Clean Your Engine

[Pete's GS]

This is too easy. Ride your bike, get it good and warm, and then spray the engine with any brake cleaner or degreaser. It's all acetone anyway. The dirt just sort of vaporizes and dissolves away, and you don't have to insert rag-covered screwdrivers to get between the fins.

[tconroy]

cleaning the engine

now you tell me!!!!!I sprayed mine with wd 40 and used a sanded down dowlrod to get inbetween the fins and every were else I could get to. Plus the wooden rod does not scratch the paint or gouge metal.When I bought this bike last week I didnt know what color the rims were cause it was so diry!!!!! 16 hours of cleaning and fixing and now its in showroom condition!!!!!

[Dark Jedi]

People have said they have trouble finding them, so take it with a grain of salt...

I had a great result with a very thin flapper wheel. I wet it down and hept it in rubbing compound, and flapped between the fins. Polished aluminum jugs are good looking.... a little Mother's polish to protect them from corrosion finished the job.

[humhead]

Two things to remember while cleaning your engine with brake cleaner.
1. It's highly flammable & the fumes are NASTY! Ventilation, protection & a fire extinguisher are strongly recommended
2. Brake cleaner will strip clearcoat as well as dirt. (My clutch cover needed it anyway)

Terry

[Rock]

Will brake cleaner damage the paint?

[KGB]

Will brake cleaner damage the paint?

Yes

[Rock]

Thanks, I'll stick to the old elbow grease method then.

[first timer]

kerosene a tooth brush and a nylon brisal dish brush should get rid of all most any caked on mess. After that spay it down then spay some super purple on it to remove the kerosene residue and you are golden. no harsh chemicals or major vapors.

-ryan

[marvinsc]

People have said they have trouble finding them, so take it with a grain of salt...

I had a great result with a very thin flapper wheel. I wet it down and hept it in rubbing compound, and flapped between the fins. Polished aluminum jugs are good looking.... a little Mother's polish to protect them from corrosion finished the job.

MSC Industrial Supply. mscditrect.com. If it's abrasive, they've probably got it. (NO I don't work for them, but I've been the Industrial Supply Procurement field for 20 years.

[marvinsc]

Typo in Previous post. The Website is mscdirect.com

[crag antler]

Try S100 cleaner.
I really swear by any product from them. Everything of theirs works excellent

www.s100.com 8) 8)

[Anonymous]

I just used some of the cheap brake cleaner available at CarQuest. It did a fantastic job. I'll be sure to use a couple cans on my engine before I strip it for a topend job (hopefully this winter).

Steve

[Ions001]

I had really good results spraying the eingine down generously with Simple Green and letting it sit for about 5 minutes. Then I sprayed it down again, and rinsed it off with the hose. A quick rag to the shiny parts, and voila!

[retrex]

Cleaning engines

I had really good results spraying the eingine down generously with Simple Green and letting it sit for about 5 minutes. Then I sprayed it down again, and rinsed it off with the hose. A quick rag to the shiny parts, and voila!

I have to agree with Ions, Simple Green does a very good job of cleaning. My bike never gets to the point that I have to use anything more caustic on the engine. Even the chain lube splatter on the back wheel cleans ups easily. A long handled small brush is useful.

[jimcor]

Spray can of Gunk at the quarter car wash, (which now costs 1.50).
I've got one close enough that the engine is not 'heat soaked' and cools down enough in 10-15 minutes, to be safe. Go early in the morning so you can keep the bay for about 20 to 30 minutes without folks getting carwash rage!