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Have the head off, what else can i do?

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by moonfriedpotatoes, Apr 10, 2009.

  1. moonfriedpotatoes

    moonfriedpotatoes Member

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    While i have the head at the machine shope, i was wondering if there was anything SIMPLE and CHEAP i could do re: pistons etc. The cylinder bores are smooth and not carbonized, but the faces (?) of the pistons are black and sooty.

    can i clean those? what with?

    also, what is an appropriate tool for removing the remnants of the head gasket? what kid of precautions should be taken while doing this removal? I'm guessing that getting a whole bunch of paper shavings in the bores isn't the best thing for the bike...
     
    moonfriedpotatoes, Apr 10, 2009
    #1
  2. MN-Maxims

    MN-Maxims St. Paul Minnesota

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    Moon just use a streight edge razor blade. The kind painters use to clean excess paint off of windows. Just take your time and blade the carbon off of your pistons and gasket material off of the cylinder. The auto parts store will have spray gasket remover if your gaskets were really baked on. It should clean up nice. I had the head off my 750 and it sealed up fine with alittle TLC on those gasket surfaces.

    MN
     
    MN-Maxims, Apr 10, 2009
    #2
  3. moonfriedpotatoes

    moonfriedpotatoes Member

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    that's exactly what i hoped you'd say! thx!
     
    moonfriedpotatoes, Apr 10, 2009
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  4. RickCoMatic

    RickCoMatic Well-Known Member

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    Dress the Piston Crowns.

    Duct tape, Shop Vac, Wire wheel, Drill.

    Rag-up and tape-off the block so nothing gets down-in.
    Turn the Crank over so you have 2 Pistons TDC.
    Turn-on Vac.
    Turn-on Drill with Wire Brush.
    Clean the Piston Crowns right down to bare Aluminum.

    If the Head is going to be off for a day or two.
    Work on Polishing the Crowns until they are Perfectly Smooth.
    Putting a real shine to them will give you some insurance against having to remove the Head again to de-carbon the Top End again anytime soon.
     
    RickCoMatic, Apr 10, 2009
    #4

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