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how do I make he engine shine?

  • Thread starter Thread starter maynard
  • Start date Start date
Thanks Bud, but all the credit goes to reno bruce and keith krause; I just used a cross of their techniques. Have fun!
 
So I was reading on the caswell forums about removing the clear-coat or anodizing on the aluminum before you polish. On an 82 GS450L, which am I looking at? My guess is anodized, but I don't know.

So once I've determined which type of coating I have, I have to remove it. What I read was - Easy-Off oven cleaner for the anodizing, aircraft stripper for the clear coat. Is that right?
 
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Aircraft stripper worked great for me on the clear coat. It just shrivels right up and you can peel / scrape it off. On my 80 GS1100L I don't think I had any anodizing?
 
J_C said:
Aircraft stripper worked great for me on the clear coat. It just shrivels right up and you can peel / scrape it off. On my 80 GS1100L I don't think I had any anodizing?
Click to expand...

OK, cool. Where does one buy aircraft stripper.....besides at an airport? ;-)
 
renobruce said:
Most Walmarts have it, or you can get it at any automotive paint supply store
Click to expand...


Cool, thanks! I think I've found my winter project!

Sadly, I've also found my winter, as it was 33 degrees out this morning.
 
Any ideas on how to get deep within the engine fins? I've tried the brass wheel on my dremel but get these results since it won't reach all the way to the back. Would some kind of a buffing wheel on a drill be the way to go?
DSC03187.jpg
 
Pearson said:
Any ideas on how to get deep within the engine fins? I've tried the brass wheel on my dremel but get these results since it won't reach all the way to the back. Would some kind of a buffing wheel on a drill be the way to go?
Click to expand...

Are you trying to clean the fins or polish them? I would think it would be hard to polish the fins and make them look consistent. The brass wheel or something similar will in effect "polish" them by removing the matty finish. If you want to just clean them, use a good cleaner like Simple Green or Purple Power and an old toothbrush and baby bottle brushes and scrub like hell. That's what I did.

100_1656.jpg
 
Eh. There comes a point where scrubbing like hell just doesn't cut it. I have some baked oil on parts of mine that just isn't coming off. Even scrubbing with a brass brush using stuff more powerful than simplegreen wouldn't remove it.

I wish there was a simple solution like a flapper wheel. Has anyone ever tried the flapper to clean, not polish, the fins?
 
renobruce said:
Are you trying to clean the fins or polish them? I would think it would be hard to polish the fins and make them look consistent. The brass wheel or something similar will in effect "polish" them by removing the matty finish. If you want to just clean them, use a good cleaner like Simple Green or Purple Power and an old toothbrush and baby bottle brushes and scrub like hell. That's what I did.

100_1656.jpg
Click to expand...
Man that is pretty...............
 
renobruce said:
Are you trying to clean the fins or polish them? I would think it would be hard to polish the fins and make them look consistent. The brass wheel or something similar will in effect "polish" them by removing the matty finish. If you want to just clean them, use a good cleaner like Simple Green or Purple Power and an old toothbrush and baby bottle brushes and scrub like hell. That's what I did.
Click to expand...

aw hell, I'd settle for half the shine you or Keith have on your bikes. I'm not interested in show finish, but she's got to look respectable when I finally reveal the finished bike. :)
 
J_C said:
Eh. There comes a point where scrubbing like hell just doesn't cut it. I have some baked oil on parts of mine that just isn't coming off. Even scrubbing with a brass brush using stuff more powerful than simplegreen wouldn't remove it.
Click to expand...

Like this?

100_5242-1.jpg



Mine was pretty rough... lots of oil and road grime.

Have you tried bleach? I wonder if that would help.
 
I used engine degreaser and let it soak in really good. It crempled the plastic coating that was on the covers but that need to come off anyway. Then I used solvent and a small wire brush to clean the fins because I also had cooked on grease that even the degreaser would not get off. Its just a lot of work to get that crap off of alum. and you have to have a wire brush thats small enough to get in between the fins. JC suggested a flapper wheel which I think is a good idea. I've seen them at the hardware store and the flaps are at about a 30 degree angle which would allow you to get between the fins, maybe.
Let us know what you end up doing as I will be faced with the same issue in the near future.
Thanks,
*Steve*
 
Reading through this thread makes my hands ache already. Made an offer on a bike today, and if he takes it, I'll have this to look forward to. The bike was a commuter, and I don't think he did much more than hose it off. Of course, I'm inspired by what it can (and will) look like!
 
Wow, yeah Bruce, remarkably like that. Here's a before:
CIMG0050.jpg


The best results I've had were from using a descaler/degreaser, but even that couldn't get between the fins in the back and front. The sides actually look kind of ok now after cutting up my fingers dragging a scotch brite pad between them. I will certainly try using some bleach, and maybe even the flapper. I think I coiuld get it to look better than it is now, even though it is so much improved over where we started.
 
Have you tried any baby bottle brushes? They did me well in getting between the fins.
I still swear by the Simple Green. I scrubbed for a week to get it clean, spraying, letting is soak over night, scrubbing more, etc., but is slowly all came out good.
 
Maybe I just need some more soaking action. When I get back from my business trip (end of next week) I'll take a few pics and put them up to show where we got stuck.


I've tried the baby bottle brushes that the ones I used wore out and came apart pretty quickly.
 
just an idea but have you tried a high psi pressure washer with soap.i know we use them when we strip paint booths and it takes off everything right down to the metal.if it will cut through paint and overspray it should cut through dried oil.just my .02.thought it might help.
 
I always use spray carburetor cleaner on tough grime. Takes it off better than anything, but do NOT get it on your paint. CLR is also pretty good stuff. It'll eat up small amounts of surface rust all by itself.
 
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