks Guys ! VERY MUCH..... ok what the heck is vapor blasted ? never heard of that before !
.......
Bob.........

 

[kshansen]

Thanks Guys ! VERY MUCH..... ok what the heck is vapor blasted ? never heard of that before !
.......
Bob.........

Just follow the link in Queenslegs post. Or to get there a bit faster:

http://www.rocketperformance.com/vapour-blasting.html

 

[Bob Kelly III]

Thanks for the Link Royboy ! an interesting read..... but nothing on getting the head and cylinders so clean ...I guess that is the vapor blasting....what ever that is ! LOL
I used to have 2 sand blasters and I used them quite a bit but they went up in smoke, I know I could get the cylinders and head looking like aluminum again if I sand blasted it but that is rather Harsh !and unless I took the engine apart I would inevitably screw up the good stuff on there now.... and taking the engine apart exposes the gasket surfaces something you do NOT want to sand blast ! soooo.... ..... the steam cleaner I used was a joke unfortunately no better than a garden hose with a sprey nozel but I know a good steam cleaner can really do a good job ! but I don't want to have to buy one just to make the engine purdy again ! LOL
and thank you Kshansen.... I missed the link queenslegs posted (sorry queenslegs ! i must be getting old ! LOL)

 

[figure8]

Don't forget to polish (not mine)......

 

[robinc]

Wowza!

 

[fredintoon]

I have noticed Many machines that are better than just clean their spotless !
and look like they just came off the show-room floor !
but I cannot get that kind of clean on my cylinder and head like you guys are getting ....
what are you doing to get them so clean and fresh looking ?
I've tried steam cleaning and it only makes it wet ! LOL
I haven't tried sand blasting but I am under the impression that THAT is the only thing that will do the trick......
would you care to explain how you get the cylinder and head so clean ? I and others I am sure would love to know the secret !
.....thanks !
Bob..........

Hi Bob,
an industrial trichloroethylene vapor degreasing tank will wash off every last vestige of oil or grease
(it'll take paint off too but the operators hate that because the paint flakes clog up the tank's fluid filters)
Blasting works (the finer the blast media the better) by removing stuff but it leaves a dirt-hungry roughened surface.
Vapor blasting leaves a far nicer surface than dry blasting but it's still a swine to keep clean.
That's why you have to polish the surface afterwards to keep it nice.
Me, I'm with Bernard Miles doing his Somerset Yokel act:-
"I don't bother washing it, missus. When the dirt gets thick enough it'll fall off, like it do off a spud."

 

[Lance Weersma]

Great thread. I have wondered the same thing

 

[robinc]

Hey Bob +1 with angus67. I go the dirty route, engine Degreaser, toothbrushes, dollar store child sized toothbrushes and a piece of small dowelling with medium steel wool wrapped and electrical taped. Lots of e-grease for sure, but it works for a meatball mechanic like me.

 

[nj1639]

Fuzzy dice and bongos, Brody knob and Spinners....chromium plated.
I'll keep the oil leaks to a minimum and park in the back forty at the shows..........

 

[queenslegs]

Fuzzy dice and bongos, Brody knob and Spinners....chromium plated.
I'll keep the oil leaks to a minimum and park in the back forty at the shows..........

Brilliant nj! Someone ought to write a song around that....

 

[nj1639]

I was wondering if I might just get a bite! Bless ya lad!!!

Psssst....it's almost like a secret handshake....

 

[Bob Kelly III]

my Valve covers were painted black at one time as was the head I think so they look kind'a crummy with 90% of the paint missing
for now I'll ride it as it is .....
I certainly cannot justify $20. bucks just to Clean the cylinders and head yet alone a couple hundred ! but obviously some people think it's worth it ! and ya gott'a admit they really look nice !
but looking nice is not worth that much to me ! Vapor blasting is very expensive ! I'ed be more apt to have it chrome plated than do that ! LOL and that can be even MORE expensive ! LOL.
Perhaps I'll try a good engine degreaser and high powered water hose ! or even a paint stripper....
....
Bob......