Alloy cleaner

Post by **nick_h** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 10:12 pm

Can anyone recommend a substance/method that can be safely used to restore an "as new" look to alloy engine components, carb, distributor body etc. I have tried various liquids with brushes and cloths but the end result, although clean, is not polished, as I've seen on some cars at rallies. The last attempt using alloy wheel cleaner was NOT successful. I wish I'd saved my money!

Post by **Kevin** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 3:04 pm

I think you will find that most alloys are polished using buffers and creams, some of the dashpots ect I have seen and rallies have even been chromed, try speaking to a local metal polishers and see what they can recommend.

Post by **les** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 9:45 pm

Try Solvol autosol, it works well. I think they've dropped the Solvol bit for some reason, you may find it referred to as Autosol now.

Post by **nick_h** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 11:15 pm

Thanks for the tips, gents. I have just used Autosol on the dynamo ends, and whilst it has cleaned the alloy, it still looks "aged". Will ask in the trade for other suggestions.

Nick

Post by **rayofleamington** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 1:19 pm

on the dynamo ends, and whilst it has cleaned the alloy, it still looks "aged".

The dynamo ends are cast parts! This doesn't leave a flat surface, so you can't get it flat or shiny with polish. Serious time and effort on a polishing/buffing machine will probably be the only way:

most alloys are polished using buffers and creams

Autosol will work on its own on other bits like the dashpot where the surface was originally flat, however if the corrosion has roughened or pitted the surface then those parts will also need serious work or replacement.

Post by **Kevin** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 4:24 pm

however if the corrosion has roughened or pitted the surface then those parts will also need serious work or replacement.

I think you are right Ray, however that description sounds like the inside of my head.

Post by **_h_____** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 7:42 pm

Try speedy polish, you can buy it www.essentialstyling.co.uk its a porsche site but they import the stuff from the states. It is quite an impressive compound.

Post by **Gareth** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 7:45 pm

Autosol's good. I recall someone (mentioning no names...) who put the body of a carburettor in the dishwasher... They said it came out nice and shiny, but it's not to be recommended!

Post by **Cam** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 10:16 pm

Ahem..... yes, that was me (a good few year ago mind...I'm far dafter now).

The aluminium swelled with the dishwasher salt and completely knackered the carb!!!

Post by **Matt** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 10:21 pm

Hahaha......I would never have thought that the carb would swell.........

Post by **Cam** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 10:26 pm

Neither did I!!!!!

Post by **nick_h** » Wed Jan 28, 2004 10:32 pm

The dynamo ends are cast parts!

Just wanted to see if autosol would remove the aged look. Thought it would be worth trying on the dynamo as a test area before going to town on the carb etc.

I have a polishing wheel for my bench grinder. Will try that and see what happens. Difficult to get into the corners though.

I'll give the dishwasher option a miss!

Thanks for the ideas anyway.

Post by **jbennett** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 6:53 am

I would be interested to know how the benchgrinder polishing got on. I'm in the same position where I would like to get the carb on my Minor polished up while it's still in pieces. Do you use a cream or compound with the buffer or just straight buffing?

Post by **nick_h** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 8:34 pm

I had a go with the polishing wheel last night on the distributor body and am pleased with the result. It does not look "new" but it IS polished. I tried without any cream to start with and this brought up a good shine. I then rubbed Autosol on by hand with a rag and buffed it up on the wheel. It worked OK. I think I would have achieved the same result with or without the polish. With the dissie there are alot of nooks and crannies that cannot be reached on the wheel and these require cleaning with a toothbrush with some Autosol on. You should have better luck with a carb dashpot body.

A word of advice - hold the work piece tightly, as the wheel will tend to try to snatch it from your hands. I would also advise you to wear gloves and eye protection, especially if there is no sheild over the wheel. Let me know how you get on as I wish to do my carb soon.

Nick

Post by **MrA.Series** » Mon Feb 02, 2004 10:13 am

You can buy pressed steel covers which slip over your dashpot and are finished in chrome, shiney blue, or shiney red (kinda anodised look). They resemble the original dashpot body, but are just a bit bigger in dimentions.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... gory=27380

I know these are not the exact ones for the Minors HS2 carb, but you get the general jist of what i'm going on about from these.

Post by **Cam** » Mon Feb 02, 2004 10:20 am

Yes, I bought one of those for a HS4 carb when I had my minis and it did not fit the dashpot properly. It would slide over but the plunger would not screw in without filing the end of the cover down. Unfortunately when I did this it ruined the look of the top of it. Bit disappointing really.

Post by **fweddy** » Mon Feb 02, 2004 7:39 pm

I've found that a good sanding with resonably course paper helps get rid of the pitting and then use Autosol (available here in NZ too!) to bring the shine lost from the sanding. (these compounds are a fine 'sandpaper'). Of course you would want to be careful what you sanded and a carby would be hard to get all around with the paper or buffer.

I brought back the shiney grille surround by using a dot punch on the rear to push forward any dents or pitting, sanded down, then used fine sand paper in water to get the smooth finish then Autosol to bring the shine back. I didn't know if it would work but since these are 'no longer available' (According to the supplier here) I thought I'd give it a try and am most impressed with the finish - and even if they were available I've saved money if not effort!

Post by **jbennett** » Thu Feb 05, 2004 6:48 am

Finally polished the dashpot. Worked well with just the buffing wheel mounted on the bench grinder, but then added a small amount of compound and it brought it up more to a mirror finish. Not all the fine pitted marks came out, but a huge improvement. Makes the rest of the carb look shabby now. More work!

Post by **James - St. Helens** » Thu Feb 05, 2004 1:19 pm

If I was going to attemt polishing components I would buy a polishing kit from Frosts. With polishing the smother the finish the better the shine.

http://www.frost.co.uk/productList.asp?catID=27

You will find it a lot easier using stuff designed for the job.

James.