Cleaning exhaust valves

[RMKcowboy]

What have you all had good luck with actually getting the valves clean? I've got them soaking in commercial strength cleaner and it's not cutting the mustard. Carb cleaner didn't seem to want to knock the gunk off there either. I almost contemplated taking some 00 steel wool to them, but didn't want to scratch them. I've heard Scotchbrite pads work good, but can't remember if guys were using the green or red ones. Also, do any of you shoot carb cleaner or otherwise clean the ports in the cylinders?

 

[754bigbore]

I have used WD-40 and a scotchbrite pad, don't worry about shallow surface scratches...for the ports I have used a rag wrapped around a screw driver with a litle wd-40, worked well.

 

[Bull]

sounds like you might need to look into using a different oil to start with. there are several oils that keep deposits to a minimum. recently i actually tried my sandblaster on a set of valves that were pretty bad. cleaned them in seconds. used starblast (blasting medium) and shot at a very glancing angle. looked like new, no effect on valves. if they are bad, might look into it.

 

[Ron]

There is no good way to clean them. On the 03 you have aluminum valves with a teflon type coating. Oven cleaner helps & If you don't have a glass bead or sand blaster try a paint scraper with a razor blade, the small plastic type about 2" square. If you are careful you can remove the deposit without scratching the valve.

 

[RMKcowboy]

The sled has been running Blue Marble oil (I just bought it this spring)- I'm wondering if the previous owner wasn't very diligent about cleaning them. He did tell me the sled was primarily a back-up. I think I'll give the steel wool a shot.

 

[Desperado]

I've run blue marble for 3 yrs and I've never had to clean my valves once I switched from the polaris ves to the blue marble. Either the guy didn't run blue marble or he never cleaned his valves before he switched. As for cleaning good luck, they can be a bear to clean with scotchbrite and solvent. My vote is to take them to a local machine shop and have them bead blasted like others have suggested. Wouldn't take a second and would probably cost less than buying the stuff to clean them with.

 

[shortstop20]

Razor blade works well on the hard deposits. Just be careful not too take a little of the valve off with it.

 

[Kale]

I cleaned my valves on my 02 800 with carb cleaner and scothbrite. I've got an 07 Dragon RMK and I want to clean the valves on.

Do I clean them the same way or is there something I need to know before cleaning the valves on the 700 cfi engine?

Thanks,

Kale

 

[Summertime Blues]

I carefully use a scrapper. When I was running Polaris VES oil they were bad. Now with Blue marble (3 or 4 years) they are better but I still clean them up occasionally just for fun.

 

[rhino12yr]

Keep in mind that the valves do not need to be spotless. Yes clean is good but what is truely clean? As long as you can install the valve in the cylinder, move it up and down with no binding, consider it good. Now behind the bellows can be a different sinario, wiping out the unwanted oil with a rag should do the trick, although it will return in one ride. It is not necassary that the actual valve is shiney. Alot of people believe that is should be spotless but concider how the EV really work.

 

[Joemt]

Zip strip paint remover - Works great.

I asked this very question and a guy told me he used paint stripper. Now I had stripped an entire Vette with Zip strip once many years ago. I thought now that is a good idea.

I just let it soak (brushed on the zip strip) in the Zip strip and used a scott brite (2nd) and scrapped with a putty knife (1st) actually worked very well. I was careful and let the zip strip do the job...you will have to apply the zipstrip a few times...taking it layer by layer...you will know when to switch from the putty knife to the scotts brite.

I am about to do my 02 800 rmk Ves for the first time. I used it on my 03 800 rmk last season.

Good luck....

 

[dragonpoo]

ive cleaned lots of carboned up parts with B G 44k doint burn it in the tank just use it as a solvent let the valves soke over night and the carbon will just wip off

 

[mattymac]

the valve isnt the problem in getting it spotless, yeah clean is good but it doesnt have to look like new to work, as long as it moves in the cyl its ok, the main thing is the pressure holes in the valve, cyl., and housing that need to be clean so the cyl pressure can actually make the vavle open!

 

[sweetxc654]

Oven cleaner and a scotch-brite pad works great

 

[Stryc9]

Break clean and a steel brush.
Done in a minute.