Chemical ally cleaners

[Mark Serj]

Hi Guys,

I am restoring (among other things!) my Moto Guzzi, and the engine doesn’t need rebuilding so it won’t get stripped and soda or vapour blasted. In the past I would have worn my fingers to the bone cleaning the ally engine up with scotchbrite type products etc., but I reckon I’m missing a trick with some of the chemical ally cleaners on the market now.

Has anyone tried any of these with any degree of success please?

I know oven cleaner works to some degree but not as well or efficiently as I would like.

Cheers

Mark

[Phil S]

I used one on my TR5 called "ally clean"dont know if it's still about but look for alloy wheel cleaners, they are a very mild acidic cleaner but work well.
Phil

[Mark Serj]

Cheers Phil. Will post what I find

[Mark Serj]

Guys

Have a look at my thread titled 'chemical ally cleaners' on www.guzziriders.org.

Lots of interesting stuff there

[Matt Cook]

Try this:

https://www.bilthamber.com/car-clean...ing/auto-wheel

or

https://www.bilthamber.com/car-clean...asing/korrosol

I think they actually the same product does a fantastic job on alloy wheels and on paint work, it goes red when it reacts with iron / steel particles. You'll be amazed how much metal particulate there is in your paint work.

Cheers
Matt

[Mark Serj]

ah, but I'm after an ally eating fluid Matt, to attempt to restore faded ally casings etc.

[staginhiding]

Hi Mark

I asked the same question a few weeks ago.

It appears that there is no magic solution (excuse the pun).

I have decided that I will invest in a sand blasting cabinet for the aluminium and steel parts that I want to look like new.
I will also buy a better quality ultrasonic cleaning tank for the parts that just need a thorough deep clean..

Hope that helps

Sam

[garyf]

please please let it be a Lemans 850 mk1

my uncle had a Moto Guzzi le mans 850 back in the 70s like the one in the vid below,
what a beautiful bike

https://youtu.be/XEsoTzYeITY

[Phil S]

I had the 850 convert, a 2 speed automatic , great bikes...far better than the bmw boxers
Phil

[macstag1]

Hi Mark
i used a Cali 111 motor as a donor for my three wheeler Morgan replica. I used various wire brushes in my electric drill to remove the old silver paint and crud and bring the crankcase and gearbox to a shiny finish. I couldn't get into the fins on the head, barrel and sump, so as easy to remove I sent them off to be blasted.

When everything reassembled I sprayed with, I think it's called AS 50 to prevent oxidation, it worked very well and kept the engine looking good. I did respray before each winter.

Cheers Mac

[Mark Serj]

Well well, a few Guzzi fans amongst us Stag owners as well - what classy folk we are!

Mine is a 1980 V1000G5 - pretty much as designed and made for the Italian Carabinerie Police force. The strip is progressing well, all totally disassembled and about to be sent for powder coating, tank respraying, chroming etc., whilst I get to grips with cleaning that lovely engine and remaining bits.

I'll post some pics as it progresses as a side distraction!

I think I will try the caustic soda with soap as a sort of napalm!!!

I imagine elbow grease will be the main agent though!

Thanks for all the contributions

Cheers for now and have a great Christmas everyone

[KOY 23]

Well well, a few Guzzi fans amongst us Stag owners as well - what classy folk we are!

Mine is a 1980 V1000G5 - pretty much as designed and made for the Italian Carabinerie Police force. The strip is progressing well, all totally disassembled and about to be sent for powder coating, tank respraying, chroming etc., whilst I get to grips with cleaning that lovely engine and remaining bits.

I'll post some pics as it progresses as a side distraction!

How did you modify the gearbox to give more forward gears?

[Phil S]

the convert gas a 2 gear conventional gearbox with only a 20mph difference in top speed between them , it was driven via a torque converter so you selected either gear and then just wind up and go. the only problem was no syndromes between gears, it was a square cut dog engagement and every few years the teeth would round off, so has to be welded up and growing back to shape. the idea was for the lower gear to enable a sidecar to be attached. the style was the same as the California with panniers and running boards, but also front and rear linked been no brakes well before the japs claimed credit for doing it.
Phil

[Phil S]

brembo...not been

[Mark Serj]

Mine is a G5 which has a 5 speed box. Just cured all the rust in the tank using Spirit of Salt - useful stuff!