Cleaning the cylinder head

[YZFR1]

Can someone give me some tips/suggestions on cleaning out the cylinder head, please?

My main concern is the exhaust runners. I poured some gasoline in them to check for leaks and now the carbon build up is flaking off. I'm worried it could damage the exhaust propellers.

What would be the most appropriate way to go about that?

Also, is there a good way to clean the combustion chamber without having to take the valves out?

Thank you

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[rellow88]

a machine shop around my area has a spray cleaner they can spray inside to get metal shavings out and its also a cleaner should clean it up pretty good

 

[Turbotsiawd]

Honestly I would just have it acid bathed I think it's only like 40-50 dollars and makes everything look mint!

 

[4cedFed]

Honestly I would just have it acid bathed I think it's only like 40-50 dollars and makes everything look mint!

Agreed.

 

[jimbob_843]

Agreed^. The cheap route would be some degreaser/cleaner and some elbo grease. I find that letting it soak for a while with some kerosene helps out. Also check out wallmart on the cleaning product isle they sell a brush for cleaning vents and it works awsome to get into the ports. Its like a 2ft small cone shape bristle brush.

 

[YZFR1]

Wouldn't it be necessary to dissasemble all the valves when giving it an acid bath?

 

[4cedFed]

Wouldn't it be necessary to dissasemble all the valves when giving it an acid bath?

Yes disassembly would be required. You can try some carb cleaner, but you will never get it as clean as an acid bath would.

 

[bryanwheat]

Just take a some air pressure and knock off the loose material and put it back on. The head looks pretty clean, no reason to pull it down. By the way, i've never seen a machine shop that uses acid to clean an aluminum. They are cleaned in a high heat high pressure washing cabinet usually with an strong base (not acid). If that isn't enough than you can also bead blast them also.

 

[Spoolin98]

Completely disassemble the head down to just the valve guides. Then remove the plugs on driver and passanger side of the head. This will allow you to flush the oil passages from one end to the other. Buy some decent degreaser and start cleaning...

 

[bryanwheat]

Completely disassemble the head down to just the valve guides. Then remove the plugs on driver and passanger side of the head. This will allow you to flush the oil passages from one end to the other. Buy some decent degreaser and start cleaning...

Look how clean the head is, it has recently been cleaned from the looks of it. This is bad advice, there is NO reason to completly disassemble the head and clean the oil passages out for a little carbon build up in the exhaust ports. Every head you take off will look like that with 10k miles or 50k miles. Some people like to over complicate very simple things. As i said before, blow the loose carbon out, clean the deck surface bolt it on and go.

 

[Spoolin98]

Look how clean the head is, it has recently been cleaned from the looks of it. This is bad advice, there is NO reason to completly disassemble the head and clean the oil passages out for a little carbon build up in the exhaust ports. Every head you take off will look like that with 10k miles or 50k miles. Some people like to over complicate very simple things. As i said before, blow the loose carbon out, clean the deck surface bolt it on and go.

I actually cant see the picture from my connection, its not loading.
I simply did what the OP asked, he wanted "tips/suggestions", so I gave him how I clean a head.
Take a chill pill dude...

 

[YZFR1]

I did try to wait until all gasoline evaporated from the runners and blew it all out with air. Definetly looks much better now. My concern with that would be if there is still some stuck carbon around the valves. I was thinking of putting the cams back in so that i could crack them open and blow them through again.

How horrible would it be if there was a small peace of carbon that would pop out and hit my precious fortyn bee propeller??

The head has been cleaned up by a local shop, it was just never blasted

Oh and i completely agree, sometimes i do over complicate things, just trying to do the best i can

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I also cleaned the hell out of my combustion chambers. Here are the picks before and after:

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[stars]

Since you cleaned your head make sure and clean the injectors and TB if you haven't already done so. If the head was that dirty just think of the rest..............

Btw: Nice use of the peg board system, glad to see someone knows how to use one. It reflects on pride and knowledge with speed and efficiency......... Yanks won't understand.........=)

 

[jimbob_843]

Looks pretty good there but i would put a spark plug in each cc and some gas. Then check the ports for any leaks of the gas. Wouldnt hurt to know if your valves are seating efficiently while the head is off.

 

[NHerron]

Looks pretty good there but i would put a spark plug in each cc and some gas. Then check the ports for any leaks of the gas. Wouldnt hurt to know if your valves are seating efficiently while the head is off.

Good idea. Take it even further and you can pressurize the intake/exhaust ports with shop (120psi) pressure and check for bubbles. I learned to stuff shop rags in the intake ports, run electrical tape around tip of air blower and stick it in the injector recesses.