cleaning/de-rusting/coating expansion chambers?

[jim v]

I have a pair of two stroke chambers that need a little tlc. They're dirty and have a bit of surface rust but no dents or anything like that. So, here's where NESR comes in.....

First, I need to clean them, inside and out. Nothing seems to work though - oven cleaner, elbow grease, etc. The internet tells me I should dip them into a hot tank (which is a caustic solution, I think). Are there any shops local to Boston who do this? A better method? Anything to watch out for?

Second, have to remove the rust (question - how the hell can something rust when there's so much oily residue all over it). Should I get them blasted - sand? glass? vapor? Or use one of those rust remover solutions?

Last, I'd like to get them ceramic coated. I know changing the heat transfer characteristics of the pipe will alter the performance, but will it be noticeable? I really don't care about gaining or losing a bit of power, I just don't want the rust to come back

Anyone have any info they'd like to share?

jim

[nt650hawk]

Buddy in t RI is doing V-Blacting
http://hawkgtforum.com/forum/showthr...ighlight=vapor

[jim v]

Buddy in t RI is doing V-Blacting

the vapor blasted parts do look amazing, I think the expansion chambers will look great after that. Gotta get them cleaned first though.....

jim

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted

Buddy in t RI is doing V-Blacting
http://hawkgtforum.com/forum/showthr...ighlight=vapor

Is that expensive?

[nt650hawk]

Drop Dmitry a PM
http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/member.php?u=6907

http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...ting-done.html

[Dmitry]

Wirelessly posted



Is that expensive?

price depends on the size of the job, this NSR head is a simple piece, no valves or bearings to remove, by itself about $40, but if you have a lot of items could be as little at $20.

set of small MC engine cases with side covers, clean with bearings removed is about $150, car engine like this 356 Porsche is about $300 but there are lots more parts to it, this is just the case

more pics HERE

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted

I have some work for you :-). Ill Be in touch

[nt650hawk]

Dmitry.

[jim v]

ok, I think we all agree that vapor blasting will give some amazing results. But does anyone know how to clean expansion chambers?

[Sheppo]

short of soaking them in a giant vat of something, I don't know how you would clean the inside.

[csmutty]

To clean the inside I have heard of cooking it in a grill to turn the oil to carbon deposits.

I tried muriatic acid to clean the outside of an expansion chamber and it actually caused more rust to form, but it did take away the rust. Maybe put some sort of a protective coating on it after using the muriatic acid?

[jim v]

To clean the inside I have heard of cooking it in a grill to turn the oil to carbon deposits.

I've heard the same, but I don't have a grill that big and it supposedly smokes like crazy. If I tried it my neighbors would have the local fire department there in about 2 minutes

...short of soaking them in a giant vat of something...

that's exactly want I'd like to do. There has to be some company who can soak parts in some sort of cleaner....

[csmutty]

I've heard the same, but I don't have a grill that big and it supposedly smokes like crazy. If I tried it my neighbors would have the local fire department there in about 2 minutes


that's exactly want I'd like to do. There has to be some company who can soak parts in some sort of cleaner....

Find someone with a grill?

[Kurlon]

http://piperepair.com/carbon.htm

[nt650hawk]

ok, I think we all agree that vapor blasting will give some amazing results. But does anyone know how to clean expansion chambers?

less oil in the gas

[Kurlon]

less oil in the gas

Won't help, may make the problem worse actually. If you just thinned the ratio without altering jetting, you'd be running RICHER than before, resulting in cooler combustion temps and even MORE of the oil staying unburnt...

[tls25rs]

Look around locally for a plating company that has a hot tank and see if they will do it for you.

[jim v]

dropped the chambers off at a radiator repair shop, they're going to dip them in the hot tank. We'll see how it turns out........

[Stromper]

Not reading everything but

Go to like Home Cheapo and get deck and porch brighter

Containing Oxalic Acid

Oxalic acid is a poison but it eats rust but NOT the metal
It should also attack the oil residue

If its steel then the Alkali Tank won't hurt a thing

Walnut shell blasting would clean without real damage

[jim v]

I took the pipes to a local auto repair shop - Rogers Radiator in Medford. They submerged the pipes in their hot tank and did some very minor sand blasting. The results were really good as far as I can tell, clean metal surface inside and out. Will post some pictures when I can. I'll be putting on some flat black header paint asap.

Only downside is cost, 2 expansion chambers cost $150. Oh well, gotta pay to play.......

[boosten lebaron]

next time just find someone with a welding rig or even do it yourself with some map gas. Just burn the carbon on the inside for abit and itll catch fire then just feed it some oxygen and it will burn it all out. You can actually see a red ring move up the pipe from the heat.
For painting it id suggest using some Hi temp grill paint. The problem with ceramic coatings and other paints is they can discolor unevenly and especially with ceramic once they get scratched its harder to repair. Grill paint should last a few years before it needs to be recoated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_J7sADPyMM

[VTRumble]

Mop & glo, I did mine last year and it lasted the season. Not bad considering I live about 300 feet from the ocean.
http://www.2strokeworld.com/forum/in...93339#msg93339

[Dmitry]

I spent days soaking them with Lye, IIRC got the powder from Ace, what a mess! Fill, wait, drain, flush, repeat.... glass beaded the outside then painted with BBQ paint from Home Despot, first minor gas leak and painted started melting. looking in to Jet Coating now. There is a place on 128 NW of Boston, not sure they will want to deal with used pipe. But they did a bang up job on my friends 1198 Termi

[Esprit]

Not reading everything but

Oxalic acid is a poison but it eats rust but NOT the metal
It should also attack the oil residue

If its steel then the Alkali Tank won't hurt a thing

It will attack steel and is quite hazardous. From the Ebay listing "Please note that this is a POISON, and can be NASTY!!!. It can be more than a mild sting, an irritation, it is not like Boric Acid and you'd better know the reason why."

If the oil coating can be reliably removed, a chelant based rust remover will remove the rust easily and it is non hazardous. I have offered a free sample to anyone interested in an unbiased documentation. http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...-at-Home-Depot