KX Riders

Maintenance & Technical => KX500 Original => Topic started by: SweetTea on October 15, 2010, 10:58:04 AM

Title: How to make the engine look new?
Post by: SweetTea on October 15, 2010, 10:58:04 AM
What's the best way to clean all the crud off the K5's engine?  I use Simple Green usually to wash my machines, and it keeps them clean.  However, since I just purchased this used K5, it has a bit more baked on crud then what I would let my machines get on them.  So, Purple Power and a tooth brush?  Or what about Engine Brite?  Would it be to strong on aluminum parts all over?

I searched on this subject and found mixed reviews, seems like most like purple power, but haven't heard anything on Engine Brite.  I want to do the best I can to make that machine look like it came off the showroom floor.

Thanks!
Title: Re: How to make the engine look new?
Post by: ShadeTreeFab on October 15, 2010, 11:02:19 AM
baking soda blast
Title: Re: How to make the engine look new?
Post by: SweetTea on October 15, 2010, 11:13:56 AM
What kind of machine would I need for that, any thing from harbor freight that I could hook up to my air compressor?

Thanks.
Title: Re: How to make the engine look new?
Post by: Rooster452 on October 15, 2010, 02:23:31 PM
check this out......

http://www.aircooledtech.com/tools-on-the-cheap/soda_blaster/
Title: Re: How to make the engine look new?
Post by: traileater on October 15, 2010, 02:42:00 PM
Amazing! Enviro friendly, dissolves/cleans up with water and cheap.
Thanks for that link!



(http://www.aircooledtech.com/tools-on-the-cheap/soda_blaster/7.JPG)

Title: Re: How to make the engine look new?
Post by: ShadeTreeFab on October 15, 2010, 03:00:07 PM
HF has a all right set up for like $18, i have a good size blaster i use.
Title: Re: How to make the engine look new?
Post by: littlewing78 on October 15, 2010, 04:04:55 PM
I may have to try this.  Should be fine just blasting the bike as is without tearing it down.  May not get all the tight spots but anything would make my bike look better.
Title: Re: How to make the engine look new?
Post by: Polar-Bus on October 15, 2010, 09:00:55 PM
What's the best way to clean all the crud off the K5's engine?  I use Simple Green usually to wash my machines, and it keeps them clean.  However, since I just purchased this used K5, it has a bit more baked on crud then what I would let my machines get on them.  So, Purple Power and a tooth brush?  Or what about Engine Brite?  Would it be to strong on aluminum parts all over?

I searched on this subject and found mixed reviews, seems like most like purple power, but haven't heard anything on Engine Brite.  I want to do the best I can to make that machine look like it came off the showroom floor.

Thanks!

Use this along with a scotchbrite pad your engine will shine like BRAND NEW !

http://www.clean-rite.com/purplepower_industrial_strength_cleaner_degreaser.html
Title: Re: How to make the engine look new?
Post by: SweetTea on October 16, 2010, 08:33:27 AM
Thanks for the great ideas, looks like I'll be adding a baking soda blaster to my arsenal!
Title: Re: How to make the engine look new?
Post by: greencannon on October 16, 2010, 04:10:54 PM
Yup,  Baking soda blasting is king. But if your looking for a quick spray on and scrub with toothbrush method then Mr. Clean Power Dissolver for pots and pans works wonders. It comes in a little blue spray bottle. You can find it with the dish soaps at the supermarket. this stuff blows away simple green, purple power, engine brite, super clean, ect.
I use it for once and a while maintainence.
Title: Re: How to make the engine look new?
Post by: littlewing78 on October 17, 2010, 08:51:29 AM
I think its actually Dawn Power Dissolver.  Either way it does work awesome.

Another great cleaning method is to cook parts in antifreeze.  It may be a bit hard to do with bike parts but I use it on my RC airplane engines.  I fill a crockpot with antifreeze, drop the engine in and cook it on low over night.  They come out looking like new.  Just be sure to never use that crockpot again for anything else.  You would need an enourmous crockpot to clean bike parts though.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1137352&highlight=crockpot
Title: Re: How to make the engine look new?
Post by: traileater on October 17, 2010, 12:48:38 PM
Ive done the same thing with the rc engines, but it didnt do much for bike parts. Does it work for you?
Title: Re: How to make the engine look new?
Post by: littlewing78 on October 17, 2010, 01:00:29 PM
Never tried it on the bike.  I just got into riding.  I did use the Power Dissolver yesterday and it works great on the bike.
Title: Re: How to make the engine look new?
Post by: kwakman on October 18, 2010, 10:06:25 PM
You could go the hardcore route and polish your entire engine.Said John.With no fingers left, and a compulsive urge to eat Autosol out the tube. :roll:
Title: Re: How to make the engine look new?
Post by: Rooster452 on October 19, 2010, 01:35:05 AM
You could go the hardcore route and polish your entire engine.Said John.With no fingers left, and a compulsive urge to eat Autosol out the tube. :roll:

Sounds like he needs help!
Title: Re: How to make the engine look new?
Post by: martinfan30 on October 19, 2010, 01:45:12 AM
You could go the hardcore route and polish your entire engine.Said John.With no fingers left, and a compulsive urge to eat Autosol out the tube. :roll:
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: How to make the engine look new?
Post by: kwakman on October 19, 2010, 04:14:49 AM
Past the help stage I think, and I havent even started the swingarm yet....
Title: Re: How to make the engine look new?
Post by: dirtjunkie85 on October 19, 2010, 09:49:23 AM
great idea on the baking soda blaster it will be one of my new tools  :-D
Title: Re: How to make the engine look new?
Post by: Rd on October 31, 2010, 02:08:07 AM
Carb soda blasted with my air blo gun and two foot of fuel line.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/makoman/009.jpg)
Title: Re: How to make the engine look new?
Post by: Rd on October 31, 2010, 02:25:21 AM
Here is my high tech blasting setup. Total cost was price of the baking soda. Everything else was laying around the garage.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/makoman/011.jpg)
Title: Re: How to make the engine look new?
Post by: sandblaster on October 31, 2010, 04:30:48 AM
We use Landa L-209 Aluminum Brightener (Uses a blend of ammonium bifluoride and sulfuric acid) and neutralizer with a Landa Hot water pressure washer.
It works good on the entire bike and keeps them looking new for years.
Title: Re: How to make the engine look new?
Post by: Rd on October 31, 2010, 08:14:39 AM

Quote
We use Landa L-209 Aluminum Brightener (Uses a blend of ammonium bifluoride and sulfuric acid) and neutralizer with a Landa Hot water pressure washer
.

Wish I had acees to a steam  cleaner like that. Bet the results are great
Title: Re: How to make the engine look new?
Post by: sandblaster on October 31, 2010, 11:21:33 AM

Quote
We use Landa L-209 Aluminum Brightener (Uses a blend of ammonium bifluoride and sulfuric acid) and neutralizer with a Landa Hot water pressure washer
.

Wish I had acees to a steam  cleaner like that. Bet the results are great

It works good but without the acid it does not work as well.
Likewise, the acid without the hot water does not work as well.
It is the combination of the two that is dynamite.
I would never have believed it and spent the money on it if a friend of mine who is in the business demonstrated it to me.
Title: Re: How to make the engine look new?
Post by: snoopjonnyjon on November 04, 2010, 03:29:40 AM
You could go the hardcore route and polish your entire engine.Said John.With no fingers left, and a compulsive urge to eat Autosol out the tube. :roll:

Hahaha. You even got the name right... Just no "h" in Jon! This was done with toothbrush and varsol, then toothbrush with Dakota aluminum cleaner, then one go with Mother's aluminum polish. Was a ton of work, finger's were very tired.

(http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m252/snoopjonnyjon/104_0005.jpg)
Title: Re: How to make the engine look new?
Post by: martinfan30 on November 04, 2010, 02:15:36 PM
(http://unplannedismounts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/autosol-metallpolish.jpg)

(http://retrotoys.com/images/Wind-UpChompingTeeth.jpg)