Gang, Does anyone have a trick method to get the brown bake on stains off your radiator fins? Was thinking maybe of soaking my radiators in a solution of CLR ( Calcium, Lime, Rust) or something. Want to be careful not to damage aluminum. They are pretty fragile and a light brush with some Westley's Bleach White is not cutting it. Thanx! Typpyt
Hit them with some aluminum acid wash. You can buy it in the autoparts stores. The parts stores usually carry a couple different levels of how harsh the stuff is,get the stronger stuff. Spray it on( in an open area,because the fumes are pretty potent) let it sit for 30 seconds and hose it off with water from a hose. You might as well do the head and side cases(if they are stock) at the same time because of the overspray will clean it off anyways. Don't let it sit on there for much more than 30 seconds because it will leave streaks if you do. No scrubbing needed,,and make sure you rise it really well,maybe even use a small car washing brush to wash the places you sprayed. Probably the best thing to do would be to do a practice run on a scrap piece of aluminum to see how long you actually need to let it sit for. DO you have the rads off of the bike right now???
No, Rads not off bike but can be. I appreciate the suggestion. Will look this weekend for some aluminum acid wash. Will let you know how they turned out. The bike is really detailed and ready to go soon for racing. Hate the brown stains and had to always live with it on several bikes I owned. That is what I like about this site because you get great help/ideas from good Husky friends. Typpyt
Probably be best to take the rads of I'm thinking,because if the acid wash gets on anything that is polished(like the rims) it will take the shine right out of it. Just for warning you so you don't make any mistakes and get the acid on anything you don't want it on. If you can't get/find any at the parts store,go to an auto detailing shop and ask them if you could buy a little bit off of them. The stuff at the parts store will be around 6-7 $ for a bottle,and the real strong stuff that auto detail places use was like $80 for the last gallon of it that I bought.
You could also try some oven cleaner. That gets a lot of stuff off metal and is less expensive and fairly easy to find, if you can't find the other stuff.
Wheel cleaner etching solution would clean right down to the pores, I used it on bare aluminum rims & they came out looking like freshly machined magnesium, but they did get dirty in a hurry. Also it was hard to find up here in Canukistan. Once I found a supplier I'd buy half a dozen squirt bottles (just like windex bottle)
I think an ultrasonic parts washer will work. Never tried it on radiators but it worked well on my cylinder when it had baked on muddy water stains from a HS. Maybe a local dealer might have one.
If your Rads are off your bike.(I wouldn't pull them off just to wash them) Put them in your dish washer...just do it when the wife's not home. I would stay away from any type of (Acid base) cleaners they will etch the aluminum although it might clean it real good The dirt and mud will stick like glue the next time out.
Last night, decided to unbolt my radiators . Took them to the back sink and sprayed 409 on them and let sit. Later before drying I took a soft brush and brushed the fins. I imediately put them in the dishwasher on power scrub cycle along with the detergent. It must of ran for over an hour. I took them out and they look like new again. I have to say, " It Works". Then took a small screw driver and straightened the folded over fins out. Thanx For All Your help out there! Typpyt
