Cleaning the cylinder head

[Jason Plato]

Dear all ,

 

My head will be taken off soon for new valve springs ,reshim and a general checkover . 2 years back I took the head to Nick Stagg engineering who fitted new valve guides and did a few other little mods for me , when I went to collect the head it had been cleaned back to absolute pristine condition which then allowed you a full inspection and made a good base for porting .

 

Is there a way that this can be achieved at home ?? - I imagine commercial companies have a chemical bath or do they simply soak it in something over night , maybe I could use some cleaning chemicals from Machine Mart or such like ? . The hardest bit to clean will obviously be the exhaust ports , I cant see a can of Jizzer being up to the job ? .

 

Cheers

 

 

Lotus 7 Club Speed Champion 2003

South Wales Area Organiser

C7 TOP

 

Edited by - Dave Jackson on 8 Dec 2003 15:38:08

[Normans_Ghost]

Probably cleaned in an acid bath if it was that clean.

 

wash it as best possible with Gunk and then polish for a few hours. I've done this several times and I get good results with the first few inches then get bored and give up - what the hell it's going to get dirty in a week or so anyway. (I'm talking about the outside, theface and combustion chamber always like a mirror)

 

having said that the extirior of mine is extremely clean as I've no iol leaks or even weeps.

 

norman verona

1989 BDR

[Sheds Moderator]

A bucket of diesel is said to work on many things. It can't hurt to try this to start. Iron heads can be wire brushed (brush in drill) with excellent results, ally ones will require care. You could always use a brass wire brush - no damage.

[RobM]

I'm no expert on these matters but I normally use one of those rotary polishers to do mine (the type that resemble on electric toothbrush). Works wonders. Please tell me if I'm ruining my head by doing this!

 

- How can such a cute looking car sound so ferocious! -

[Richard_E]

The dishwasher comes up trumps with Tbs, just don't tell the HWMBO 😳

[Mr Locust]

Genklene was tops. Banned now though.

 

Ian

 

Green and Silver Roadsport 😬

[oilyhands]

Jizer will remove oil bound dirt, steam will remove coke, and acid dip or beadblast will bring the casting back like new.

 

Oily

[Jason Plato]

Thanks for yur replies so far . I'm not concerned about the ouside face of the head , I just want to clean the ports and chamber for inspection.

 

So it sounds like soak in jizer and then a steam clean ? unless anyone knows of any other good cleaning agent .

 

 

 

Lotus 7 Club Speed Champion 2003

South Wales Area Organiser

C7 TOP

[Rob Walker]

Dave

I find that cellulose paint thinners gets the black gung off once the head has been cleaned with Jizer.