Honda-SOHC
SOHC.co.uk Forums => CB500/550 => Topic started by: davidcumbria on March 08, 2023, 12:24:24 PM
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Actually after all that hoohah over replacing my 550k1 cases I have been able to get them welded up foc at a local aerospace facility and reckon I can source the shells I need at reasonable cost so all good. Crankshaft is fine.
I’m thinking about how to restore the cases and looked at a few threads on here. It was always my intention to get them vapour blasted but after all the concerns over residual blast media in oil ways I’m having second thoughts. I know you can do all the multiple clean outs but in the end I wonder if you can see enough to be 100% sure. Since the cases are going to be painted or ceramic coated anyway do you think it’s worth the risk. why not soda blast then paint? Also What is the advantage of ceramic coating over painting ? I’m looking for an attractive, sustainable finish and not over bothered about trying to recreate the original.
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Acid clean and or soda blast is recommended. Vapour is also ok, but much greater care is required for the reasons you outline. Soda blasting wasn’t available to me, so I went the vapour route, but extremely cautiously using a guy who understands the requirements. It’s actually quite easy to scrupulous clean a SOHC four motor if you apply yourself. The only problem area is the head oil gallery. I’d either plastic bung or wax block. Any doubts and I’d remove the gallery plugs, clean and replace. Cerakote will give superior resistance to oil/petrol damage. Our Roo can give you tips on that as he did a complete motor. The popular Simoniz and bake method is simple, cheap and reasonably affective if done correctly, but it’s not petrol proof, not in my experience anyway.
Blasting using shell media is also an option, but again blocking, drying, pressure washing, drying, pressure washing, drying……and eventually HP airline. Always, always avoid any pressure media touching bearing surfaces.
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Many thanks Sesman. I didn’t like the look of the galleries to and from the oil filter in terms of visibility. What is the problem with the cylinder head gallery isn’t it just a straight drilling from top to bottom? Or do you mean the gallery that feeds the bottom end bearings ? Is soda blasting quite a new thing then ?
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Afternoon,
Just wot Phil said really.
Either 'explain to death' to the blaster that these galleries need covering or bunging up you should be fine. I had mine soda blasted and afterwards cleaned by hand then ran them through the dishwasher 3 or 4 times to get any bits that were or might be lurking. No detergent just on a warm wash cycle. The soda being technically a refined salt, the warm water dissolves whatevers left meaning thay you can be sure theres no nasties waiting to be pumped around the motor when put back together.
I simply left mine on the radiators for a few days to dry before poking them back at my cerecote chap down here in Yeovil (oo-aargh and all that)
They were then cerekote'd in Glacial silver, I think, the codes up on a different thread but if you need it I can send it over to you if req'd. Cost was somewhere near £180 ish as I had some other bits done too but had the cases barrels and head done and they look mint.
Cerekote is far harder wearing, rsistant to most things and apparently draws heat away from the lump, radiatijg it away faster. Not sure if theres anything in that bit but they do exhausets all over the world to allow better heat transference so the majority cant be wrong. Somebody with far more grey matter should be along shortly to tell you why but even for the two points just mentioned, I went for it and really chuffed tbh. And I didnt have to faff about making ovens to cook the buggers in after baking and or have to clean the oven after knackering the long haired General's...................Lets not go there!
Hope that helps a .......bit?
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That’s great advice thanks. Definitely inclined to give vapour blasting with glass a swerve.
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pleasure mate ;)
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Roo, doesn't Nathan do soda blasting?
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Yeah, he did mine....