Found out from a local engine shop they are willing to clean my engine peices for 50 CDN dollars. all of them. plates, housings, rotors, gears, e-shaft



Is there anything I need to know about what type of chemicals they are going to use. They assured me they will only put the ferrious parts in the hot tank and the aluminum in the cold tank that contain biodegradable stuff. They also said they have done rotary engines before, but have not seen one for a couple of years now.



1 gallon of carb cleaner is 45 dollars, and is messy.

 

If they are a reputable shop, you shouldn't bother even asking - just do it.

Maybe I am too trusting though.



BAM

 

I trust you.



However, I'm not a very trusting person. I've been burned too many times. Next thing you know some 16 year old kid is sand plasting away at the bearings...

 

I was under the impression you can't hot-tank AL

 

you can't that is why I said the aluminum parts were being put into a cold tank. The problem with the parts cleaning is that they stopped using harsh solvents but the bio stuff which is acidic/caustic. Meaning the rotor bearings and stat gear bearings will need to be replaced.

 

well you dont have to give em the stat gears, they are easy to clean up. rotors are up to you though

 

Does anyone see a problem with having a set of irons hot tanked that I will NOT be lapping afterwards?

 

None at all. If the shop is halfway competent, they will know to get everything as dry as possible immediately after rinsing.



I assume you're using the term "hot tank" to mean dunking in a near-boiling lye solution. Lye is the problem with aluminum, not heat. There are several aluminum-safe chemicals on the market that are a drop-in replacement for the lye normally used in hot tanks or hot sprayers. You still get the chemical up to 180 or so degrees, the dip or spray times are about the same, and it almost cleans as well as lye. Being able to do iron and aluminum in the same machine is the big win.



I've done many rotor housings in this type of solution, the only trick is that after a thorough rinsing and drying, you need to immediately wipe the chromed surface down with oil.