Case clean up

[mitchp]

I am the Lucky new owner of an unmolested XS 650c model. Very nice example of the breed. The machine is very clean overall. The bottom of the cases have quite a bit of 35 year old accumulation road crud/geese. What is the best way to remove this crud? I have to do this with the engine still in the chassis. MC restorers please weigh in. Thanks Mitch.

[5twins]

Apply more grease, of the elbow variety, lol. I would scrape off all the big clumps and thick stuff with flat bladed screwdrivers of various sizes. Then scrub with kerosene for the most part, lacquer thinner on the stubborn spots.

[mitchp]

Thanks for the info. I will procede. Are there any other resoration Buffs out there? Im thinking of hooking up with the VJMC.

[Tom Graham]

I use a spray engine cleaner and water jet then ride the bike to get all the nooks and crannies dry. Sometimes I spray penetrating oil or a mild solvent on chain lube to soften it up and carb cleaner helps with the burnt oil on the engine but be careful with the carb cleaner around paint.

As an example of why the bike should be ridden. A fellow selling a Triumph with a rebuilt engine said it was rebuilt twice. It froze up over winter right after the first rebuild. I asked if he had washed the bike befoire winter storage. He looked like a dim bulb had turned on and said, "yeah." The engine wasn't started and the moisture that had gotten inside did it's devil work.

If you give a location and your model in the profile to the left, folks will be able to help better.

Restoration is the highest form of bike building. It may not be evident to folks that haven't been around old bikes for years but getting a bike to exactly as it was new is tough. I say join the VJMC for the contacts. Some of the guys may not be the type you hang with but the skills and tips will be worth it.

Tom

[ucntseemeee]

pics?