Head cleaning

[tarzan]

I just installed new rings and reinstalled the cylinders.
I was going to use a head from an 81 I bought a while back, but got to looking at it, and decided the 78 head I have will be easier to get ready since I have to disassemble whichever head I use in order to install seals.
So I lapped a couple of the valves on the worst cylinder and I think they will clean up fine, but the exhaust ports are caked with carbon.I started chipping it out with a screw driver but am wondering if anyone has an easy solution
to dissolving the carbon.

[cycleguy]

I used spray gasket remover-worked pretty good-soak over nite, use popsicle stick or something like a tongue depresser to scrape out carbon. You don't want to use anything sharp!! any scratches,gouges,grooves ect. will creat hot spots in the combustion chamber. ie. possible detonation.

[bikerphil]

I've used the rounded edge of one of those 6" steel rulers to chip off carbon. One of those mini slim jim to remove tool chest drawers works good too. It's got a nice angle on it. Gotta be a bit careful on the aluminum of course. Never had any luck dissolving it tho.

[Rev.Rick]

When I lapped the valves on my XS850 and cleaned the head up I used oven cleaner, it works wonderfully. I've used it in the past many times for getting engine blocks and other metal parts that had heavy build ups of grease, grime and other baked on crud. The longer you can let it sit the better it works. You can buy the cheap stuff for $1 or 2. spray it on pretty heavy. I've even gone back 2or3 hrs after the first coat and applied more. Warning! DO NOT GET ON PAINT!!!!!. unless you want to remove it as well. By the way if you do want to remove the paint it works very good on most painted surfaces and is much cheaper than the aircraft paint remover sold by Mar-Hyde.