Soda Blasting

[PCMAX]

Anyone had crankcases soda blasted without removing the bearings? I plan on boting the caes together and blanking off any holes then having the external surfaces only blasted prior to painting.

I have tried this in the past with grit blasting I found that the damn fine grit gets in everywhere.

I have been told that this wont matter anyhow with sod blasting 'cause the baking soda just rinses out with hot water unlike the grit which seems impossible to get out of the bearings etc.

Anyone with experience or opinions??

Peter

[Stewart Allen]

Hey Pete if youv'e got it that far apart just put some new bearings in it so the bottom ends nice and snug again.

[PCMAX]

Hey Pete if youv'e got it that far apart just put some new bearings in it so the bottom ends nice and snug again.

Yeah I was thinking about that Stewart but it was running nice and everything was tight when I bought it (MX250A) The bearings all feel good no play or end float. It just had no 5th gear 'cause as it turns out one of the selector forks was buggered. So I thought I would just replace that, give it a tidy up and put it back together.

See you at the pre 75 all powers start line....

[oldfart]

I clean most of my parts with soda blasting and the dust gets in every nook and cranny ..... so be careful

[Stewart Allen]

OK Pete, now I understand what class you are running, yes yes get it soda blasted it will be fine, would not even worry about puting plates on them, such a waste of time.

Might see you on the grid, you'll be the one making all the weird noises before it drops it's lunch.

[PEZBerq]

Washing bearings in hot water? What could possibly go wrong  Make sure you have a bottle of WD40 handy  Replace the bearings....you know you really should. Cheers

[pancho]

 I would check the condition of the dogs on the gears selected by the worn selector unless you have plenty of spare selectors and like pulling things to bits again.
 cheers pancho.

[Montynut]

Hey Pete if youv'e got it that far apart just put some new bearings in it so the bottom ends nice and snug again.

If the engine is completely apart I can not undertsand why you would not just throw new bearings throughout as normal practice. Is seems that all the hard work is already done why risk an old bearing? It makes cleaning the cases after stripping reasonably straight forward

[PCMAX]

I would check the condition of the dogs on the gears selected by the worn selector unless you have plenty of spare selectors and like pulling things to bits again.
 cheers pancho.

Hi Pancho,
The dogs on 5th gear have a little bit of rounding but the radius wouldn't be more than a couple of mm.

[PCMAX]

Hey Pete if youv'e got it that far apart just put some new bearings in it so the bottom ends nice and snug again.

If the engine is completely apart I can not undertsand why you would not just throw new bearings throughout as normal practice. Is seems that all the hard work is already done why risk an old bearing? It makes cleaning the cases after stripping reasonably straight forward

Hi Scrivo,
Have ordered some new brgs. I took the cases to "Absolute Soda Blasting" at Kirawee in SYD this morning. The guy there suggested using a plastic bead medium rather than the soda to clean off all of the paint. Took about an hour & $60 and they came up a treat. Now ready to paint and sneak into the oven to cure when the wife goes out 

Gavin, the guy at "Absolute Soda Blasting" was very accomodating, he asked if I was in a hurry and did the cases while I waited. He even has an old TY250, QA50 and what looks like a Deltek Rockhopper or Grass Grub awaiting sale or restoration.