Get ready to shake your head at me...

[UncleMike]

That's not just an automatic port and polish?

[Mekanix]

That's not just an automatic port and polish?

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you did that for porting ? As in set the head on a flow bench and let it sand blast itself to the proper shape ?

Curious

[Big T]

You might try stripping the head down and soda blasting it to get the sand out

BTW, you should have soda blasted instead of sand

[bottobot]

You might try stripping the head down and soda blasting it to get the sand out

BTW, you should have soda blasted instead of sand

What is soda blasting? I've never heard of it before. Wish I had.

[bottobot]

Your going to need a few things If you want to do it yourself.
I've been there and this is how I did it by my self.

Spray 9
brake cleaner
Dish washer (significant other wasn't pleased with that one)
Pressure washer
Q-tip's
hot soap and water...
Air compressor.


I soaked the head in spray nine and cleaned it off with soap and water with a brush. Then stuck it in the dish washer, then to the pressure washer.

Took it out and sprayed it with brake cleaner through all the ports and oil passages. Clean every passage with Q-tips a few times and then coat one in oil and coat the valve guides so they don't rust.

I kept at it with spray 9 and q-tips for a few hours just to be sure. but its one of those things where you can't be too careful. After all that I did actually miss some and it made its way out with little damage but I could see a few pits in the cam journals.

Hope this helps.

Hey thanks Mekanix and Nessim too for the procedures. It really gives me a roadmap to get out of this jam. I feel much better having your advice in my back pocket.

[Mekanix]

This is from Pete's build

Before:




After:


This is what it is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodablasting

Its like sand blasting with baking soda instead of sand.



One more thing I noticed with mine. Using hot water would cause it to steam off and there was less to dry off in places you couldn't get to.

Also, the valve guides will show some flash rusting as soon as you take it out of the water so its good to oil them, in, out and around while your working with it.

[Big T]

What is soda blasting? I've never heard of it before. Wish I had.

As above, blasting with washing soda

You can blast with glass beads, walnut shells, ash, all sorts of stuff

If someone in your area does vapor blasting, that would be even better. It's a combination of media and gas

[bottobot]

This is from Pete's build

Before:




After:


This is what it is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodablasting

Its like sand blasting with baking soda instead of sand.



One more thing I noticed with mine. Using hot water would cause it to steam off and there was less to dry off in places you couldn't get to.

Also, the valve guides will show some flash rusting as soon as you take it out of the water so its good to oil them, in, out and around while your working with it.

Wow thats awesome! I found a place that does it even.

Here's my plan of attack. Based on your suggestions.
-Degrease in a solvent tank/bath
-wash in big tub of soapy water
-pressure wash on low pressure to rinse
-dishwasher
-q-tip and brushing remaining sand out
-air compressor to dry
-soda blast at U-blast DIY shop

What do you guys think?


I haven't found a solvent tank yet I can use to do the first stage of my cleaning project but I have found a dishwasher and a car washing station where I can pressure wash the heads after degreasing. I also have the air compressor on standby as well. Things are looking up!

[hampshirehog]

Dishwashers are good at this sort of thing. Go for it.

When you are finished check by feel rather than looking. Any grittiness keep going.

[bottobot]

Dishwashers are good at this sort of thing. Go for it.

When you are finished check by feel rather than looking. Any grittiness keep going.

I was talking with a friend and he heard that you shouldn't let it go through the heat cycle in the dishwasher. Some risk of oxidization with the heat and water combined. I don't see how as its aluminium but I thought I would check with you first.

[chuck hahn]

Its gonna oxidise with the humidity and temp changes from mother nature. Youve gotta get every grain of sand out..theres no way around that. Now if theres a place that soda blasts, heve them redo them The good thing about soda is that it dissolbves when it gets wet and wont screw things up the wat sand or glass beads will.

[Roger P.]

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you did that for porting ? As in set the head on a flow bench and let it sand blast itself to the proper shape ?

Curious

http://www.extrudehone.com/auto/auto-performance.php

[bottobot]

Its gonna oxidise with the humidity and temp changes from mother nature. You've gotta get every grain of sand out..theres no way around that. Now if theres a place that soda blasts, heve them redo them The good thing about soda is that it dissolbves when it gets wet and wont screw things up the wat sand or glass beads will.

Good point Chuck. The good news is that the soda blast place is a DIY. More practice! At least this time I can put it in a dishwasher after and feel pretty good that it will come clean. Even then I am pretty sure that soda is gonna hurt the engine way less than sand will.

Any ideas on what the post soda procedure would be? Do you wash it again with a pressure washer and then an air compressor to dry?

[chuck hahn]

Take a clear glass of water and a little pinch or two of baking soda and mix it with a spoon..youll find it dissolves and is of no consequence such as hard sand or other grit will be. I would throw the parts in a bucket and slosh them around to do the heavy wash and then maybe a power washer or take them to a coin car wash and spray them real good. Then the compressed air will dry them real fast. Also if you out the suction hose to a shop vac on the air outlet side you can pretty effectively use that to dry them. This also works good for blowing the majority of water off the bike when you wash it in the driveway too. I would have all the stuff there to repaint them too. Get the whole wash, dry, and paint done in the same day so theres no oxidation to remove again when its paint time. If they need to sit for a while before painting its not a real big deal. By sit I mean a day or 2. Just keep them inside the house or in another area thats for sure 100% dry all the time.

[bottobot]

Ahh good one with the shop vac. I can totally do that. What I've done so far is give the heads a quadruple clean with various solvents. Starting Grime-Off then some chain cleaner, then brake cleaner, then a cleaning with soap and water. Next up is a power wash then a power dry. Had to do it all in the kitchen sink but luckily my girlfriend doesn't care.