Cleaning an old engine

[roosterd]

I was just looking at gotsm's '79 xs11sf, which is identical to mine (except for the dirt on mine), and I was wondering how to restore my engine to look like that. 53k miles ago it looked that clean, but now I'm afraid it needs some polishing. I read somewhere that some polishes and buffering techniques can actually ruin some of the coatings on a MC engine. I'll be doing a lot of work to my bike soon, but i want to be sure to do it right. Any input will be greatly appreciated.

***Update: I just found the Finish thread. ...

[Geezer]

If you can still find it, gasket remover spray will clean and engine to look like new but it will also take the paint off the frame. The dab on stuff will work too but it's harder to get in between the cooling fins.

Geezer

[roosterd]

Hey, if it makes my job easier I will try to find it. Thank you.

[Geezer]

When i bought my Guzzi it had crashed and burnt. The smoke from the burning tires had blackend all the aluminum on the engine (and everywhere else.) I used gasket remover to clean it up and you couldn't tell it had ever been burnt.

BTW, it had gotten so hot the carbs couldn't be fixed. I touched up the frame with rattle can paint...

Geezer

[dewibp]

Just bought a can of Mr. Gasket gasket cleaner from the auto parts store. Works extremly well, and quick, so you need to be carefull with it. I had gas stains (pretty thick) from carbs over flowing and running down the sides of the engine on an old 650. Sprayed it down, waited about 5 minutes and hosed it off. It also removed the clear coating on the aluminium covers for valve adjustment.

[webbcraft2150]

I have used spray on paint remover. It will take the discolored clear coat of your alum covers. After that, its just a matter of hard work and the right polishes to get the covers looking like chrome, or better. I pulled off all the covers that did not have oil behind them and polished them with a flannel wheel in my bench grinder. The other covers were done with polish wheels in a drill. Some of the automotive detail shops or paint supply stores will have different sizes and shapes of polish wheel to facilitate getting into the nooks and crannies. I polished the fork tubes after removing the wheel and fender, sprayed with paint remover, and commenced to polishing. Simichrome is my polish of choice along with the "wadding" style of polish. Both are available at auto stores.

[roosterd]

awesome info. I will give the Mr. Gasket cleaner stuff a shot, and I have a bench grinder, so I will get some polishing wheels for it too.
Will it be more difficult in the future keeping the bike clean with the clear coat off the engine?

[Geezer]

Why do yout think I like black engines? Could it be that I'm too lazy to polish aluminum? ;o)

Seriously I used ot have a BSA A65 that I had gleaming like silver and I was a slave to that bike's finish. It sure looked good though...

Geezer

[Geezer]

One more thing, this stuff burns skin. It's best to have running water near by when you use it.

Geezer

[webbcraft2150]

I have not found it any more difficult to keep the polished stuff looking good vs the clear coated stuff. But then again, I like polishing my 11. The toothbrush treatment on the wheels gets a little tedious but that only happens about every third detail job.