What is the best way to clean the outside of old carbs?

Devon

Devon

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I am going to start tidying up my R60/2 next month. Can anyone recommend the best way to restore a gleam to the exterior of the carbs? I usually wipe them down with an acid or WonderWheels which cleans alloy up OK but not as good as I would like. Alternatively, can anyone recommend where I could send them to get them professionally cleaned?

While I am at it what is the best way to clean the engine casings without stripping the engine and getting the parts vapour blasted? Again I usually use acid and then wire wool but its very time consuming and the end result is OK rather then good.

Here is a picture of one of the carbs I would like to clean:

carb.jpg
 
Vapour or bead blast would improve on that then
Don't think there's much more on the chemical front I've come across in my restorations yet
 
Vapour blasting followed by an ultrasonic clean.

Vapour gives a nice, non staining sheen thats easy to keep clean. If you use a dry blast medium it'll be prone to marking again.

Ultrasonic cleaning with get rid of any debris in the carbs.

These guys are in Okehampton and have airhead cylinder heads on the gallery page http://www.ukaquablast.co.uk/gallery.html prices look good too.
 
I've had good success with an over night soak in full fat Coke - great for cleaning out the airways, jets etc as well. If you don't believe me leave an old 2p coin in some Coke over night................

Andres
 
Andres,

If ever you need to use a pukka ultrasonic cleaner your welcome to come round and use mine., 20 mins is all it takes.
 
Outtomunch said:
I've had good success with an over night soak in full fat Coke - great for cleaning out the airways, jets etc as well. If you don't believe me leave an old 2p coin in some Coke over night................

Andres
Click to expand...

You know what, one of my students told me just before Christmas that he cleans his chain in Coke, must be good stuff:thumb
 
SW Sodablast

If you do consider soda blasting there's a very good firm near M5 J26 by Wellington who do an excellent job at very reasonable prices. He quoted me only £60 to do a complete Honda CB450 engine.

However he does stress on his website :-

Aluminium corrosion and staining:

With aluminium, once the original (point-of-manufacture) oxidised surface layer is penetrated such as through extended exposure to road salts or other corrosive contaminants, corrosion occurs and this can lead to sub-surface staining within the cast aluminium. (A darker grey appearance in mottled lines or patches). This type of sub-surface staining is most often found on items such as motorcycle engines, wheel hubs, some car engine parts and the bottom of boat engine legs.

The point of soda blasting is that it will not penetrate or damage the surface of the aluminium and as such the process will not remove corrosion stains that are below the surface. This means that we can strip paint, degrease, remove surface staining and remove corrosion back to a smooth clean surface, however, the matt aluminium finish may not appear ‘as original’ IF corrosion and/or sub-surface staining has occurred

Details HERE.
 
Thank's for all the replys :beerjug:

Rob, the outfit in Okehampton look like what I need and they are almost on my doorstep :thumb2
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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