cleaning engine fins
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 512
Likes: 4
From: Johnstown, PA
cleaning engine fins
I have asked in the past how to clean my engine fins, I tried the recommendations of s100 and other cleaning products.
Some of the fins have some discoloration/oxidation...
I am thinking they need sanded with a high grit.
What grit do you think I should go with? Autozone has an assortment up to 2500 grit. Should i just get that and try the highest and see if it works, if not, go down from there?
thanks,
Jon
Some of the fins have some discoloration/oxidation...
I am thinking they need sanded with a high grit.
What grit do you think I should go with? Autozone has an assortment up to 2500 grit. Should i just get that and try the highest and see if it works, if not, go down from there?
thanks,
Jon
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 728
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From: So Cal
+1
Hard to tell by your photo; are the fins painted black or silver, or are they bare aluminum? If they're bare aluminum, Scotch Brite pads should work great. If they're painted, try the Scotch Brite pads (go easy), then spray on some Pig Spit or similar product. If that doesn't do it, re-paint or touch-up paint. Don’t use anything on them that contains silicone or you’ll have a hell of time trying to re-paint them if necessary.
Last edited by QehQeh; Apr 6, 2011 at 04:48 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 5,618
Likes: 5,215
From: Green Country
If the fins are "natural" metal color, try using a small copper wire brush that you find in the welding section of most farm stores, Ace Hardware, etc (it's about the size of a large toothbrush). Use it to knock the scale and dirt loose then hose off. Good luck.
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 512
Likes: 4
From: Johnstown, PA
Fins are bare aluminum. Black engine tho. The copper brush would screw up the black part wouldn't it? I need something that just hits the bare fins. I will try a scotch brite but I don't think it will be agressive enough. Bought some 2500 grit today and will try that if scotch brite doesn't work.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Cleveland Zoo
The fin edges are a bright machined finish. The best you can hope for is a clean but dull finish from sandpaper and Scotch Brite. You'll never get them back to that bright finish. The fins need to be cleaned and protected regularly on a new bike depending on what kind of hell we put them through, this is the only way to keep that bright finish outside of replacing the jugs.
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 512
Likes: 4
From: Johnstown, PA
The fin edges are a bright machined finish. The best you can hope for is a clean but dull finish from sandpaper and Scotch Brite. You'll never get them back to that bright finish. The fins need to be cleaned and protected regularly on a new bike depending on what kind of hell we put them through, this is the only way to keep that bright finish outside of replacing the jugs.
Either way, dull silver will be better than what I have. Previous owner let it get this way, now I need to fix it the best I can
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Seasoned HDF Member
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From: Cleveland Zoo
If I had a 96" and six speed doing a big bore with new jugs would ba a solution.
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Johnstown, PA
