South West Bikers | Motorcycle Forum

Is there any way of removing engine corrosion, ive seen a few before/after pics but never an explanation. (heard something about using oven-cleaner but was a little skeptical)

also is there a way of getting downpipes shiny again. I know a certain amount of heat/discolouring is inevitable but other than that is there a way of salvaging some very grubby pipes apart from using industrial amounts of autosol ;) . Im considering removing them from the bike to clean, but i guess that adds the faff of buying a new set of gaskets

was wondering if anyone has had any luck getting good results for either?

ah, down pipes....

yup

Hein Gerieke do a product called OptiGlanz (I think!) its a stainless steel cleaner, and very effective for getting most of the grot off. Be warned - its evil stuff so I would recommend taking off the downpipes if its possible.

Finish with autosol and ta da!



oo, before and after pics are obligatory of course...

For stainless steel exhausts I use wonderwheels and a fine scotchbrite pad which removes all the tarnishing from the headers and the straw discolouration from them, finish them off with Belgom Alu polish. As for cleaning up bare all engine cases be very careful about using some oven cleaners as they contain extremely dodgy chemicals which can disolve ally like caustic soda does. The best results are by removing the engine and very carefully and methodically sealing up every orifice and having it steam cleaned then vapour blasted

Iimagine mr daytona has a few tricks up his stubby sleeves, drop him a PM mate.

Indeed I do, I must have done hundreds of um

The engine.
Try alloy wheel cleaner. This is great at removing light corrosion and that that it doesn't move gets softened (for want of a better word). Don't leave on there too long though.

It also depends if you're painting the engine after. If not then scotch bright with wd40. This may dull exsisting paint but that's better than corrosion.

If you are repainting Toolstation do some great wire brushes to fit drills/die grinders. The De-Carb Wire Brush Set is very good for getting between cooling fins on air cooled motors and small places.

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Abrasiv ... 130/sd1920

Get the rest off with emery cloth (also toolstation) 240 grit. You can fold this over something like a srewdriver if needed. Then paint

The exhaust - I assume stainless
If corroded - Again alloy wheel cleaner. This removes the surface rust a treat. Then polish up with scotch bright and wd40 and the use autosolve. Sometimes I put the autosolve with the wd on scotch bright and the re autosolve with cloth.

If you have studdbon corrosion then after using the alloy cleaner you can use wire wheels in the link above (the brass ones are better cos they're softer) then do the scotch bright thing. This may leave a few marks and won't be mirror finnish but it is downpies not end can and anything is better than corrosion.

If discolouration - start from the scotchbright method

If you're really fussy you can get a number of polishing fittings to do the job.

Lecture over you may now go to lunch.

Hope this helps,

while I think about it just a little note about Autosolve. Don't use it on crome unless it's quite rusty as I find it too abrasive and it leaves swirls. You are better of using T cut. Just incase anyone with crome reads this

ALWAYS use stainless or brass wire brushes in your drill on stainless steel, because (the word eludes me ) somehow the steel used in the brush will transfer onto/into the stainless giving you a rust problem.....
its kinda like how they do plateing..dont ask me how i know, its some sh*t i learned at collage that i forgot was in there

If only I knew where to get some POLO SHIRTS...

try and get hold of some 'M.E.K' that'll burn anything off.