Doms CB550F1 project

[DomP]

Well Cruizinimage have delivered, quite literally!  Ordered my pistons Sunday night, on my doorstep this afternoon.  I won't even get them to Bryan that quick!

[Nurse Julie]

Well Cruizinimage have delivered, quite literally!  Ordered my pistons Sunday night, on my doorstep this afternoon.  I won't even get them to Bryan that quick!

We have always found their delivery service excellent. On one occasion, I ordered a few piston / ring kits on the Tuesday lunchtime and they arrived Friday morning.

[DomP]

Well Cruizinimage have delivered, quite literally!  Ordered my pistons Sunday night, on my doorstep this afternoon.  I won't even get them to Bryan that quick!

We have always found their delivery service excellent. On one occasion, I ordered a few piston / ring kits on the Tuesday lunchtime and they arrived Friday morning.

It is impressive Julie! I'm going to be needing some oil pump o rings when you're back.

[Nurse Julie]

Well Cruizinimage have delivered, quite literally!  Ordered my pistons Sunday night, on my doorstep this afternoon.  I won't even get them to Bryan that quick!

We have always found their delivery service excellent. On one occasion, I ordered a few piston / ring kits on the Tuesday lunchtime and they arrived Friday morning.

It is impressive Julie! I'm going to be needing some oil pump o rings when you're back.

OK Dom. Send me a PM as a reminder and I'll get back to you when I'm back home, (and everyone else that's sent me PM's whilst I'm on my holibobs). Many thanks

[DomP]

Today was project crankcases, I've had a few evenings to begin prep work on them so this morning was a cycle in the dishwasher then a dry out followed my a rub down with a scotchbrite.  Because of the lovely weather I was able to get them out in the sun, I made a cardboard box spray booth and hit them with multiple coats of Simoniz aluminium VHT paint that I'd been warming in a jug of hot water, masking up probably took as long as the prep. The finish is pretty good considering the weathered surface on my cases, I think they've been sand blasted due to the bare finish they came to me in and wonder if that might explain the top end wear?

Tomorrow is bake day so I'll fire up the gas bbq, is 2hrs enough at 200 degrees?

[DomP]

Should I be replacing cylinder studs if they have a bit of rust and pitting on the shank?  I will get a pic up tomorrow.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I suspect cylinder studs might be a nightmare to remove without breaking!

[DomP]

I suspect cylinder studs might be a nightmare to remove without breaking!

My suspicions too Ted, mapp gas might help along with soaking in plus gas but maybe they might not need replacing if not too bad because the torque they are set to is actually quite low isn't it

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Yes it is low compared to cars with steel heads!
3 out of my 8 exhaust studs snapped despite heat and a decent stood removal tool.

[Bryanj]

Leave them alone they can be a real pig even with heat

[DomP]

Leave them alone they can be a real pig even with heat

I'll leave well alone then Bryan, the pitting is what concerned me.  I can just oil the updater a rub down its only a couple of the front studs.

[DomP]

I've had a minor setback,  I fired up the bbq having had my cases warming overnight at around 20°C, set them in it at the lowest setting and have been gradually increasing it but I've got small bubbles forming. I did heat the cases through before paint but I'm guessing I still have gassing off?  Is the only option to strip and start again?

[Nurse Julie]

Yes, you will need to strip what you've applied and clean cases thoroughly. It's usually oil impregnated in the alloy that causes the blistering.

[DomP]

Yes, you will need to strip what you've applied and clean cases thoroughly. It's usually oil impregnated in the alloy that causes the blistering.

I knew the answer really, my engine was bare alloy when I got it so there could be loads of oil etc absorbed into it.  I degreased, dishwashered it and scrubbed it with thinners so I'm not sure what more I could have done, I'm thinking it's remaining moisture rather than oil so I'll try baking the top half more slowly to see if a gentler temperature gradient helps.  I've got nothing to lose in trying and only time and a can of spray paint if it fails!

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I'm concerned by the mention of a dishwasher what detergent did you use as a normal dishwashing tablet attacks aluminium?

IIRC the paint needs 24 hours of air drying in the summer before heat treatment.