Cleaning Aluminium

[mrapocalypse]

This is for my old dirt bike resto.

I figured that Landy folks would know a bit about the cleaning of aluminium bits and bobs.

This is the head.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/08/623.jpg (http://s518.photobucket.com/user/NomadCamera/media/photo%203.jpg.html)

Apart from the wasps nest, I want it to go nice and shiny without needing to pay to have it hydroblasted.

Was thinking molasses or mag wheel cleaner might be a start.

Oven cleaner is another suggestion. I only have one of these so don't want to dissolve or alter it in any way as you can imagine.

It's really fiddly so if I could soak it in something to get rd of the oxidisation that would be good. Everything else on the bike I have just lightly sanded and used polish on for great results.

All suggestions welcome. Apart from Elbow grease cos that's a given.

[discovery39]

Go to your nearest car detailer, and grab some of their wheel cleaner.
If its the good stuff, it'll contain Phosphoric acid. They will tell you.
Clean most of the ..... crud off first , then spray with the diluted product and let sit for five mins, then blast off with your favorite pressure cleaner. Do not do it in the sun, or when its (the Weather) hot.
It will be brand new.

[Toxic_Avenger]

You can get aluminium brightner and cleaner from welding supply stores. I think it's sulfuric acid amongst other things.

[roverrescue]

Don't use molasses
It will turn it to chalk.
Light acid will brighten it up

[Patchy]

When I was working at a small fuel pump place we would soak the stripped pump bodies in Alloy Bright when reconditioning them it worked quiet well if you can imagine how old and cruddy some of the old truck inline pumps would come in, they came out looking just about new considering we never put much time into trying to clean and polish them.

I know it use to be hard to get this is going back about 7 years now so could be worse or better so best of luck if its even still available.

cheers Brian

[Ean Austral]

Septone sell alibrite, try supercheap auto they likely sell it. We used it on the fishing boats for cleaning alot of our alloy trays etc.

Cheers Ean

[roversmith]

Take it to your local auto sparky, bead blast =$20. Interesting bikes when they kick back on start up, and run backwards. Brings back memories.:D

[mrapocalypse]

Take it to your local auto sparky, bead blast =$20. Interesting bikes when they kick back on start up, and run backwards. Brings back memories.:D

Hadn't thought of that one.

Thanks all.

The ghist is some kind of mild acid.

I hit it with oxalic acid which we we'd used on boats for rust scale but it didn't do much. I'll experiment with some suggestions.

Cheers all

I.

[rick130]

As Disco39 said, something with phosphoric acid in it.

It leaves it with a bright and somewhat stain resistant finish, cuts through the oxide coating.

I'd bead blast first then acid dip.

My old Kart engine builder had some brilliant stuff 25 years ago (no pun intended), that removed the carbon too and left the head and barrel looking all shiny and new but can't recall what it was, sorry.
Probably banned now anyway.

[DoubleChevron]

These and lots of elbow grease. The brushes work exactly as advertised. There nothing short of brilliant. Excellent for cleaning up gasket housings etc too.

Small Brushes to clean, detail and refinish cast aluminium alloy motor surfaces, restore aluminum alloy motorcycle engine and auto motor alloy castings. To restore motorcycle aluminum alloy, and safely remove corrosion. Four sizes with Stainless Stee (http://machinerycleanery.com/)

seeya,
Shane L.

[CraigE]

The Allibrite works fairly well. Now I thought that they changed the composition as I am sure that last time I bought it, it no longer had hydrofluoric Acid as part of its make up, but have just checked the MSDS and the composition is:
Water app 70%
Sulfuric Acid app 10%
Hydrogen Fluoride (which is Hydrofluoric Acid) app 10%
Ammonium Bifluoride app 10%
In these quantities reasonably safe but still present and a risk. See the thread on Hydrofluoric Acid.
Will have to check the container I have in the shed at home.

[mrapocalypse]

Bead Blasted By the engine rebore company.

$40.

Stoked.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/10/129.jpg (http://s518.photobucket.com/user/NomadCamera/media/photo%201-2.jpg.html)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/10/130.jpg (http://s518.photobucket.com/user/NomadCamera/media/photo%202-2.jpg.html)