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HCL Acid Bath Lesson in Stupidity

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    HCL Acid Bath Lesson in Stupidity

    Well in a search to find a way to get grease out of crevices and remove or soften paint for removal, I thought I would make my own acid bath. Found a suitable container found suitable hand and eye protection. Created solution. I used Acid Magic an HCL that supposedly does not interact with the protiens in our skin. Dont' worry this is not a horror story. Recommeded solution was 1 acid 4 water. Well I made mine a little weaker more like 1:7 because i only had one bottle of this stuff and wanted to make sure I could immerse the parts. I did the jugs first I left them in for about 30 min apiece and then thoroughly washed them clean with water hose. It worked like a champ to get the grease out from places I could not reash with a brush. So I decided to do the side covers. So took all my side covers through them in the bath and left them over night. Next day went out and thouroughly cleaned them with warm water and a little dawn. They were discolored but looked smooth and clean. So they set in the sink to dry. This was a couple of days ago. I went back down to the garage last night after fighting with the rocky New England soil ( i was trying to dig post holes for a dog pen) and was going to brush off the remaining paint on the covers. What I found instead was the aluminum was flaking apart. Just like big chunks of rust flack you get off some thick steel that has been rotting for a while. Man I was bummed. The good news is I had the other engine sitting on the shelf. I will replace the covers on my bike with those. But let this be a lesson learned. Do your research when messing with chemical combinations. I am just luck I had spare parts kicking around to replace mine with.

    Paul

    #2
    Have any pictures of the aftermath???
    1979 GS850G
    2004 SV650N track bike
    2005 TT-R125 pit bike
    LRRS #246 / Northeast Cycles / Woodcraft / Armour Bodies / Hindle Exhaust / Central Mass Powersport

    http://s327.photobucket.com/albums/k443/tas850g/

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      #3
      I too would like to see pictures of the crime scene.

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        #4
        Same here, I might even want the covers for one of my uglier projects, does it still hold oil?
        http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...tatesMap-1.jpg

        Life is too short to ride an L.

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          #5
          As requested here is the aftermath:













          Needless to say I don't recommend HCl for use on aluminum.

          Paul

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            #6
            Originally posted by Redneck View Post
            Needless to say I don't recommend HCl for use on aluminum.

            Paul
            Better yet, don't use HCl on anything. It's extremely corrosive and should be neutralized with a basic solution at minimum. Using it as a degreaser is inappropriate to say the least.
            Ed

            To measure is to know.

            Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

            Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

            Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

            KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

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              #7
              Originally posted by Nessism View Post
              Better yet, don't use HCl on anything. It's extremely corrosive and should be neutralized with a basic solution at minimum. Using it as a degreaser is inappropriate to say the least.
              It looks like he figured that out.
              Glad to see you kept the parts bike.
              How is the project coming along besides this ?
              Doug aka crag antler

              83GS1100E, gone
              2000 Kawasaki Concours
              Please wear ATGATT

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                #8
                Well doug I am up to putting the engine back together. I have all the parts but just haven't found the time yet. Wife is on crutches and I have to do all the cleaning and cooking, and keeping the six year old occupied. Plus, I have to get a dog pen done to keep the dogs out of the neighbors yard.... wow I think I am whining... dooh its going great.

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                  #9
                  A lot of those aluminum de-greasers will etch like that. I took a squirt bottle up to the car wash. Sprayed it on, changed a couple dollar bills, fed the machine some quarters. 2 minuets max. Rinsed it off and all my shinny parts were etched dull. Nasty stuff !
                  82 1100 EZ (red)

                  "You co-opting words of KV only thickens the scent of your BS. A thief and a putter-on of airs most foul. " JEEPRUSTY

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                    #10
                    I didn't think it would be quite that bad, sorry to see it now. Looks it was in a fire.
                    1979 GS850G
                    2004 SV650N track bike
                    2005 TT-R125 pit bike
                    LRRS #246 / Northeast Cycles / Woodcraft / Armour Bodies / Hindle Exhaust / Central Mass Powersport

                    http://s327.photobucket.com/albums/k443/tas850g/

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                      #11
                      I had the same problem with some polished bits on my bike using S100 cleaner. I was hand washing, sprayed it on and rinsed it almost immediately and had some problems as well.
                      Not anything like the pictures but still enough to make you angry.

                      Simple Green and a soft bristled brush and it works wonders.

                      Sorry you had the trouble.
                      GS Score Card
                      4-400 Series GS's
                      3-500 Series
                      1-600 Series
                      1-700 Series
                      4-800 Series
                      1-1000 Series
                      2-1100 series 1982 GS1100G In stable now
                      sigpic

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                        #12
                        Sigh, those poor cases. I'm glad you have extra ones for it, that bike is really looking fine!
                        "Men will never be free until Mark learns to do The Twist."

                        -Denis D'shaker

                        79 GS750N

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                          #13
                          Originally posted by Nessism View Post
                          Better yet, don't use HCl on anything. It's extremely corrosive and should be neutralized with a basic solution at minimum. Using it as a degreaser is inappropriate to say the least.
                          He may have been okay if he had thoroughly rinsed everything off instead of leaving it in the sink. The water evaporates and the concentration of the HCL increases proportionally.

                          Next time use a good parts cleaner.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Simple Green seems to degrease better than anything else I've tried.
                            "Men will never be free until Mark learns to do The Twist."

                            -Denis D'shaker

                            79 GS750N

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                              #15
                              Originally posted by bonanzadave View Post
                              A lot of those aluminum de-greasers will etch like that. I took a squirt bottle up to the car wash. Sprayed it on, changed a couple dollar bills, fed the machine some quarters. 2 minuets max. Rinsed it off and all my shinny parts were etched dull. Nasty stuff !
                              Some solvents have a pretty high sulphur content. These contribute to acid etching as well. I find if you use kerosene and wash the parts thouroughly with a lot of hot water and soap then things work fine.

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