What's the best way to make your engine look new again?

[MonsterMadMarty]

I've recently restored my 93' M900 and it's currently running with a spare 900 SS engine I have.  It's original engine has been stripped down, rebuilt (new gearbox, pistons and rings), reassembled and is now sat on my workbench.  Poor planning on my part as I didn't really think about how I was going to clean up the outer casing of the engine!  My Monster has had the usual Monster battery leak and has left a stain on the alternator cover, plus 80,000 Km's of use the cosmetics need work.

Any tips, suggestions, advise? All comments welcome on how to get my motor looking brand new again.  Cheers in advance, Marty 

The battery acid stain:


My 93' M900 as it is with the spare engine in:

[stonemaster]

media blasting, I used soda blasting to make a set of mikuni carbs look like new a couple of time, there are other types of media to use , a google search will turn up alot of info

[MonsterMadMarty]

media blasting, I used soda blasting to make a set of mikuni carbs look like new a couple of time, there are other types of media to use , a google search will turn up alot of info

Cheers,  I've been looking at Vapour blasting but it will mean stripping the engine again 

[MotoPsycho]

Little brush and good degreaser. Pain in the ass but it works.

[He Man]

take the side cover off, lather some MEK (watch out for this stuff itll eat your flesh alive) and brush off the paint. then coat it with some high temp paint to match existing.

[scooterd145]

Try Kerosene and a toothbrush

Scott

[Lieutenant Dan]

take the side cover off, lather some MEK (watch out for this stuff itll eat your flesh alive) and brush off the paint. then coat it with some high temp paint to match existing.

Where does one obtain such stuff (MEK)?

[MonsterMadMarty]

It's taken awhile but it's finally done looking nice and shiny, now to fit it back into the bike 

[monsta]

looks great!   

how did you end up doing it?

[MonsterMadMarty]

looks great!  

how did you end up doing it?

Thank you, it took hours upon hours of sanding with 240 grit and the Dremel to get the old paint off and then another hour or two wiping with oil and grease remover, taping up before applying VHT primer and paint.  Fingers crossed it will last!

As you 'can't see' your wonderful repair work - once again thank you great work  

Started putting back into the bike yesterday when at 1pm I got a phone call from school saying the youngest has broken her thumb!

[Nibor]

Looks amazing! I was originally planning to just deep clean mine, but the more I see this and Buck's, the more I want to paint!!

[abby normal]

Where does one obtain such stuff (MEK)?

MEK is methyl ethyl ketone ... its a solvent routinely used for bonding
polymers.  it smells like its going to kill you, but its actually not
dangerous, other than displacing air if you breathe too much of the
vapor.  look up the MSDS if you don't believe it.

cyclohexanone is similar to MEK ... not dangerous.

methylene chloride is another story ... VERY dangerous.  this sh!t will
dissolve cured epoxy, but will give you cancer.  stay away from this one.

lots of online chemical supply houses ship this stuff to businesses.  i don't
have any experience getting it to a home address.

[BK_856er]

Chemical nomenclature is kinda goofy.  Acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, and cyclohexanone are all close cousins with similar characteristics.  They do a good job of general degreasing, and will definitely stain/soften/bubble paint with enough contact time. Use with good ventilation and nitrile gloves, and stay away from the garage water heater pilot light!  Most home improvement places that carry paint will have acetone and MEK in gallon containers - easy to get locally and pretty cheap.

Motor looks great!

BK

[mjk778]

Thank you, it took hours upon hours of sanding with 240 grit and the Dremel to get the old paint off and then another hour or two wiping with oil and grease remover, taping up before applying VHT primer and paint.  Fingers crossed it will last!

Looks great!  Nicely done. Which color VHT primer and paint did you use?

[MonsterMadMarty]

Looks great!  Nicely done. Which color VHT primer and paint did you use?

The primer was: SP148 Light Gray
The case & heads: SP127 Univ. Aluminum
Cylinders: SP124 Gloss Black
Valve covers: SP997 Cast Iron