Engine Cleaning

[Toy3zve]

My 850G came to me with a heavy oil leak from the tach cable inlet. Consequently, there's a heavy concentration of baked on, stubborn oil deposits all over the front and sides of the engine.

Anyone have any ideas on how to clean it off and make it look purty again?

Thanks...

[Nessism]

Some people recommend using Simple Green or similar and while that works, engine degreaser as sold by auto parts stores works much better in my experience. If that crud is really baked on though you are in for some work. Some engine cleaning brushes really help get into the nooks and crannies... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mr-Ga...motiveQ5fTools

[chuck hahn]

Ed hit it right on the head..the baked on stuff will take more than a spray and rinse..I use old tooth brushes and simple green to cut thru the hard black stuff. Then i use the engine degreaser from my local suzuki dealer. let the spray stuff sit for about 15 minutes and then reapply before rinsing and ususally the stuff runs out a nice blackish brown..the degreaer / toothbrush method works well to clean up the inside of the chainguards, sprockets, and rear wheel hubs that get chain lube slung on them..

[madjack57754]

I know I'll catch some grief for this suggestion, but on really nasty stuff I use eazy-off oven cleaner. Be sure to wear PPE as it's wicked stuff on your skin and lungs.

[Steve]

Can't argue with the EZ-Off, as I have not tried it, but I will definitely agree on the PPE (that's Personal Protective Equipment, for those that don't know).

#2 son's bike wasn't quite that bad when we got it, but an overnight soak with engine degreaser then a trip to the car wash cleaned this:






I didn't even bother taking the bike off the trailer when we got home. I just took some "before" pictures, sprayed it down with degreaser and went to bed. The next day, I took it to the car wash and used the high-pressure soap on it.

I don't have any close-up "after" pictures, but this is right after getting the bike off the trailer:


After the engine work was done, it got painted and polished and now looks like this:


.

[Toy3zve]

I'll give your ideas a try. Thanks guys.

[smokienutz]

thre's some pink stuff called vex i am using atm. seems to work w/ hot water. engine brite works well also, but the gel seems to leave a residue. brake clean does an amazing job but loves to eat rubber and plastic. only trouble i am having is getting "the shine back" that almost galvanized look.

[chuck hahn]

that black semi greasy crap on the case will easily come off with some laquer thinner and a good stiff auto parts cleaning brush . thats all i use to clean parts and it cuts it off in seconds. Once its all disolved clean it again with some simple green, spary off with the hose, and thats that. Just be sure to have good ventilation while using the thinner. and no open flames close by.

[tkent02]

Whatever chemicals you decide to use, rifle cleaning brushes chucked in a variable speed drill (slow) gets into the cooling fins and between cylinders well.

[chuck hahn]

I have also took a toothbrush over to the bench grinder and ground the side narrow enough to fit in there..the fins.. but that rifle brush sounds cool too.. are we talking the wire ones or the cloth round swabbing cloth ones??

[sam78gs750]

just curious.. I've been wondering what to use to clean my own engine... won't some of the stuff you guys are talking about remove paint if it gets on the frame/tank?

[chuck hahn]

wrap the frame in aluminum foil around the area that is closest to the engine, or wrap it in that blue painters tape... you can just remove the tank and set it aside.. As for removing the clear on the engine..I have done five bikes in the last two years. The newest being a 83 Honda CB 650SC nighthawk. Trust me not one had any clear left on the engines.. Clean the crap off, bead blast it or whatever you decide to do and respray everything with 500 degree ENGINE CLEAR paint from rustoleum.

[smokienutz]

vex will not eat paint.. i used it ti take off brake fluid.. so far so good. engine brite won't either but, for some reason it only works when the engine is cold. if the engine is hot it just cooks and looks very bad. the vex though won't rinse well w/ super cold water. like in the middle of winter well water lol.

[tkent02]

but that rifle brush sounds cool too.. are we talking the wire ones or the cloth round swabbing cloth ones??

The wire ones, you can get an assortment of sizes at the Evil Walmart or any sporting goods place.

[flyanimator]

I've also heard blasting it with bakiing soda works really well. All you really need is an air compressor, blow gun attachment, some hose and a box of baking soda from your local super market.
It was posted on another site for air cooled vee dubs, but this "tool" should work for just about anything.
here is the link to that site.

http://www.aircooledtech.com/tools-on-the-cheap/soda_blaster/