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Internal Engine/Cleaner/Lubricants

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Hi all.  Need your advice on what parts cleaner/lubricants to use for cleaning rust and lubricating the engine internally like the pistons, barrel internals and head.  I am looking ahead while I am still doing the parts inventory of my Dominator 88. 

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Jeff - I assume your question is in regards to re-building of a project bike? A decent parts cleaner is of great use for mechanical parts, available from many suppliers, in combination with a suitable cleaning liquid like Jizer or Gunk which lasts a long time. It is water-soluble, so it can be rinsed after cleaning, but make sure to dry the parts thoroughly afterwards with compressed air. For initial cleaning, kerosene and a spray can of brake cleaner for finer work are also useful. If you expect to recommission the bike fairly soon after rebuild, coat the parts with engine oil before assembly. If you are taking your time, specific assembly oils and pastes are a better option, such as Graphogen. These contain sticky solid lubricants like graphite which ensure no metal-to-metal contact at the initial start-up and don't run off over time. They tend to 'dirty' the oil, so an early oil change is necessary. If you change pistons, rings and a lot of bushes, running-in oils are also available, but I never used these. I have good experience with rust removers and metal treatments from POR-15 and found their straight-to-rust paints excellent, I prefer to use these now instead of powder-coating as they are just as hard and durable and are less problematic to touch up. Hope this helps.

Yes, its a project bike.  It was my grandfather's 54 Dominator 88.  Its been sitting for 50 years taken apart.  Thanks for the information this is a great help.  I don't want to mess anything up as I go through this.  See some pics below of the specific areas that I was talking about.

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You can remove rust without removing any of the uncorroded steel by soaking for a day or so in a chelating agent, and washing in water. There seem to be lots on sale recently.  'Evaporust' was and perhaps is the market leader.  A quick search turns up lots more.  A few rust pits shouldn't do much harm.  They might even help to reduce future wear by retaining lubricant...possibly.
No need to use mechanical methods which wil remove good metal.

David.  I'm with you on using mechanical methods.  Don't want to do that.  I want to have the inside of the engine as clean as I can get it before putting it back together.  See some pics above. 

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As we know SPAIN has just had a very bad experience with flooding. And our man in Spain is inundated with this issue.
The question has been about electrics. This is my take on the subject. The majority of our electrics are a sealed unit, ie ignition coils, even Boyer Bransden amplifiers and regulator/rectifiers. Hence provided the outside of the unit is clean the units should still work. The only problems from serious water/mud ingress is actually on boards that carry electricity. Magnetos having water inside is not a good idea! either. And water/mud all round the loom can't easily be cleaned, so a rewire might be in order.
Another de-greasant for engines etc is WD40 as of course it dispells water and oil.

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Looks like your rear brake linings  completely worn out .Cylinders  and pistons may be re-usable after a hone and new rings . A little rust  etching  in bore is not a problem 

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I have used this previously and it is truly remarkable stuff. I have just ordered another 5Ltr to do my rusty tank I plan to fill it with around 8-9ltr and roll it around over a day to get it clean I will attempt to post results.

The beauty of evaporust is it is completely safe to use no issues with hands or eyes and you can probably drink it (Not advisable) 

The other thing is you can use it again and again. 

Craig 

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a pretty rare 'bolt-up' rear frame you have there, with the bigger radius curve above the swing arm, like the Manx frame. 

   The head gasket faces on barrels and head are two places where some minimal machining may be required.

In reply to by jan_nelder

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What makes it rare? what does "bolt-up" mean? Great information.

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the rear subframe supporting seat etc on these early frames was bolted on to rear of main loop- can be easily seen in side view. Later, the factory went to all-welded version for widelines and then slimlines.
  It is rare, as only a small proportion of featherbed production was made like that.

 



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