Cleaning the Top End... solutions?

[apasqualone]

doing a top end job on my 74 honda cb500t. its more gunked up in there than I thought. rather than scrubbing it to death, i wanted to see if there is a solution or "bath" I can just soak the top end in for a day/few hours to just help clean it up and loosen some of the caking. Or, do i just soak it in a bath of water, degreaser, and wd40?

also, the piston heads are pretty bad, anything recommended for cleaning them up? don't wana open the whole thing and deal with the bottom end and cylinders but, wana make the most impact while she's open. I have degreaser but i'm sure there's something better.

thanks.

 

[Big R]

Keep wd-40 away from anything that will be painted. How far apart are you taking the top end? Normally I would say go with a soda blaster once you have any oil / sludge cleaned off.

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

Baked on carbon can be removed from the head with Easy-Off oven cleaner, but be warned, it strips paint. Reportedly the best home remody is Pine-Sol! From what I've read it's worth a try on aluminum... For the piston tops in the cylinder I use Marvel Mystery Oil and a brass bristle brush. That way anything that gets past the rings is fine in the engine.
There is also a variety of specialty products available from the autoparts store that loosen it better than anything you listed...

 

[Nebr_Rex]

+1 on the Pine Sol.
First use a little Elbow Grease® to knock down the worst of it.
Then give it a soke in Pine Sol.

 

[yorkie350]

hi mate best way i found was a combination of soakin in wd40 say overnite then light scrubbing with old toothbrush a few more stubburn gunk i used a bit of petrol seemed to work just watch the fumes with the fuel did use some cellulose thinners but it stinks too much did same to piston heads with some light rubbing with wire wool followed with a bit of polish with whats called over in UK> brasso /silvo (metal polish ) check the photos see the difference it made to mine just remember dont rush but at least its cheap

 

[apasqualone]

thanks for the help guys! wd40 and petrol did the job pretty good! about to paint the frame with por 15. any advice?

 

[yorkie350]

Hi mate sounds like you are off to a great start i was lucky called in a favour and got my frame powder coated gloss black brilliant finish i do know they sandblasted the frame before coating one thing i did first was to get rid of any tabs and weld splatter from when it was originally built.It felt a bit over the top but it really made a difference you see more of the frame on a cafe racer quite a focal point ,i have seen frames painted with brush and what we call here in UK coach paint the results were amazing obviously well prep'd & left to really harden off this is the key if you aint got drying oven some lads leave the tank a couple of weeks. Ime gonna chance using as u say rattle cans of gloss black for tank n seat unit .

 

[yorkie350]

If ya gonna paint case & head of engine deffinetly use heat resistant paint up to 400 degrees and when ready to paint ( i used rattlecans )make sure ya shake them till ya arm falls off ha and warm the parts ya painting i used a hair dryer it made all the difference the black gloss i did several fine coats waiting just five minutes between them helping it again with the hairdryer not too close mind the silver i did the same way i avent used clear laquer over silver wish i had it dryed great but you seem to be able to rub it away if your not careful ?Best Tips> flat off then clean down i used methylated spirit mask off special areas saves cleaning paint away later shake rattlecans till ya arm drops off (nearly) warm the pieces ya gonna paint light coats with short drying time inbetween coats once ya happy leave to dry twice as long as you were gonna !same again if your clear coating and dont worry if it all goes wrong its only paint so flat it out and start again time n paint wasted but u aint spoilt ya pride n joy good luck mate take ya time it will look great.