Cleaning of Parts?

Status
Not open for further replies.
T

T95

Joined
Jul 7, 2010
Messages
356
With my Ruster nearly dissembled I am looking at a stack of dirty, greasy and corroded parts. My next step is to sort and clean up the bits and determine what is salvable.

I would like recommendations on any cleaning & degreasing compounds you like.
How should I clean, de-rust and protect the ferrous metal parts?
Can the bolts nuts & washers be cleaned and protected?
More importantly is caring for the aluminum items prior to polishing, I want to make sure I don't etch the metal and cause any further damage.
 
cleaning
WD40 or similar with scotchbrite, steel, brass, ss brush, elbow grease.

degreasing
Walmart has carb cleaner for less than $2 a can, not bad. Casewell sells a powder degreaser that must be used in a hot bath, but is reasonably cheap.

ferrous metal
vinegar, evap-o-rust, steel brush, file, navel jelly (phosphoric acid - protects from rust), muratic acid (will rust immediately after usage) depending on quantity of rust. Polish with buffer and compounds.

Nuts and bolts will have to be cleaned, de-rusted and re-plated somehow. Probably best left to a pro. Be aware that plating will fill the lands and grooves, especially chrome which is a 3-part process with copper and can ruin threads.

Aluminum
Your choice. Polish and finish with something like Mothers, but it well eventually turn into talcum powder (at least it looks like that). Don't use lye, it will eat the aluminum. Rough castings (primary inner cover, GB inner covers, crank cases) can be cleaned with brushes and scotchbrite. Polish outer cases and fork sliders with buffer and compounds.

Lots of detail work.

Dave
69S
 
I know this is a simple enough process. At this point my aluminum parts are the most venerable and I just wanted to keep from etching or pitting them.

Any negative experiences using spray automotive engine cleaners?
Besides lye what other nast ingredients should I look for in these products?
 
I know it's not politically correct but gasoline is a great cleaner to initially clean just about anything. In my formative years, that was the standard cleaner for any shadetree mechanic. Since moving to Mexico, and the fact that I had to leave a lot of tools behind due to household goods moving weight restrictions, I no longer have a parts cleaner so now I do it all with gasoline. Works great, just like it always did. The usual warnings apply about flames/smoking, etc.
 
Soda blasting.

I sent out a bunch of 34 year old BMW parts earlier this week and am amazed at how uniform the cleaning action turned out. I send a pair of DelOrto 38 mm carbs and most of the engine castings

There was an article on this forum earlier about how to do soda blasting on a budget, but that method won't do much. The service I used had a cabinet for small parts and a "range" (almost like a gun range) with a 150 HP compressor for tough cleaning.

I followed up the soda blasting with a Brillo pad...my parts look like factory castings.

RS
 
RoadScholar said:
Soda blasting.

I sent out a bunch of 34 year old BMW parts earlier this week and am amazed at how uniform the cleaning action turned out. I send a pair of DelOrto 38 mm carbs and most of the engine castings

There was an article on this forum earlier about how to do soda blasting on a budget, but that method won't do much. The service I used had a cabinet for small parts and a "range" (almost like a gun range) with a 150 HP compressor for tough cleaning.

I saw that article and thought I would give it a try on the carbs. Of course I didn't realize there is a professional alternative.
So is the soda the medium of choice for blasting aluminum?

So prior to powder coating recommendations on blasting mediums is another area of concern.


I have used plenty of gasoline for cleaning in my younger years. Thirty years as a fireman has revealed how deadly that practice can be.
Is Pemex still The fuel company in Mexico?
Click to expand...
 
The easy way to clean parts?
Get your woman to do it! :mrgreen:
Cleaning of Parts?
 
Mark said:
The easy way to clean parts?
Get your woman to do it! :mrgreen:
Cleaning of Parts?
Click to expand...

Just to get my wife to sit still and pose for a photo like that would cost me a night on the town. I would still be the one doing all the work. Of course in the end she would never let me forget how she had completely tore it down, rebuilt it from the ground up then commenced to thoroughly buff and polish every part.
 
I guess I should be honest and tell you guys that I took that picture almost 20 years ago.
She doesn't polish aluminum anymore.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top