De-carbonizing pistons

[Metzman]

Anyone know any tricks for de-carbonizing (getting the carbon build-up off) of pistons and cylinder head/combustion chambers? I am going through the engine on my XB9R and the pistons look great except for the carbon coating top coat...:down:

Thanks...Metz

 

[user_deleted]

Anyone know any tricks for de-carbonizing (getting the carbon build-up off) of pistons and cylinder head/combustion chambers? I am going through the engine on my XB9R and the pistons look great except for the carbon coating top coat...:down:

Thanks...Metz

get a pint bottle or something similar that you can block off the top of with a finger. add 2 parts distilled water and 1 part plain old isopropyl alcohol and shake. remove air box cover and air box lid exposing the large rubber throttle body adapter. start bike and get plenty of heat in the motor. after sufficiently warm hold throttle to approx. 2500rpm and start to dribble your concoction into the throttle body assembly. fitting your finger over the bottle opening acts as a rudimentary faucet and works well. do NOT let the motor stall...just dribble enough to slightly lower the rpm's. acts as a steam cleaner of sorts. ever see a liquid cooled motor opened up for inspection after blowing a head gasket? the offended cylinder, combustion chamber and valves look factory new. that is how well this works if done correctly.

 

[user_deleted]

I think my dad used to do this water in the carb thing... white smoke out the tail pipe? yep I'm not doing that, my dad never had a car that ran right. But I want to watch you do it! Please video this action

with all due respect chicago i didn't suggest that you try it. metz asked the question and i responded in kind. moderation and common sense as with most everything else in life are the key to old-school procedures such as this. for what it's worth there are tons of tried-and-true "home remedies" out there for IC applications that have been around for 100 years in some instances. steam cleaning combustion chambers one of them....using scouring powder such as ajax to seat diesel engine piston rings yet another. the list is long. most actually work if done correctly.

 

[mrlogix]

haven't done it to a Buell (yet) but have done this to many (MANY) engines in the past before teardown. Works like a charm. Like John said, key is moderation.

 

[cjanderson_90]

Ive done this to many a vintage UJM. Like the others said, moderation is the real MVP. It works I promise. Did this also on a lot of 4-wheelers when I worked for Yamaha.

 

[AZmidget91]

Sounds like you already have it apart, in that case use ATF :up:

 

[Metzman]

Yes I do have it apart. Should have made that clear, sorry.
Thanks for the good input John, but bike had a blown head gasket so it may have only cleaned 1 cylinder anyway...

Will give the ATF a try. Just soak it, or brush and scrub?

Thanks...Metz

 

[AZmidget91]

ATF dissolves carbon, so best to soak it, then some scrubbing doesn't hurt.

 

[user_deleted]

off-road diesel....kerosene....home heating oil also work as midget mentioned. soaking overnite the key.