Thumper Club Forum
Technical => Bike Problems/Questions => Topic started by: guest288 on October 18, 2009, 06:45:16 PM
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Hi Guys
I'm trying to clean up my xbr engine from all the salt corrosion and muck from the past few years. I don't want to split the engine as I know its running well. I was thinking of getting it blasted but that would leave it a dull grey colour. Ive tried alloy cleaner, wire wheels, all sorts of stuff but it still looks pants. Any other ideas for cleaning? If I got it blasted could I paint it with a high temperature paint? Originally I was thinking of silver, but what about black with polished cases? What do you think?
Dave
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Ok, so I've been soaking the thing in Gunk, and with a nylon brush the worst of it is coming off. Its not coming up very bright though, which is really what I was after. Anyone else had this?
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all the cleaning agents aren't as good as they used to be- probably some european law about being able to drink a couple of litres without dying.
i used nitro-mors (not as good as it was) and scrubbed it onto an ally petrol tanks with wire wool.
i won't come up gleaming but it should get all the crap off ready for polishing to whatever degree you want. one tip; wear gloves and long sleeves, it burns like a bugger!
bullet350
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hi Dave, if you can fabricate some covers for your inlet & exhaust ports & seal them well plus your crankcase breather & oil hose unions i can vapour blast it for you?
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That would be great- I have the ports blanked already, just need to seal the oil unions and breather. Maybe I can get that done today or tomorrow- where abouts are you?
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Im in Lincolnshire near Louth
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Ok, I'm in essex near the dartford crossing- I would have to bring it up in the back of my works car, I work quite a bit at the weekend so i'd have to let you know when I can make it if that's ok?
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Hi Dave thats no problem, i work from home so anytimes good for me
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Ok, thanks. I'll have a word and see when I can bring it up to you- how long do you think it will take? Would I leave it with you and return to pick it up? I take it you would like it as clean as I can get it?
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Hi Dave
I've used High temp aluminium paint on my CB900 casings with matt black VHT on the barrels. The
ally paint looks pretty good and hasn't fallen off yet.
Dave
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Ok, thanks. I'll have a word and see when I can bring it up to you- how long do you think it will take? Would I leave it with you and return to pick it up? I take it you would like it as clean as I can get it?
Hi Dave, i can do it while you wait, if you allow 2-3 hours for it to be done, it sounds like you have done quite a bit regarding paint removal & so on, if it is bare alloy it will come up well. If it is as clean from oil & grease etc as possible that will be ok.
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dear Mr turkey
I'm in norfolk, and planning a visit to batemans brewery soon, would it be possible to bring my srx lump up to you for a wash and brush up? (I assume you must be near Cadwell somewhere?) and could you let me know the cost?....thanks in anticipation
Steve
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Hi Steve, no probs, im not far from cadwell, as ive said to Dave i can do it while you wait or you can drop it off for a few hours, if the engine is whole then every possible opening has to be sealed & air/water tight in order for it to be done & degreased as best as possible & paint stripped if you are wanting a bare alloy finish. I usually charge £100 for an engine in individual pieces as it takes longer, but as i can get a single lump in the cabinet in one go id say £50 to fellow members, cheers, Paul 07931 904279
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Good man Paul....I'll be in touch.....cheers
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Hi Paul
I may have to make it in the new year- the run up to xmas is busy for me, is that ok?
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Yep no worries mate, cheers
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shame you dont want to strip it down first. ive just had a set of cases from a 4 cylinder suzuki dipped and cleaned. total cost, 40 quid, but look at the results. shame i didnt take some before pics, but just imagine that its a motor that hasnt been stripped and cleaned since it was new in 1991,
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e357/ukkatanapics/kat%2011%20build%2009/53fa0e72.jpg)
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e357/ukkatanapics/kat%2011%20build%2009/4699a291.jpg)
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This the last SRX engine I did..I basically wire brushed it as much as possible on the "roughish" casting parts and rubbed down the polished parts. Then I sprayed it with ZINC OX cold galvanizing paint. This paint seems very durable if left to cure for a few weeks.
http://www.fdev.co.uk/html/galvanizing_spray.html
(http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z24/ian650/P1020731.jpg)
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I am intrested to know what vapour blasting is.
Ken
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I am intrested to know what vapour blasting is.
Ken
Hi Ken,
i have a Vaqua Blast cabinet which is like a bead or shotblast cabinet but uses a water, fine glass bead & detergent substrate which can be heated for better cleaning properties, this mixture is then high pressure pumped & mixed with 60 psi of compressed air to produce a water jet capable of thoroughly cleaning and in some cases de-burring items such as plastics & light alloys with no detriment to the surface. The finish is a silky sheen with no pitting or abrasive action at all. For this reason it is not good on very dirty or painted items which should initially be degreased or paintstripped. We finish the process with rinsing, drying & application of ACF-50 or corrosion block fo a long untreated shelf life. If an item is to be painted, powdercoated or polished then bead blast or acid dipping is ok as you need an etched surface for those refinishing processes (both of which i also do) Vapour blasting in my opinion looks fantastic if you want an unfinished alloy look to your parts. I have more pics of car & bike parts if anybody wishes to see more, hope this helps confirm the process as being more than 'steam cleaning' which is often what i am asked if it is?? Cheers, Paul.
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Hi Paul
that sounds exactly what I'm after- unfinished but clean look, should look good in a freshly powder coated frame. I'll have to get Xmas out the way, but it's my birthday in the new year so maybe I can convince the missus it's a present...
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Best of luck on that one Dave :P
hope to meet you in the new year! i may be someway closer to finishing mine by then to catch you up a bit.
Which also depends on if ive been a good boy as my birthday is in the new year too & i would like some goodies for my xbr ;D
seeyou then
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Hi Paul
Been really busy with work lately- does the offer of vapour blasting my engine still stand? I'm in Essex, so I'd travel up to you in the morning, and back in the evening..
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Hi Dave, yes no problem i would be glad to help, let me know when you plan on coming and i will set asside time for it, cheers, Paul.
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little pic for you
(http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk433/golfsquad/pmhclassics/DSC02616.jpg)
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Hi Paul
How about April 10th? I'm a way the week previously, so providing I can strip the perishable bits off, like hoses etc. I'll also try and spray a nitromors solution to help it along a bit. Let me know what you think.
Dave
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Hi Dave, im moving that weekend :(
anytime after should be fine, cheers, paul.
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Haha! Ain't that just the way? No worries Paul, I'll wait till you've settled in a bit, let me know when you have a bit of time- Weekends best for me though, thanks, Dave
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i know mate, any weekend after that should be Ok matey, cheers
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Ok cheers Paul, I've started trying to loosen some of the crud on it in anticipation....
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I'll be a bit busy over the next few weekends, so maybe looking sometime in mid May if thats ok?
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Have you tried Cillit bang ?
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yeah, but it seems too tough for any household gubbins...