Two engine block questions

[Kratzer]

How do I get the oxidation off the block?

What about the "dohc" and suzuki badges- can I buy replacements?

[Dogma]

I can't address the oxidation issue (yet), but I know that Bike Bandit and probably others have badges for the covers at either end of the crank. Whether or not Suzuki has superseded the part numbers... what you buy may look different from what you had. I know that is the case on my frame side cover badges.

[drhach]

How do I get the oxidation off the block?

What about the "dohc" and suzuki badges- can I buy replacements?

There are many answers to that question. It depends on what tools you have access to. The most labor intensive option is to use aircraft stripper to remove the clear coat and then start scrubbing. What kind of finish do you want when you are done? How much money do you have? How much time do you have? After you strip it, you can polish it (you'll never want to do that again). Is the engine in pieces? Get it soda blasted if you can. If that's not an option, consider walnut or sand/glass as a last resort. The soda could probably be done with the engine assembled. I wouldn't try the other two methods that wasy though. You can buy soda blasting kits. You don't need a special cabinet to do it. It's a total loss process so you don't reclaim any of the soda. You do need an air compressor though.

I think Bikebandit has the badges. I believe I've also seen them on ebay. They're around.

[buster]

In my opinion the soda blasting worked great on some of the carb parts (exterior only) but did not do much for the engine covers. I went the stripper and polish route. Lots of work going from one grit to the next to the polish but the results are wonderful. As I put the bike back together I see why I did all the work. I used a gun cleaning kit in my cordless drill to get into the tight fins on the engine. The soft copper seems to clean it up real nice. Still not sure if I am going to paint after I clean it up or just leave it. I don't believe the engine would have had any kind of clear on it originally.

[Nessism]

Suzuki finished the engine in the following way:

Silver paint - valve cover, head, cylinders, top half of the crankcase

Unfinished aluminum - bottom half of the crankcase, oil filter cover, bottom engine cover

Brushed aluminum finish (approx. 600 grit) w/clear paint - side engine covers. Some models have the drive sprocket engine cover painted silver (like the 550) so this depends on the bike.

Hope this helps.