Alloy cleaning?

pauliexjr · Post by **pauliexjr** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 7:28 am

Not so much a customising as a 'how to?' question. The XV has been standing in the garage for about 18 months and the engine has developed a fair amount of white alloy corrosion on the fins.

Does anyone have any special tips for cleaning corrosion off fins, rocker covers etc? I know a toothbrush and Solvol or similar will do it (eventually!), but I wondered if there were any spray-on or brush-on products anyone has used and would recommend?

Dr Death · Post by **Dr Death** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:14 am

Have a similar problem.........so subscribed cos I would be interested

hielanwolf · Post by **hielanwolf** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 10:40 pm

try THIS

not used myself ....... dont do shiny

pauliexjr · Post by **pauliexjr** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 9:48 am

Thanks for that, not looking for shiny, just not decrepit!:niceone:

Plug · Post by **Plug** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:53 pm

Have you tried a brass wire brush.

John.

pauliexjr · Post by **pauliexjr** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 9:33 am

Plug wrote:Have you tried a brass wire brush.

John.

Yep, both hand-held and on the end of a dremmell. The problem is getting between the cylinders. I 'could' strip the engine and send the barrels and rockers off for vapour cleaning, but that's a bit drastic for a general clean up.

I've come across a product in Practical Classics called 'Ali-Brite' which is dilute hydrachloric acid and reckoned to get rid of the corrosion on cast alloy. M&P do it so I've sent off for some, I'll post back here with the results if anyone's interested.

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 3:51 pm

Interested in this thread too. Not got a vdub but do have an awful lot of corroded alloy with hard to get at bits.

I was thinking of getting them grit blasted but open to all solutions.

Phil

ravnali · Post by **ravnali** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 5:39 pm

I remember being told a long time ago when doing my aircraft eng' apprenticeship, that the white coating was just a coating that alluminium produces naturally to stop/slow corrosion and that the only way to totally stop it was paint/laquer etc.
Having said which I like the look of bright alloy and would also like to hear how these products mwasure up!

pauliexjr · Post by **pauliexjr** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:23 am

Sorry it's taken so long to get back on this. Ali-Brite works ok, gets rid of the white oxidisation (aluminium's version of rust!) surface dirt and accumulated crud, but leave the surface matt and very dull. Oh well, Solvol and toothbrush here I come!

Dr Death · Post by **Dr Death** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 8:05 am

http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.asp? ... ostSubcat=

Found the above...... never used it but Frost stuff usually does what it says on the tin

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Alloy cleaning?

Alloy cleaning?

corrosion