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Cylinder head cleaning

Posted by gregwni 
gregwni Avatar
Greg W
Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom   gbr
Anyone got any tips on the easiest way to clean and decarbonise my cylinder head and assosciated "bits"?

Its out of the car now - ive had a bit of a go with alloy wheel cleaner so far to remove some of the carbon, but , not sure whether to risk a "drill powered wire brush" on the valves and so on?

Any advice appreciated!

(i know i can take it to a garage for a dip, but would like to be able to do it at home)

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dhcoleago Avatar
David Cole
Magnolia, AR, USA   usa
The wire brush on a drill will not hurt it a bit. A small wire brush on a dremel tool for getting the seat and underside of the valve. After a few hundred explosions per minute while running, a wire wheel will feel good to it.

David
gregwni Avatar
Greg W
Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom   gbr
Thanks David - so - just in case i got this wrong - you think im fine to go under the valves (the seats) with it ? (will make life easy!)

Oh and what about the flat surface of the head itself? Would a wire brush be ok on that?

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gregwni Avatar
Greg W
Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom   gbr
I also discovered some rust inside the inlet ports - (right the way in i think). Rest of the head looks ok though.

What should i do ?
j-blueridge Avatar
Jamie Bourland
C'ville VA, USA   usa
1968 MG MGB GT "Antichrist"
There are all sorts of relatively gentle liquid rust removers around these days: Evapo-Rust comes to mind. You can also poke around on the Eastwood Company's auto restoration website. They have all sorts of solvents and paints and things. www.eastwood.com

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Giles Gervais
Hemet, Calif., USA   usa
Gil here thewire wheel on a bench grinder works real well just be gentle with the valves so they don't get pulled in to the wheel also the wire brush attachment that is for the drill motor is used to clean out the valve seat area. There are different sizes. You can also use this for the combustion areas on the cylinder head
Ogre1 Avatar
Allan Ogilvie
Melbourne Victoria, Australia   aus
1977 MG MGB "Greenb"
In reply to # 2025095 by gregwni I also discovered some rust inside the inlet ports - (right the way in i think). Rest of the head looks ok though.

What should i do ?

Leave it where it is. Once the head gets in regular use the rust will go. In the inlets it will get covered in petrol so it won't rust any further.

gregwni Avatar
Greg W
Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom   gbr
Thanks Allan - do you think its worth taking the rough of it out or is there no point?
Ogre1 Avatar
Allan Ogilvie
Melbourne Victoria, Australia   aus
1977 MG MGB "Greenb"
Greg the rough aids turbulence that adds to better flow. Leave the rough alone. Even after a head has been ported the ports are roughed up a bit for that reason.

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