Cleaning motor

[section8joe]

The bike I bought sat around for years and the motor is kinda corroded and dirty. I want to clean the motor before I paint it. What can I use to clean this baby off? I have the bike completely stripped down except for the carbs and exhaust. I left those on so I don't get any water or cleaner in the cylinders.

 

[Ghetto]

Engine bright and scrub brushes.

 

[gentlemanjim]

Short of soda or media blasting I never found a way to bring back the raw aluminum luster. I rinse iwth aluminum birghter (muriatic acid) pressure wash and paint Duplicolor engine paint usually semigloss black and or aluminum. For the engine side cases I strip with a methylene chloride paint stripper (Home Depot source, no need for hightech aircraft stipper) works in seconds. Then wet sand 320, 400, 600 and use a polishing compund and wheel. Of course a good engine degreaser if you have oil and grease to remove first.

All can be done in day

 

[Wally]

I had this engine soda blasted top end turned out good but cases came out OK but not great

 

[Ghetto]

You only sand till 600 for polishing??

I go to 1500. I start wetsanding at 600.

 

[gentlemanjim]

I had this engine soda blasted top end turned out good but cases came out OK but not great

Did you strip off the clear coat from the cases first? I'd bet not.

 

[73novaguy]

You can buy a cheap soda blast gun from Harbor Freight for $20, then go buy some cheap baking soda. I did a V Twin with about 14 boxes of soda, the original owner painted it black so it took a bit to get it all off.

 

[section8joe]

Do you guys think I should soda blast or walnut? Do I have to do anything after I blast it?

 

[73novaguy]

Soda worked great for me. $30 bucks and a clean motor. only clean up was air blow it off, then rinse with water.

 

[section8joe]

I'm going to borrow a blaster from a friend. Can you give me a few tips? how should I plug the exhaust/carb holes in the engine? Can I use it to take rust off chrome? Can I use it on the wheels without removing the tires. I've got some rust on the spokes and rims.

 

[Travis]

You can buy a cheap soda blast gun from Harbor Freight for $20

I don't see it online. Got a link?

 

[Yamakazi]

I've been wondering how to clean up my engine.

Here's a link showing a DIY rig.

http://www.garagenight.tv/diy-soda-blasting-build-your-own-rig-cheap/

 

[Brothermist]

Something like THIS ? Its $40, but still not too shabby.

 

[73novaguy]

I just picked it up from H F a couple weeks ago so I know they have it, I thought about doing the "home made" blow gun, but for the $24, I went with H F, plus their gun gas an adjustable nozzle to limit flow if the soda. And went to my local Dollar General and bought boxes for .50 each.

I just put rags in the exhaust and intake tracts, then duct tape over them. the soda worked awesome on the motor and I also hit some chrome parts and cleaned then flawlessly without damaging chrome. u actually can blast right over gaskets without damage. I did my S&S carb and looks brand new

 

[73novaguy]

the one I got was just a gun with a quart size Hopper on top. just plug a air line to it and blast

http://www.harborfreight.com/garage...pper-gravity-feed-spot-blaster-gun-95793.html

 

[section8joe]

I made a soda blaster and I started to do my engine tonight. The motor top end seems to be come clean but the bottom end is painted black and I'm having a bit of trouble.
http://www.aircooledtech.com/tools-on-the-cheap/soda_blaster/

 

[hooktool]

HF has the soda, too. Way cheaper than by the box, and they often have it on sale, and there's always 20% off coupons.

John

 

[section8joe]

What pressure do you guys use when blasting. I have a 27 gallon 5 hp compressor and I can only get it to go up to 120psi. I can use the blaster for a minute or two then I have to wait for it to go back up to 120psi.