Engine cleaning

[Ivan]

So, I am cleaning the engine for a new paint job. I am having a heck of a time getting the crud out of the spaces between the cylinders where the tensioner leaked for more years than not and gummed it up in there.

How do you clean freaks get that part of the engine clean?

Other than that it is cleaning up nicely. Taking a lot of work, but coming along.

[tw1980]

Spray carb cleaner,wire brush,tooth brush,q tips and a stiff paint brush.Should get about any engine clean with elbow grease and patience.

Terry

[XSokieSPECIAL]

So, I am cleaning the engine for a new paint job. I am having a heck of a time getting the crud out of the spaces between the cylinders where the tensioner leaked for more years than not and gummed it up in there.

How do you clean freaks get that part of the engine clean?

Other than that it is cleaning up nicely. Taking a lot of work, but coming along.

Two letters and one number........WD40..... spray it on and let it sit.

It'll dissolve almost anything.

Of course there will be elbow grease required also.

[Montreux_Blue]

I used about 4 cans of engine degreaser on my bike when I first got it. Now it takes just a little bit of Shout, yes the clothes stain remover, on the oily spots when the engine is cold. It's safe for rubber and paint unlike some of the engine degreasers. I also use it to remove oil stains from the driveway. I always leave it on for about 30 minutes before rinsing it off. The fresher the oil spot the better, although it will get rid of old oil stains too, it will just take a few tries. Being a clean freak, I have tried tons of different products to try to clean engines with and this is one of the best in my book especially since it doesn't harm paint or rubber.

[TomRodgers]

i know it sounds crazy...but i mix up a paste of baking soda and dawn dish soap (so it doesnt just run off) and then blast it with a hose.....just protect the non water loving areas of the scoot..... Engine brite....carb cleaner....but they all make a helluva mess of the garage floor......

[kirmit77]

yeah but what about after you put all that elbow grease on there??? how do you get that off??

[Ivan]

wow, lots of "different" suggestions. Dish soap and Shout would both be really good grease fighters, however, I would have never thought of them myself. You guys are an ingenious bunch.

The Purple Power seems to do a good enough job at degreasing. But the shout and dish soap are intriguing. I may try to byy a cheap gun cleaning kit to get in the small holes, or is there something that might be better? Only problem is buying a gun cleaning kit would require the purchase of an actual gun, and a long barrell 44 mag isn't that cheap. I guess my 36 cal black powder revolver might serve as an excuse, but it doesn't have the intimidation factor of the 44, or the recoil.

As for removing elbow grease, the correct method is ingestion of distilled cane sugar based alcohol. Preferably spiced. Although, I am starting to see some remover that is flavored with wormwood and anise which may be even more effective.

[Schming]

Freakin' Ehhh...

So, I am cleaning the engine for a new paint job. I am having a heck of a time getting the crud out of the spaces between the cylinders where the tensioner leaked for more years than not and gummed it up in there.

How do you clean freaks get that part of the engine clean?

Other than that it is cleaning up nicely. Taking a lot of work, but coming along.

Hi Ivan, I repainted my engine about a year ago and after trying everything mentioned above, Easy Off (fume free) oven cleaner yeilded the best results. Also a spiral wire brush from my gun cleaning kit chucked in a dremel rotary tool for all the places SWMBO's tooth brush wouldn't reach I used multiple coats on that part of the engine. It took a while but nothing else would touch the baked on bugs

[randy]

BTW, leave easy-off on aluminum too long and it will eat the metal. At least the original formula does, don't know about the 'no-fumes' variety.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Ivan,

If you want the best ways to clean ANYTHING on a bike...

Ask Bohn! He's the cleaning GURU around here!

[DGXSER]

Ivan,

If you want the best ways to clean ANYTHING on a bike...

Ask Bohn! He's the cleaning GURU around here!

But that just means he won't have a clue how to get the years of built up stuff off of them, as his probably never get that dirty!! It be kind of like asking one of our South Florida members how to get snow off your driveway since they never have any on theirs.

[XS1100 Newbie]

I used a can of AC coil cleaner on my XJ650. It cleans really well, but don't get it anywhere you don't want paint off. Don't leave it on more than a few minutes, or it will etch your aluminum.

[MrFreeze5]

Ive always used foaming engine degreaser with different wire brushes, brake or carb cleaner, and paper towels. Ill go through several cans cleaning a dirty engine but it works really well. Compressed air and a blow gun helps too to get funk out of the crevices.

[Schming]

No lye...

BTW, leave easy-off on aluminum too long and it will eat the metal. At least the original formula does, don't know about the 'no-fumes' variety.

Hi Randy, That is why i opted to try the "Fume Free Max" Easy Off oven cleaner instead of the regular type as it does not contain any corrosive lye. " The technologically advanced formula requires no heat." (both right from the can) Also brake cleaner as mentioned by MrFreeze5 and his method seemed to work well. If this link works this product made by Drummond American called Whallop industrial foam cleaner is amazing. My nephew introduced it to me about twelve years back as he is very meticulos (sp) with his bikes. I am waiting on a price quote from them as we speak. HTH http://www.lawsonproducts.com/webapp...arch%3DWHALLOP

[Montreux_Blue]

I've used the Purple Power stuff before and it seems to "etch" the rubber and plastic parts.