What to use when cleaning the inside of engine cases?

[Guest]

I have my '83 GS1100 cases split for a heavy duty cam chain and was wondering whats safe to use when cleaning out all of the inner parts of the cases.

[Cipher]

Im bad and use gasoline
Varsol works as does kerosene

[Gs1100newb]

Do they even make Varsol anymore???

[Cipher]

yup they do here somewhere...........

[Gs1100newb]

also would varsol or even mineral spirits be bad for the rubber on the bearings for the transmission? I still have the transmission in place and was hoping I wouldn't have to remove it.

[Gs1100newb]

Also thought about brake cleaner and even some starter fluid. Just want to remove any metal flakes that are in hard to reach areas

[sharpy]

If u have meetal flakes ill be taking out everything you can and washing then in a tub of kero. and replacing any seals while you in there

[Nessism]

Brake cleaner is way harsher than mineral spirits.

[Cipher]

steer clear of brake cleaner its vile nasty stuff.

[nastyjones]

Yes, Varsol/mineral spirits are the same thing and won't harm anything in the cases including seals and rubber parts.

[Gs1100newb]

Yup. ordered a right side crank oil seal, transmission output seal, and the solid seal on the input shaft as well as the gasket that goes behind the clutch basket to split the cases. Anything else worth replacing other than the obvious side covers, head, base, and valve cover gaskets?

Ray just got back to me and said to use CRC red Brakleen brake parts cleaner. Im thinking of following up with some motor oil to keep the cases from getting rusty.

[Steve]

Im thinking of following up with some motor oil to keep the cases from getting rusty.

Apply oil if you want, but aluminum doesn't rust.

.