Rust and Scale Removal

[CarolinaBurt]

Guys, I'm attempting to restore an old motor as a display item for my shop. I need to remove the white, chalky scale from the aluminum parts and the rust from the nut and bolt heads as well as some other metal parts. I need some help in the selection of chemicals and where to get them. I thank you in advance. CB

[Greg Moss]

i am restoring a couple of old motors this year myself. I have a 1958 450 evinrude and a 1958 mark75 mercury. I am planing on bead blasting the alum.parts and bying new bolts of stainless for both motors. Both motors run I just want to make them look good for display. I need a engine wire harness for the mercury if any body knows where to get one I have to jumper wire it to get it to start.

[Superdave]

LimeAway or CLR full strength

[woody]

Natural MARINE makes a boat bottom cleaner that works great for removing scale.

[Balzy]

works great on my mid section to get the white dryed residue off. It might work well for you on some parts. It breaks down the mineral scale. Easy to get and cheap too.

[pyro]

I agree, Lime-a-way or anything else mild acid-based. The boat bottom cleaner is a VERY strong acid, bad idea. BE CAREFUL where you let that **** drip, because it will EAT exposed aluminum parts! It DOES clean faster than other stuff, though. :D

[FCnLa]

Are you going to disassemble it completely? I think bead blasting is the way to go, especially if your going to tear it down and totally repaint it.

[Rickracer]

I use it often for cleaning out scale when overhauling marine and automotive carbs that have had water standing in them. It works great, and doesn't harm the base metal. :cool:

[BenKeith]

Rickracer told me about limeaway but I've come across a industrial product that left the inside of a block used in salt water for 10 years completely clean, no residue of any kind. The label says it may cause some discoloration of aluminum, but inside a motor, who cares. I plugged the water passages so the cylinder area would not drain and filled it level with the deck. two hours later, I poured it off and it was spotless. Have no idea what it cost, one of the companies I go to gave me a five gallon bucket full. It's called RYDLYME by APEX ENGINEERING PRODUCTS INC. 1 800-451-6291, Fax 1 815-436-9418.

I found another that's made specificaly for aluminum, it was $75 for five gallons, I figured I aready had this so why spend $75.

Keith Jones

P.S. Rick, next week, when this months AmEx bill closes out, can't afford any more on this months, I will be orderering the rings, gaskets, etc for my motor.

[CarolinaBurt]

Guys thanks. I will try the SnoBol toilet cleaner I picked up at WalMart this afternoon. It has 14% hydrochloric acid and worked well on the test piece I tried. I was also able to find a bottle of naval jelly at the NAPA store for the rusty metal pieces. Again thanks for your responses, they helped my decission making. CB

[Rickracer]

and thanks, :cool: