Cleaning and preping heads ?

[woodmaster]

I have a xs 11sg (1980) I had bad compression in the #3 cylinder so I took the heads off! Good news, bad head gasket!
I was wandering if any one had suggestions on how to clean and prep the heads to put them back on?
They are in pretty good shape, how should I clean the carbon from the cumbustion chamber and piston heads?

[John]

I have used a cup type wire wheel in an electric drill before. Works pretty good, and doesn't harm the head or piston. If you use a small enough wheel, you can also get down into the ports to clean them.

[79XS11F]

Brass wire wheel would work well for that sort of job. When I cleaned up my head I soaked the chambers with gas by turning the head upside down and filling the chambers with gas. After a few hours the carbon came off pretty easy with a stiff plastic scrubby. Doing this will also tell you if the valves are sealing because if they aren't the chambers will not hold the gas.

Just a note when your doing this .. DON'T remove the carbon ring at the top of the cylinders or the engine will start burning on you.
Rob