LCGB Forums

So I have heard different opinions on cleaning all the gunk off after sitting for 30 years. So how do I get all this off without hurting anything?

Thanks
eyeguy

I cleaned a similar mess with JIZER.

Jizer/Gunk, selection of stiff brushes and a pressure washer. That will just get the worse of it off but will leave stubborn baked on cack on engine case that you'll only get off by scraping or vapour or soda blasting.

Is there any concern of the electrics getting wet and not working?

eyeguy

Stuff a rag down the inlet manifold and leave the dust cap in place in the centre of the flywheel, it doesn't matter if water gets into the junction box or any exposed terminals, just give them a squirt of WD40 afterwards.

I used paraffin worked in with a "Alasta" parts cleaning brush and washed it off with warm soapy water block all orifices up or cover with freezer bag tied on with elastic bands .
Its a messy but necessary job

UBIX 2000
My window cleaner uses this so I tried it on a engine case that had years of grime on it. Got to say best stuff I have ever used

Thanks to all. Good info

eyeguy

Get someone round with an industrial steam cleaner, 130 degrees water mixed with TFR at 3000psi will soon make short work of that..

thats a cracking Special ...lovely original condition too.
My Special was about the same condition. Looks like the previous owner spilt petrol every time they filled up and road crud has stuck to it preserving the paintwork nicely.

I used parrafin like Phil. You'll probably be best off removing the parts like the cowlings and cleaning them seperately. I found an old toothbrush with stiff nylon brush worked really well at getting in the hard to reach spots.

Any chance of some pics ? what are the first 4x characters of the frame number ?

Thanks JohnnySX, It's in good shape. Runs very good. I had to paint gas tank due to a lot of rust. Still debating on the other white parts. What's your opinion? My concern is some rust under the paint. If I just leave it it will rust through. If I clear coat it will do the same. The main body will be left alone. Frame number 211374. I'll get a pic out soon

Later
eyeguy

eyeguy wrote:Thanks JohnnySX, It's in good shape. Runs very good. I had to paint gas tank due to a lot of rust. Still debating on the other white parts. What's your opinion? My concern is some rust under the paint. If I just leave it it will rust through. If I clear coat it will do the same. The main body will be left alone. Frame number 211374. I'll get a pic out soon

Later
eyeguy

this really is the $6million dollar quesstion isn't it.

I've agonised over this question myself for the 3x years I've owned mine.

My conclusion was that over 50 years use no matter how well cared for there has got to be some replacement mechanical parts simply from wear and tear . items like exhausts ,tyres ,stators , cables, brake shoes,bulbs etc
if you then look at a scooter that has been well used for 50 years in all weathers and possibly left out in all weathers at some point in its lifetime then there is bound to be some rust and rot maybe requiring some rust treatment and some rattle can touching up.
Then you think about how many times a scooter falls over or runs into things and you'll expect to have replacement headlamp rims, rear floors , panels, clutch and brake levers etc etc


Thats an awful lot of parts that have been added to our scoots so I don't think anyone can claim to have an entirely original scoot can they !?

We wouldn't think twice about renovating all the the mechanicals and either rebuilding or even replacing our engines if worn or upgrading for better performance so why do we agonise so much over retaining the wear , rust and patina of the paintwork body panels and frame. ?................

I decided not to restore my frame and panels because
(A) I know that the scooter will always be kept in the warm and dry and will never be riden in the rain (unless by accident)
(B) I personally would not ride or own a restored scooter because it would have no character or visible patina of age and history of use which is the main attraction for me.
I think I can keep on top of the continual rusting with some careful application of rust converter , vasoline, oil, grease, and other products which will inhibit rust. I'll also clean the dust and road crud off the scoot periodically which should help.

So a picture as promised. I too keep all my scoots in climate control area while not in use. Here is what happened to the gas tank. I placed in metal rescue which has not removed the paint any other time i used it. This time it removed half the paint from the tank which is why I decided to paint it. I am afraid it will do the same to the other parts. I would like to leave the other parts alone. However there is rust on them. Any Ideas.

eyeguy

"I decided not to restore my frame and panels because
(A) I know that the scooter will always be kept in the warm and dry and will never be riden in the rain (unless by accident)
(B) I personally would not ride or own a restored scooter because it would have no character or visible patina of age and history of use which is the main attraction for me.
I think I can keep on top of the continual rusting with some careful application of rust converter , vasoline, oil, grease, and other products which will inhibit rust. I'll also clean the dust and road crud off the scoot periodically which should help."

My thoughts entirely - its only original once!
Although I did get my side panels resprayed last year, as you could see daylight through them!

So just for the sake of the argument, if the idea is to retain the patina/wear and tear/character of a badly neglected scooter, why bother cleaning the road crud off the engine or frame

citydaz wrote:"
Although I did get my side panels resprayed last year, as you could see daylight through them!

see through panels ....excellent .! actually being serious for a moment I don't think I've ever seen clear panels on a scoot.
It should be easy enough to vacuum mould some clear acrylic panels

coaster wrote:So just for the sake of the argument, if the idea is to retain the patina/wear and tare/character of a badly neglected scooter, why bother cleaning the road crud off the engine or frame

Who said anything about a badly neglected scooter ?

I didn't think mine looked badly neglected otherwise it wouldn't have lasted 52 years and still be running .

I see some rusty wrecks advertised on ebay as ' original' ....'ideal restoration' and I think ....are they serious

johnnyXS wrote:

coaster wrote:So just for the sake of the argument, if the idea is to retain the patina/wear and tare/character of a badly neglected scooter, why bother cleaning the road crud off the engine or frame

Who said anything about a badly neglected scooter ?

I didn't think mine looked badly neglected otherwise it wouldn't have lasted 52 years and still be running .

I see some rusty wrecks advertised on ebay as ' original' ....'ideal restoration' and I think ....are they serious

I didn't mean yours in particular, it's just to my mind, if a vehicle is maintained then that will extend to dealing with chips and rust along the way, the paint will fade, lose it's shine, have scratches and the odd dent etc. and will acquire that much treasured patina the 'patina'. For me, the problem is when a scooter has been neglected, then abandoned and left to rot before being discovered as a 'barn find'. It won't look anything like it did when it left the factory or even in many cases, what it looked like when it was abandoned and yet cries of 'they are only original once' are made...all a bit of a fad to me but I accept I am in the minority on this one

coaster wrote:

johnnyXS wrote:

coaster wrote:So just for the sake of the argument, if the idea is to retain the patina/wear and tare/character of a badly neglected scooter, why bother cleaning the road crud off the engine or frame

Who said anything about a badly neglected scooter ?

I didn't think mine looked badly neglected otherwise it wouldn't have lasted 52 years and still be running .

I see some rusty wrecks advertised on ebay as ' original' ....'ideal restoration' and I think ....are they serious

I didn't mean yours in particular, it's just to my mind, if a vehicle is maintained then that will extend to dealing with chips and rust along the way, the paint will fade, lose it's shine, have scratches and the odd dent etc. and will acquire that much treasured patina the 'patina'. For me, the problem is when a scooter has been neglected, then abandoned and left to rot before being discovered as a 'barn find'. It won't look anything like it did when it left the factory or even in many cases, what it looked like when it was abandoned and yet cries of 'they are only original once' are made...all a bit of a fad to me but I accept I am in the minority on this one

I agree.I like to see something that has been restored and looks like it has just come out of the showroom.As far as I am concerned a scooter is only manufactured/born once and if it can be brought back to what it looked like when it was new it is an achievement.

coaster wrote:
I didn't mean yours in particular, it's just to my mind, if a vehicle is maintained then that will extend to dealing with chips and rust along the way, the paint will fade, lose it's shine, have scratches and the odd dent etc. and will acquire that much treasured patina the 'patina'. For me, the problem is when a scooter has been neglected, then abandoned and left to rot before being discovered as a 'barn find'. It won't look anything like it did when it left the factory or even in many cases, what it looked like when it was abandoned and yet cries of 'they are only original once' are made...all a bit of a fad to me but I accept I am in the minority on this one ;)

Well that makes two of us then

I totally agree. There are very very few scoots coming through now ,...that are worthy of true conservation as opposed to restoration.

I think it has to be an individual assessment by the scooter owner, there can surely be no hard and fast rule here.

Some of the scoots I see are extremely rusty and scruffy but perhaps these are intended to be 'Rat scoots' which is a recognised presentation in itself and often involves deliberately degrading the vehicles bodywork to achieve a certain artistic look .