Engine paint removal

[tommyboah]

Nwebie her. And yes I have tried searching trough the forum... found some threads, but not answers specific to my questions.

I have an 1983 KZ1000 engine, which is painted black and the paint has started to chip in several places, as the previous owner(s) have just spray painted on top of whatever was there. I am working on a sweet cafe project and as I am having the frame powder coated and wheels painted I need to get the engine right as well.

I am pulling the engine apart in order to remove it from the frame. What would be the best way of removing that old paint? Should i sand it off, or should i use some type of paint stripper. When doing either of these things, how sterile should I keep the inside part of the engine? Since I am talking it apart, can I just leave the inside areas exposed while sanding or paint stripping, and just clean them properly before reassembling the engine?

I appreciate some feedback.

Thanks.

.Tommyboy

 

[loganrm]

Soda blast or hydro blast it. It will get the paint off and then some!

 

[ILoveThumpers]

I am pulling the engine apart in order to remove it from the frame.

What?

...how sterile should I keep the inside part of the engine? Since I am talking it apart, can I just leave the inside areas exposed while sanding or paint stripping, and just clean them properly before reassembling the engine?

I guess that depends on how deeply you're going to be tearing into this engine. If you're only disassembling to get it out of the frame (WTF?) and don't have plans to go any deeper, put the thing back together and strip it in one piece. If you're going to tear it down completely (cases bare) then it doesn't really matter how clean you keep the insides because they'll have to be cleaned before re-assembly.

I don't have blasting equipment (other than a spot soda blaster) so I've used a ton of chemical strippers. I find the Aircraft Stripper brand to be superior to any other commonly available stripper I've tried. It does not clean grease, however, so the engine has to be clean and free of dirt, grease, oil, etc.

If you have access to blasting equipment, use a blasting media appropriate for the surface. Soda isn't great at removing good-quality coatings, but it can be done and has the added benefit of being water-soluble so you can just power-wash your engine afterward.

-Deek