cleaning cases

[utahriding]

any body have any tricks to clean the cases(besides media blasting)?

[hughes]

I have used steel wool. Use the very fine steel wool. You trying to polish the cases or just clean the mud stains off?

[utahriding]

trying to get mud stain,grease, and years of tarnish off. i sent the cylinder to be replated and it was media blasted, now it is a nice light gray and the rest is dark gray.

[Larry Wiechman]

Try soda blasting. Get a $15 hand held sandblast gun from Harbor Freight, fill it with baking soda, put on your googles and go to it!
Danger4u2 is a pro at this stuff, maybe he's got some tips and tricks.
 
Larry

[-Kama-]

maybe I'm just weird,...but a $6 can of gloss black engine paint will get rid of all those stains and make it all look nice........

[utahriding]

can i soda blast with engine still together?

[stewart]

can i soda blast with engine still together?


[/quote you could but it would be a bad idea

[utahriding]

any other tricks besides blasting?

[bob larry]

maybe I'm just weird,...but a $6 can of gloss black engine paint will get rid of all those stains and make it all look nice........

lol...never paint lumi kids...

[demographic]

Not sure about the areas involved as I've never tried it but this looks quite good...

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

[Polar-Bus]

any body have any tricks to clean the cases(besides media blasting)?

If you have natural aluminum cases, use this:

http://www.clean-rite.com/

and 3M Scotch brite pads. You will be amazed at how well this combo cleanes cases !!!

[rideout]

I have used steel wool. Use the very fine steel wool. You trying to polish the cases or just clean the mud stains off?

do not use steel wool on cases it will leave little peices imbedid in the aluminium and rust. the best thing to use to get oil deposits out is carb cleaner to get the worst of it off and then use liquid fantastic with tooth brush. but dont scrub too hard.

[Johnniespeed]

 I was at a vintage BMW motorcycle show and observed many beautiful vintage engines, I asked them how they got the aluminum engine cases to look just right, I had several people tell me that sandblasting looks too dull and glass beading looks too glossy, they all agreed that blasting with walnut shells produced the correct look. Apparently disassembly is not needed, just mask off where you dont want blasted and have at it. I have not tried this yet, but I have used walnut shells to blast intake valves clean while the engine was assembled and it works very well.
 John