cleaning motor fins

[got_the_bug]

Anyone have a recommendation for cleaning motor fins?  I used S100 cycle wash, which worked great on the rest of the bike, but the fins on my M900 are still kind of dingy.

[the_Journeyman]

I gave up on it.  I spray some simple green on the and let it soak for a bit and hose 'em off.  That gets the worst of the grime off but they're still dingy ~

JM

[metaldoc]

I gave up on it.  I spray some simple green on the and let it soak for a bit and hose 'em off.  That gets the worst of the grime off but they're still dingy ~

JM

I use the same approach

[got_the_bug]

Thanks, guys...anyone have any luck with Gunk Engine Brite?

[sennaster]

spray in some degreaser ... let it sit ... then brush them with a stiff bristle brush (like you would clean car tires with).

thats the best method i ever used.

[kenrok1]

anyone ever take it a step further and wire brushed the engine?

I messed up the paint on my clutch housing (wet clucth) when I took of the Shell sticker and tried to buff it out ~ went overkill with a posilhing wheel and buffed right down to the bare metal. It looked all shinny and nice it that one little pea sized area, but I din't have the guts or the time to keep going so I just slapped a new sticker over it.

I think it could look very cool if the whole engine was brushed, polished, media blasted, etc. I assume it would probably need a high temp clear sealer on it then to keep from oxidising?

[Lord_Bragle]

The paint on the heads of my S2R 800 discoloured like this GTB, I didn’t try anything abrasive “attempting” to get them clean because their only painted, and I’m sure the paint has a difficult enough job already, getting so hot as it surly does, and without it needing to be scrubbed at too.

I did try domestic clothes washing solution though, I left it on a couple of hours and it worked really well, I think the chemicals in this stuff work on the baked in carbon that turns the paint brown, if it was left on days and agitated regularly and kept moist I think it could leach out even more of this brown colour, it just needs someone with patience and dedication to try it.

[Xiphias]

The coating on the fins was deemed to be defective. DNA replaced the cylinder head under warranty.

Does it look like this?

[vampireduc]

Purple Power, and a scrub brush....on a cold engine has been working for me.

I'm told not to leave it on the rubber parts to long.  I rinse it off with a hose after I finish with the PP just to be safe.

[Ohmic]

Degreaser and the ex-girlfriend's toothbrush before she moved out 

[Augustus]

Purple Power, and a scrub brush....on a cold engine has been working for me.

I'm told not to leave it on the rubber parts to long.  I rinse it off with a hose after I finish with the PP just to be safe.

Hell, isn't it a lot of work to take your engine out to clean it? 

[teddy037.2]

+1 for the creative use of old toothbrush.

doesn't make her shiny, but it does look better than just the S1000 and hose.

[sydmonster]

Degreaser it all, leave for 5 min and bucket/hose low pressure off. Then spray on detergent or 4x4-truckwash and rub in with an old long bristle paint brush. bucket/hosedown. Let it air dry, or best use low pressure compressor and blow dry. - Chris

[dlearl476]

Hell, isn't it a lot of work to take your engine out to clean it? 

I was thinking "Sure, it hardly ever gets dirty sitting on your workbench." 

I recommend Greased Lightning "Orange Blast" degreaser and a small brass-bristled brush.


If it's really hard to get off, you can try stainless steel bristles, but be careful, it will remove the anti-oxidation coat if you get too heavy handed.

[duc996]

Engine degreaser plus toohtbrush,works for me.