Degreasing two-stroke exhaust flange ready for welding

[Chris Stevens]

Not sure the OP is looking for a tuned cylinder, think he just wants one without broken exhaust mount? If Banshee ones fit, that looks like a very cheap way to overcome his problem.

 

[mangocrazy]

From looking at the ebay photos, the Banshee cylinders are made for the YPVS stud pattern, not the older 350LC pattern. And I also have an interest in keeping it original within certain limits. On either count the Banshee cylinders wouldn't really be suitable, but thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Chris Stevens]

Looks like you will have to bite the bullet and spend some serious money then.

 

[mangocrazy]

Got the barrels back from Sheffield Engine Reconditioning Services, after they'd left them for a couple of days in the hot tank. Before and after shots show the difference. Still not clean enough to weld, but much better. The next thing is to soak them in acetone (cheers, Roger!) for a few days and then introduce them to Mr Carbide Burr.

Before cleaning:

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And after cleaning:

View media item 8880

 

[eSCHEn]

Big difference in the positive direction there Mango. Looking forwards to seeing the welding and machining on this. Looks like it'll be interesting

 

[cocker]

I was going to say put them in the dishwasher - works quite well on most stuff .

 

[Nick67GT]

Whilst some of the suggestions above will have degrees of success, the only guaranteed way forward is ultrasonic cleaning.

Any company involved in aerospace or other high tech industries will have this facility, but they mighty not be too keen on dunking your motorbike bits in their tank......

If you can get it looking half decent though, they might be a bit more amenable to the idea.

There are always specialist sub-contractors to consider as well.

 

[mangocrazy]

I do actually have a small ultrasonic bath that will just about accommodate the barrel, but wanted to get as much grease off as I could before using it. Once it's had a few days soaking and brushing in acetone I'll clean it up and drop it in the ultrasonic tank. I was thinking of using water and washing up as the liquid, but would Traffic Film Remover be an option, do you think?

If I had a dishwasher it would have been tried already...

I did flirt with the idea of using acetone in the ultrasonic tank, but a quick google indicated that this would be unwise to the point of stupidity.

 

[Nick67GT]

As you're probably aware, there are specialist additives for use with these tanks, but obtaining a small quantity is not always easy. Talk to the suppliers for advice on which one is best and up the chances of the desired result.

I managed to blag a sample bottle for 'testing' purposes.

On a general note, using the dishwasher will not be at all popular with other members of the household, since the smell of what has been cleaned off lingers for ages! (The same goes for the oven / freezer when pressed into service)

 

[Johnseat]

We have/had some proper aluminium chemical cleaner at work.
You spray it on, watch it eat the crud and wash it off with a steam cleaner.
We buy it from autosmart, you'll see the van flying from garage to garage who offer valleting services.
Other than that I would wire wheel it back and grind down to fresh clean metal and start the weld on weld process followed by a machine shop.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

We have/had some proper aluminium chemical cleaner at work.
You spray it on, watch it eat the crud and wash it off with a steam cleaner.
We buy it from autosmart, you'll see the van flying from garage to garage who offer valleting services.
Other than that I would wire wheel it back and grind down to fresh clean metal and start the weld on weld process followed by a machine shop.

If you use a wire wheel make sure it's a stainless wire wheel.

 

[mangocrazy]

We have/had some proper aluminium chemical cleaner at work.
You spray it on, watch it eat the crud and wash it off with a steam cleaner.
We buy it from autosmart, you'll see the van flying from garage to garage who offer valleting services.
Other than that I would wire wheel it back and grind down to fresh clean metal and start the weld on weld process followed by a machine shop.

Hi John, what is it called? That sounds just the job...

 

[Johnseat]

I can find out for you later today.
I makes removing 5th wheel grease and what not a doddle to remove off aluminium cat walks on trucks.

 

[Johnseat]

Autosmart Ali is what it's called.
Just text a mate who's the valeter at our workplace.
He said if you don't have luck with it then autosmart tar'n'glue remover is more powerful and after that it's some nasty acid stuff he has for the worst occasions but that takes some cleaning afterwards.

 

[mangocrazy]

Cheers John, much appreciated. If your mate works in the valeting trade I could always take these parts to him for his perusal. I'm off work tomorrow, as well...

 

[mangocrazy]

Following John's train of thought, I took the barrel in question (plus half a dozen brake calipers in a fairly disgusting state) to a local carwash / valeter that was recommended to me. I left the barrel and calipers with them for the afternoon and when I popped in just before closing time to collect the parts I was absolutely gobsmacked by how clean they had manage to get all the parts. This is the cylinnder barrel (compare with earlier photos to get the full effect):

View media item 8882
The calipers were similarly squeaky-clean. In my astonishment I forgot to ask what they'd used, but I'm pretty sure it would have been one of the potions that Johnseat referred to. Anyway, the barrel has now gone off to my welders and we'll see what they can do. They said they'd have no qualms welding it now in the condition it's in.

 

[Johnseat]

With the looks of the barrel I would say they've used something like the autosmart Ali as aluminium we clean using the same stuff comes out looking exactly the same.

 

[mangocrazy]

Excellent - that's good to know for the future. I checked the datasheet for Autosmart Ali and apparently it's part Hydrofluoric acid, part Phosphoric acid and part alcohol ethoxylate (whatever that is). It certainly did a number on my cylinder barrel...

 

[mangocrazy]

Just got the barrel back from my welder man, and it's another step forward. The barrel does look a bit like the Elephant Man, especially in pic 2, but some machining will sort that out. They'll be off to the machinist on Friday, so depending on the amount of work he has on I may see the results some time next week.

View media item 8893
View media item 8894

 

[eSCHEn]

Progress though man. Looks like it'll machine back nicely.