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SOHC.co.uk Forums => CB500/550 => Topic started by: Topcat on July 30, 2018, 07:47:51 PM

Title: Engine degrease and oxidation removal
Post by: Topcat on July 30, 2018, 07:47:51 PM
Hey guys,

It has been a while, sorry for no updates on my project, however I've had quite a few big changes of late.

Deaths in the family, moved house (better garage) and the wife had a baby so lots of sleepless nights.

However finding the odd hour here of there where I can work on the bike so beginning to strip it down. It's pretty corroded and looks like someone has had a poor attempt at breaking it down in the past so a few stripped screws and bolts to tackle. Anyway mostly tackled these now with the exception of 3 completely stripped JIS screws on the clutch cover.

Next job will be to remove the engine for disassembly / inspection. however before I go too far I want to do a quick degrease of the engine, removal of old engine paint and hopefully tackle some of the oxidation.

Anyone got any tips on the best de-greasers and any way to remove oxidation.

Pics hopefully attached.

Cheers
Topcat
Title: Re: Engine degrease and oxidation removal
Post by: Green1 on July 30, 2018, 07:55:37 PM
My favourite degreaser is Viro-sol it costs squat and works incredibly well without melting the skin off your hands.
 
Title: Re: Engine degrease and oxidation removal
Post by: Nurse Julie on July 30, 2018, 07:56:35 PM
Best to strip engine and then clean parts.
Title: Re: Engine degrease and oxidation removal
Post by: Green1 on July 30, 2018, 07:58:19 PM
Doesn't hurt to clean the worst off before hand. Makes it nicer to handle
Title: Re: Engine degrease and oxidation removal
Post by: K2-K6 on July 30, 2018, 08:25:57 PM
I'd always go with cleaning before strip down, it just bugs me getting all that gritty crap into non contaminated internals if not necessary.

I would steam clean them first when I did them more routinely as it's just easier to get a first assessment in my view.

No view on current solvents to clean things as most of them don't seem to match older stuff I've used.
Title: Re: Engine degrease and oxidation removal
Post by: Topcat on July 30, 2018, 08:51:30 PM
Cheers guys will give it a quick once over, possibly steam clean it then do a proper clean once disassembled.

TC
Title: Re: Engine degrease and oxidation removal
Post by: Trigger on July 30, 2018, 09:52:16 PM
Not that easy to remove oxidation from jap alloy and, once you have it leaves pitting. The alloy will have to be mopped down with a  Satin Lap Mop to get a good surface for paint  ;)
Title: Re: Engine degrease and oxidation removal
Post by: paulbaker1954 on July 31, 2018, 04:20:04 PM
I use Paraffin and a brush, wont shift oxidation but great for shifting gunk
Title: Re: Engine degrease and oxidation removal
Post by: Spitfire on August 01, 2018, 10:36:35 AM
I did it the old fashioned way with paraffin to get the serious oily gunk off, then Brillo pads, sandpaper, Dremel, lolly sticks with cloth around to apply Solvol, was hell on the fingers but it worked.

Cheers

Dennis
Title: Re: Engine degrease and oxidation removal
Post by: Rozabikes Tim on February 03, 2019, 10:56:52 PM
Was going to start new topic on recommened degreasers as Jizer I am using not  brill but found this post doing a search. Paraffin would seem favoured. Any other favourites....?
Title: Re: Engine degrease and oxidation removal
Post by: matthewmosse on February 03, 2019, 11:16:42 PM
Found some household cleaner called 'elbow grease' was quite effective and very cheap in combination with a pressure washer. Spray on let it soak in 5 - 10 mins then hose off. Mate had a xs250 with 30 years of crud around the chain cases - we found that quite effective to get it very clean of that tar like chain oil. Used it on my bikes occassionally.
Title: Re: Engine degrease and oxidation removal
Post by: Nurse Julie on February 03, 2019, 11:33:42 PM
Paraffin is a favourite for DIY but I also think Lemon Fairy Liquid, boiling water and a scrubbing brush is a serious contender.
Title: Re: Engine degrease and oxidation removal
Post by: matthewmosse on February 03, 2019, 11:39:51 PM
Yes, household detergents and some warmth are at least not as bad smelling. I find lemon based cleaners cut grease better. Original source shower gel is as good as many industrial degreasing soaps for handwashing and more convenient to pick up on offer whilst being dragged around a shops with the kids.
Title: Re: Engine degrease and oxidation removal
Post by: Rob62 on February 05, 2019, 07:33:26 PM
I degreased mine with jizer, its perfect for the job, rinses off with water..... easy to use and readily available. Why do you intend to strip the motor? Is there a known problem? Does the motor look clean inside the rocker and sump? If so can you test the compression, if thats ok why strip..
Title: Re: Engine degrease and oxidation removal
Post by: Rob62 on February 05, 2019, 07:35:14 PM
Ps. I wouldn’t go near it with a steam cleaner unless i knew i was definitely going to strip it completely down
Title: Re: Engine degrease and oxidation removal
Post by: Rozabikes Tim on February 05, 2019, 08:26:57 PM
I degreased mine with jizer, its perfect for the job, rinses off with water..... easy to use and readily available. Why do you intend to strip the motor? Is there a known problem? Does the motor look clean inside the rocker and sump? If so can you test the compression, if thats ok why strip..
Motor and whole bike stripped - see my recent 400 renovation posts. I just tagged onto old an thread when searching forum for degreasers etc. Motor badly needs paint and overhaul. Just cleaning frame up etc and was not really impressed by Jiser I was using. Although old, would not think it goes off?
Title: Re: Engine degrease and oxidation removal
Post by: Rob62 on February 05, 2019, 09:23:53 PM
I was just wondering if there was a known problem with the motor, otherwise i would have suggested running it to see if it was ok rather than jumping straight into a strip down, as these motors are very robust. Yes you have to work the jizer a bit for sure, but it rinses off easily. Mine had a lot of dried crud from the chain, all over the frame and motor, took some shifting.. but the jizer did work
Title: Re: Engine degrease and oxidation removal
Post by: Rozabikes Tim on February 05, 2019, 09:41:27 PM
I was just wondering if there was a known problem with the motor, otherwise i would have suggested running it to see if it was ok rather than jumping straight into a strip down, as these motors are very robust. Yes you have to work the jizer a bit for sure, but it rinses off easily. Mine had a lot of dried crud from the chain, all over the frame and motor, took some shifting.. but the jizer did work
Yes it ran but smokey and rattly camchain.
Title: Re: Engine degrease and oxidation removal
Post by: Nurse Julie on February 05, 2019, 09:48:50 PM
I was just wondering if there was a known problem with the motor, otherwise i would have suggested running it to see if it was ok rather than jumping straight into a strip down, as these motors are very robust. Yes you have to work the jizer a bit for sure, but it rinses off easily. Mine had a lot of dried crud from the chain, all over the frame and motor, took some shifting.. but the jizer did work
Tim doesn't jump in to anything too quickly, I think he's had this bike for many, many years. I have seen the bike in the flesh as it where and Tim is definitely giving her the love she needs.....at last 😀😀
Title: Re: Engine degrease and oxidation removal
Post by: Green1 on February 05, 2019, 10:06:41 PM
If you think Tim's 400 was bad wait till you see mine.  :-[
Title: Re: Engine degrease and oxidation removal
Post by: philward on February 05, 2019, 11:23:14 PM
I did it the old fashioned way with paraffin to get the serious oily gunk off, then Brillo pads, sandpaper, Dremel, lolly sticks with cloth around to apply Solvol, was hell on the fingers but it worked.

Cheers

Dennis
That's the way I do it too - long winded but like to feel I've done the rebuild of a project myself as opposed to paying someone else to do it (were ever possible) - gives a better feeing of achievement (and frustration sometimes!) I feel

Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Engine degrease and oxidation removal
Post by: Rob62 on February 06, 2019, 12:43:57 PM
Just checked in the garage, it was actually Gunk that I used, not Jizer, the tin is still in there half empty...apologies for misleading  :-[
Title: Re: Engine degrease and oxidation removal
Post by: AshimotoK0 on February 06, 2019, 01:15:32 PM
Evidently the best stuff to use contains hydrofluoric acid which is pretty nasty stuff. Used to be used for cleaning oxidation off alloy wheels ...not sure if its still used because of safety concerns.
Still available off eBay though.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrofluoric_acid
Title: Re: Engine degrease and oxidation removal
Post by: Andych on February 07, 2019, 12:22:20 AM
I must admit I was a bit surprised when I saw that “Jizzer” was being used on the bike.....must have a different meaning in the UK to Aust...similar to Durex (sticky tape) and thongs ( flip flops ) 😆
Title: Re: Engine degrease and oxidation removal
Post by: Rozabikes Tim on February 07, 2019, 07:39:59 AM
Ah that explains where i'm going wrong.... :P
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