how to polish/remove oxidation on a bike engine?

[andylawcc]

hi, my friend got a Yamaha XS1100 (pic link 1.5meg:
http://www.auctionsamerica.com/images/lots/BF10/BF10_123_01.jpg) and it had some mechanical issues. He is short on cash and the bike is his only mode of transportation (other than a bicycle), so i was only gonna clean his carb and other maintenance stuff. But i can't help to notice there are some oxidation all around the engine and cylinder head. Now i am completely noob in polishing and metal stuff, is there any basic detailing recommendation? I don't expect to make it look showroom new or shiny, i just want to see if I can get rid of some of the oxidation. I used brake fluid and a wire brush to clean the top of carb cover, which show decent results.

 

[wirednuts]

metal polish and a lot of arm work

nice bike though! i love those

 

[cardiac]

Those were one of the top 4 fastest bikes back in its day. Quite a few guys drag raced them. As far as cleaners, look at some of Mother's or Meguires aluminum mag wheel cleaners that remove oxidation...

 

[JulesMaximus]

metal polish and a lot of arm work

nice bike though! i love those

This. I had an old Honda CB750 and have spent a lot of time polishing up aluminum parts.

Some of those engine parts are painted or clear coated so if that is peeling you may as well just remove it all. It is easier to clean aluminum covers if you remove them from the bike.

 

[unokitty]

hi, my friend got a Yamaha XS1100 (pic link 1.5meg:
http://www.auctionsamerica.com/images/lots/BF10/BF10_123_01.jpg) and it had some mechanical issues. He is short on cash and the bike is his only mode of transportation (other than a bicycle), so i was only gonna clean his carb and other maintenance stuff. But i can't help to notice there are some oxidation all around the engine and cylinder head. Now i am completely noob in polishing and metal stuff, is there any basic detailing recommendation? I don't expect to make it look showroom new or shiny, i just want to see if I can get rid of some of the oxidation. I used brake fluid and a wire brush to clean the top of carb cover, which show decent results.

Simichrome is what I always used ...

Uno

 

[andylawcc]

Some of those engine parts are painted or clear coated so if that is peeling you may as well just remove it all. It is easier to clean aluminum covers if you remove them from the bike.

so if I scrub the clear coat off, will the metal part be more prone to oxidation?

 

[Mandres]

If it's clear-coated aluminum then honestly I wouldn't mess with it. The only way to do it right is to bead/soda blast it and then re-clear. If you polish it out you'll end up with a shiny/chrome appearance that doesn't match the original finish, and will require a lot of maintenance to keep up.

 

[JulesMaximus]

If it's clear-coated aluminum then honestly I wouldn't mess with it. The only way to do it right is to bead/soda blast it and then re-clear. If you polish it out you'll end up with a shiny/chrome appearance that doesn't match the original finish, and will require a lot of maintenance to keep up.

Agreed. Usually it is engine cases and sometimes heads that are painted and the best way to remove that finish is to disassemble and media blast it then have it refinished with a high temp paint. The side covers and valve covers are usually bare aluminum and can be cleaned up on the bike with a lot of elbow grease.

 

[andylawcc]

okay, thanks guys, so ignore the cylinder heads... (dreading to about those darn fins)

 

[JulesMaximus]

okay, thanks guys, so ignore the cylinder heads... (dreading to about those darn fins)

Yeah, the only way to clean those is media blasting and you really can't do that on the bike.

If you have grease on those areas and you just want to clean it up I'd try simple green or a mild detergent and a scrub brush. Do not use a pressure washer.

 

[andylawcc]

Simichrome is what I always used ...

Uno

uno, i heard great things about those, um, things too. Do you know if I can find them locally?

 

[Mandres]

Yeah, the only way to clean those is media blasting and you really can't do that on the bike.

If you have grease on those areas and you just want to clean it up I'd try simple green or a mild detergent and a scrub brush. Do not use a pressure washer.

+1 :thumbsup: