Rep Power: 811

what can i use to clean a used one so all the carbon comes off? just carb cleaner but spray on a cloth first? i think it might ruin valve seals.

 
Rep Power: 322

as long as the valves are closed you can spray as much as you like. if the cam is installed you can just loosen up all of the adjusters until the valves close or rotate the cam to close off the one you want to clean.

 
Rep Power: 0

Water Decarbonizing

I tried it and have smoother acceleration and after only one tank my mileage went up. I will keep tracking mileage to make sure the first tank wasnt an anamoly. Taking the spark plugs out I could see that the water removed carbon that was present before the decarbonizing.

 
Rep Power: 811

no i'll have the head removed.

 
Rep Power: 318

the machine shop should clean most of that off for you, the head is being resurfaced right? Or atleast on the mating surface...

 
Rep Power: 811

um no? there's no place like that around here. nearest machine shop is 3-5 hrs away

 
Rep Power: 301

Oh god... here we go again....

Carb cleaner and a rag or a BRASS wirebrush will do fine. It won't hurt the valve seats. If you are worried, make sure you oil the cam and top of the valves when you are done. Don't want to flush all the oil out of the head and dry start.

You are at least using a straight edge and feeler to check the head, right?

Don't forget to wipe everything down with cleaner and then some alcohol before you slap the head and gasket down. Might also look for the gasket spray that is used to seal microscopic scratches.

 
Rep Power: 318

That is what I was thinking, the seats are made of some sort of metal alloy, I used to know what, but I forgot. In other words, I don't think you will hurt them short of taking a hammer and screw driver to them. But that's just my thought.

 
Rep Power: 327

he said valve SEALS not valve seats! I would just avoid spraying it around the springs and you should be ok

 
Rep Power: 301

No, it won't ruin the valve seals. Maybe if you soak the head overnight, IN carb cleaner, but not from spraying. But there is no need to spray the springs anyway.

 
Rep Power: 327

Hell, use a garden hose to wash off the dirt and leaves and stuff after you clean off any carbon on the combustion chamber and stuff. Then blow dry it with compressd air then maybe a shot or two of some wd-40 to keep all steel parts from rusting. Brake clean may be another good substitute for carb clean

 
Rep Power: 811

oh yes there is. the whole head is covered in carbon bits, leaves, dirt, and more. it needs a good cleaning so hopefully its okay if i go spray happy. the cam will be off cause i'm not even sure i can clean that.

 
Rep Power: 301

^^^^ What the hell???? Psychic posting??? Can I have next weeks lottery numbers please?

Just clean away, Gearbox. Wipe everything down with oil when you are done and it's DRY.

 
Rep Power: 294

Carbon in the combustion chamber will raise your compression ratio = making more POWER hahahahaha.

 
Rep Power: 301

Yup! Sure does! Will make the engine ping if you are using regular then as well.

 
Rep Power: 811

okay i'm stuck on how the cam comes off. i loosened the adjusters and the bolts and removed the gear. nothing it won't come off the head/...