Stripping a "proper" rusty engine

mudcow007 · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

Was having a look at the bike I was given last night, it's a DT175MX that has been left on its side for about 8 years Shocked

removed the engine which is currently sat complete* in a plastic storage box.

Now every single fastener & bolt is rusted to shit, the engine will need a complete strip down. To make things easier on my self coudl i leave the engine soaking in something to hopefully make it easier to strip?

was thinking of something like diesel or kerosene, something that wont evaporate away quickly etc

*not really complete, the cover off the clutch side was left off so fly wheel etc is seized solid

c_dug · Super Spammer Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

I tend to use plus-gas for any small local uses, and diesel for lager or longer term soaking.
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bikenut · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Nov 2011 Karma :

https://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g379/billb0baggins/Mobile%20Uploads/temporary_47.jpg

is it this, one??
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bikenut · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Nov 2011 Karma :

clean as best as possible, remove flywheel and stator as best as possible, get metal container large enough to place engine in and immerse in old engine oil, allow to soak, then apply some heat, fizzing will indicate action ( oxygen coming out of the corrosion ?? ), allow to cool, clean off old oil, an start to strip repeatedly saying" please god" etc etc etc ....take your time and enjoy.

remember hair ( pulling your hair out is counter productive lol ) and tortouise, if a stuck item moves even one minute, it will come free if you are patient.
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mudcow007 · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

If the intent is to strip the whole thing down to the cranks, put the whole thing in a bucket of diesel and forget about it for a week.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

You may find that the bolts will still come out with just a bit of penetrating oil. If a bolt is done up tight, water isn't going to get down into the thread. WD40 isn't going to either. Penetrating oil will.

I would give each bolt a squirt of penetrating oil and then try to remove it. Don't try too hard - if it's stuck, leave it and come back to it.

The diesel trick would probably work, but you'd need a fair bit of diesel.

If the bolts are in ok condition apart from the rust, clean them up in an electrolysis bath. Instead of rigging a single wire to each bolt, put them all in a metal sieve or colander and run your negative wire to that. Run your sacrificial anode above the colander on the positive lead, and submerge the whole lot in water with some washing powder.

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

50:50 ATF and paraffin makes a good homemade penetrating oil.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

mudcow007 · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

would kerosene work? i have oodles of that (fuel for boilers at work)

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

I reckon it would. Not a world of difference, they are both light oils. Usually more expensive which is why I suggested diesel.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

mudcow007 · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

cheers all, pics to follow of truly crustified (if thats not a word it should be) engine to follow

will get a few litres of kerosene an see how we go, im not in a rush to get it done so could just leave it soaking for a few weeks

Ed Case · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Mar 2009 Karma :

You're doing a great job but b'Jasus that motors in a right state.

mudcow007 · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

link to show an tell pics

its not pretty

mentalboy · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 May 2012 Karma :

Ariel Badger · Super Spammer Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Karma :

Get a punch and hammer and give every screw a hard whack before trying to remove them. oil and diesel as well.
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bikenut · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Nov 2011 Karma :

yeah right, weigh it in and get another one off e bay......and when there's none left on the planet, wtf do you do then eh !??

the skills and knowledge you will learn stripping this engine will help you in later life. :karma:
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mentalboy · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 May 2012 Karma :

Rtwo · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 17 Aug 2013 Karma :

Get yourself an old-style (whack it with a hammer) impact driver

mudcow007 · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

update

its currently "taking a bath" in kerosene mixed with ATF (because i had some)

an now i absolutely stink

MCN · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2015 Karma :

I don't know soaking it in oil will help much. It is soaked with oil from the inside and that doesn't loosen bolts.

A small blow torch to apply very localised heat the the fasteners will be much more productive. You will only need to work that magic on any that seem too tight to budge.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.