How To Best Clean Up An Old Motorcycle Engine

how to clean up old motorcycle engines

Discuss anything after that final masking comes off.

boomer's Profile Settled In Posts: 21 Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 2:00 am Location: St.Catharines, Ontario	Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 2:30 am I just bought myself a 1983 Yamaha Maxim 650. It had been sitting outside (under a tarp, thank God) But the weather has got to the bike pretty good. The engine needs a really good polish to get it back to the way it should look. Its all oxidized. My question is..whats the best way? Wet sand, steel wool, ?

Top Contributor

Posts: 5373
Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2008 1:17 pm
Location: Pahrump NV.
Country: USA

Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:28 am

Yikes!
Well what type of finish do you want?
Polished or Semi original looking?

Either way I would spray it down with an Aluminum cleaning Acid type stuff like Alumabrite or similar product too eat the oxidation off from there your probably going to have too sand the pieces progressively finer till you can Buff & polish the pieces.
For that bike your probably going to be happy with just spraying on the Alumabrite or you could use a good spray on Aluminum mag wheel cleaner.

Sand/Polish:
Depending on the depth of the corrosion I would start at like 400 and step it up by 200 jumps. from there being careful to remove the previous sand scratches till you get up around 2000.
Then buff with a buffing wheel, Wight rouge works good on Aluminum.
With a Sewn buffing wheel.
I have polished out aluminum starting with a heavy wire brush on a grinder before but it was a lot of work.

Dennis Barnett
A&P Mechanic, FCC General radio Telephone Operator
Line Maintenance A&P Mechanic and MOC Tech specialist.

'68 Coronet R/T's Profile Board Moderator Posts: 8798 Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 12:40 pm Location: ARIZONA	Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:00 am This topic was just discussed on the MOPARTS forum. A guy there polished his aluminum transmission housing and intake manifold and gives a step by step process. Here is a link: http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/sho ... ost4908560 1968 Coronet R/T ACTS 16:31

boomer's Profile

User avatar

Settled In

Posts: 21
Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 2:00 am
Location: St.Catharines, Ontario

Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 10:48 pm

I just did some flatter areas, turned out pretty good. Sanded it first with a rough paper then went to a 600 then wet sanded with a 1000. Then went over with autosol to finish off. Some of the pieces I took off and finished with a polishing wheel with jewelles rough. But when I get to the engine fins,,thats going to take some time. But I'll be worth it. I'll post some pics when I get some more done. I might try some oven cleaner on the engine fins to start off with.
Thanks for your help.
Boomer / Mike

Top Contributor

Posts: 5373
Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2008 1:17 pm
Location: Pahrump NV.
Country: USA

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:15 am

I think you'd be happy with the cylinders after a treatment with that Alumabrite stuff, works lots better than oven cleaner. Either way make sure all the grease and oil is off first, That's something oven cleaner is good for. Except it may stain the aluminum.

Dennis Barnett
A&P Mechanic, FCC General radio Telephone Operator
Line Maintenance A&P Mechanic and MOC Tech specialist.

boomer's Profile Settled In Posts: 21 Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 2:00 am Location: St.Catharines, Ontario	Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 7:02 am Wet sanding, polishers etc, and about a months worth of elbo work, its coming along nice, and runs great too! Here's a pic as of Feb 15 th. and before, right side shot (Jan 2009)

Non-Lurker

Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Apr 20, 2012 6:31 pm

Country: USA

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 2:55 pm

Hi, I noticed the bottom section of your engine was black... did you have it powdercoated or did you just paint it yourself? I think it looks great! i'd love to do it to my new project... any details/instruction would be greatly appreciated. thanks in advance!

User avatar

Top Contributor

Posts: 3110
Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2010 10:52 pm

Country: USA

Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 10:58 pm

Good job! I have the same bike. Bought it new in 1984 (left over from 83) for 1,600.00 bucks cash. 12,000 miles as of now.

:goodjob: :rockon:

Never argue with an idiot, he will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

Top Contributor

Posts: 1242
Joined: Thu Jan 27, 2011 2:16 pm

Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 6:31 am

awesome work!! you got ya some serious patience! thats an awesome bike. i love my v twin intruder 1400, but nothin like the power of an inline 4. and the style of it is sweet!. the good thing is it'll be easy to keep clean now.

Return to Cut, Buff, Polish & Detail