What do I need to clean the engine casing?

[yamaha1300rider]

Don't shoot me down cos I've tried searching and can't find a suitable answer.

I have a lot of crud and tarnish on my engine casing from the winter and salt on the roads. Once I've removed the crud what's the best thing to spruce the casing up like new? Also, any special care needed to ensure coating on engine not removed while cleaning?

As I'm from UK please can you refer to generic products (eg metal cleaner suitable for aluminium) rather than US brand products which I will not be able to obtain locally.

Cheers and TIA

 

[radman]

This stuff

Suggested by Dale Walker (Holeshot Exhaust) it's everything it's claimed to be. Don't know if it's available other than in the Colonies, but worth looking for.

 

[chickey191]

depending on what you have as "crud" -

Simple green - diluted 50% is a good start - sprayed on and let sit for a few minutes ON A COLD ENGINE.

A pretty good generic solution would be WD-40 (I'm sure you can buy that over there). it works on all kinds of surfaces... disperses water and removes all kinds of gunk. works on plastic, too.

a soft bristle brush - like a tooth brush and some elbow greese is a good start - along with LOTS of water. I would use this before trying anything more aggressive, like polish.

a good wax might work -

not sure if the engine is coated or not - if it isn't then you could find a good aluminum polish.

Always try the least aggressive method first as each application of a polish will remove something. clear coat first - then metal.

 

[yamaha1300rider]

Thanks guys for your ideas

 

[odot]

A buddy of mine used to pee on his motor to clean it. Had to remember to stay in front of him when we rode together.

 

[Groo]

Odot... he must have gone to the Moises Alou cleaning school....

 

[odot]

Nah....he was a lakers fan. :lol:

 

[HaulinAshe]

+1 on the Simple Green.

Invest in a two gallon garden sprayer. Pour one gallon SG and one gallon water. Spray it down, let sit a minute or two and then low pressure wash off. Using low-pressure, pressure washer works best. Avoid the 2,000 psi and higher unless they have adjustable wands.

Nothing is worse to clean than an MX bike. SG never hurts anything. Avoids elbow grease, easy to find, affordable at 50/50 mix. Moto is "Simple Green is your friend, trust it!".

 

[madmike2]

Crud might come off with Simple Green, but "tarnish" or anything that is in the pores of the metal will be another. Any kind of metal polish would work but you might try some sink/bathtub cleanser and a soft brush (try a small area first because it is going to "scour").

If you are talking about the side engine cases that are exposed, i.e., painted, much more care will be needed, defninetly something non-abrasive like a good polish.