Soda Blasting Engine Fins

[LOTO]

I have a 1980 GS 1100LT and I am repainting the frame and other components...removing most all clear coat from cases/covers and am buffing.

The engine fins are giving me fits on trying to polish or actually do anything to change their appearance. I have tried Aircraft Paint Remover, scotchbrite pads, dremel polishing heads, about 10 different buffing/polishing compounds, Marvel Mystery Oil, sand paper, and a few more ideas from this forum. The fins aren't really bad but with a complete polish of the aluminum cases/covers I know the fins are going to stand out badly and especially in the sunlight.

I really don't want to repaint the fins but as a last resort I can. I have learned a bit about soda blasting and can anyone on this forum offer their thoughts on soda blasting the fins? There are quite a few topics found using the search but unfortunately almost all photos are hosted on photobucket and don't show up now.

Anyone with photos or comments about soda blasting and would that finish look good bare?

IMG_8347 (800x600)

IMG_8348 (800x600)

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[Nessism]

Suzuki painted the engine silver at the factory. Raw aluminum looks nice when fresh but it corrodes quickly. Instead of soda blasting I'd use scotchbrite pads and a stick and remove all the loose corrosion, then mask and paint the engine silver.

[Tom R]

I’ve soda blasted carb bodies in the past and they’ve come out nice. If your not doing it in a box, all I can say is you’ll need a lot of soda and don’t do it in your grass.

[LOTO]

Suzuki painted the engine silver at the factory. Raw aluminum looks nice when fresh but it corrodes quickly. Instead of soda blasting I'd use scotchbrite pads and a stick and remove all the loose corrosion, then mask and paint the engine silver.

I'm not too concerned about corrosion...bought this new in 1980 and has less than 4,000 miles on it and always kept inside. I've used scotchbrite pads quite a few times and very little change to the fins. I have made good progress on removing the yellowed clearcoat on the fork tubes and cases but those fins just don't want to change. I have saw several different opinions on brand of paint if I decide to go that route....any preference?

[LOTO]

I’ve soda blasted carb bodies in the past and they’ve come out nice. If your not doing it in a box, all I can say is you’ll need a lot of soda and don’t do it in your grass.

I have saw youtube videos of the mess it makes and don't have a problem with cleaning. I've been able to polish most of the carb bodies so probably won't need to soda blast them. Does the soda blast finish on the fins come out even enough so it doesn't look odd? This way is my preference

[azr]

Make absolutely sure the top end is buttoned up completely. You don't want any of that soda getting into the engine. doesn't take much to plug up the oil holes.

[sharpy]

...bought this new in 1980 and has less than 4,000 miles on it and always kept inside. I

so its 37 yrs old and only 4,000 miles on it and kept indoors. I wonder why you had to play with it. Should still be in near show room condition and now your "restoring" it in a dodgy way. Whole engine is painted except for lower enging case. Do it rite of dont do it at all i say. bare alloy will soak up any dirty finger marks and that over time.

[LOTO]

so its 37 yrs old and only 4,000 miles on it and kept indoors. I wonder why you had to play with it. Should still be in near show room condition and now your "restoring" it in a dodgy way. Whole engine is painted except for lower enging case. Do it rite of dont do it at all i say. bare alloy will soak up any dirty finger marks and that over time.

Thanks for the expert advice

[steveb922]

I've used VHT SP 127 on several Suzukis - it looks pretty close to the factory finish. For fine cleaning and sanding between the fins, soda blasting is probably best, but if not too much clean-up is required, try flexible nail files, similar to these.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Files-Acrylic-Buffer-Cosmetic/dp/B00A0JYIUY

[LOTO]

I've used VHT SP 127 on several Suzukis - it looks pretty close to the factory finish. For fine cleaning and sanding between the fins, soda blasting is probably best, but if not too much clean-up is required, try flexible nail files, similar to these.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Files.../dp/B00A0JYIUY

Thanks for the paint information Steve and I don't mind the cleanup of soda blasting.

btw....did you primer before the VHT SP 127 and any clearcoat?

[steveb922]

I certainly don't use a clear coat, and I don't recall whether that paint needs a primer. I still have some in the workshop, so I'll check the instructions this evening, unless someone else replies first.

[sharpy]

btw....did you primer before the VHT SP 127 and any clearcoat?

No need primer or clear coat and still looking good after 20 years [ATTACH=CONFIG]

53122[/ATTACH]

[LOTO]

No need primer or clear coat and still looking good after 20 years [ATTACH=CONFIG]

53122[/ATTACH]

That certainly looks very good and thank you very much for the photo

[Danb4563]

Remeber to to it where there is nothing around. I once used a soda blaster at my buddies farm to clean up the pedals from an old chev truck I was working on. I parked my wife's van about 100' away. It was a windy day, so it took a little longer than expected to clean up the parts as the wind kept blowing the soda away. By the time we finished up it was getting dark, so I put the hoses away, gathered my parts and went home. The next morning I noticed the clear coat was half gone from the roof of the wife's van.

[LOTO]

Remeber to to it where there is nothing around. I once used a soda blaster at my buddies farm to clean up the pedals from an old chev truck I was working on. I parked my wife's van about 100' away. It was a windy day, so it took a little longer than expected to clean up the parts as the wind kept blowing the soda away. By the time we finished up it was getting dark, so I put the hoses away, gathered my parts and went home. The next morning I noticed the clear coat was half gone from the roof of the wife's van.

I know that baking soda is sometimes used as part of a cleaning mixture but didn't think a dusting of it on a surface would take clear coat off. I soda blasted on my almost new motorcycle lift and can't see any of the red paint coming off.