OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Tech Talk Clean rotomo head

Hi everyone

Quick question what is the best way to clean the aluminium head on my Rotomo engine?
Virtually impossible to get anything between the fins the scrub them?

Thanks

Hi Lorenz,

I usually hit it with generous amounts of degreaser, let it do its thing and then go nuts with the pressure washer.

However, I've just sent some alloy bits away for vapour/aqua blasting, including a head. I'll post results in a few days when I collect them, but from what I've seen, it's a great process.

Hi Lorenz , Mystyler

I've heard of a few products that work well for removing carbon etc from alloy heads ,baking soda or walnut shell as a blast media will
also clean alloy and Chemtech Blitz Aluminium Cleaner or an oven cleaner product should work .



Cheers
Max.

I have used the baking soda method and it did a good job, bit slow but on a small head it wouldn't take too long

I am looking at one of those small hand held sand blaster guns, I have a mate that used one and the head was like new. uses playground sand from Bunnings. only around $45.



https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Portable-Sand-Blaster-Gravity-Feed-Gun-Media-Etching-Surface-Cleaning-Extra-Tip/183251976047?hash=item2aaaab3f6f:g:jTgAAOSwseFcKyC8

all the best

Paul

Thanks for the advice gave some oven cleaner a go because that's what I had laying around. It works well to remove all the carbon and dirt but does leave the head looking a little dull. Will give it a quick go on the buffing wheel and see if that brightens it up.

Hi All,

Lorenz a Steelo pad can be used to polish alloy. (to start with)

paul_c ,I don't like those sand blast guns ,you go through a lot of sand just cleaning a small item and with that gun you would
be forever putting sand in it ,I prefer the cheaper gun that can draw up as much sand as you need or I have seen second hand
blast cabinets for $50 and portable sand blaster units second hand for $50.

Cheers
Max.

Hi all, this is the result of vapour blasting the head.

G'day folks,
Yep, I agree. That top mounted sand reservoir is clumsy all round.
I have 3 'sandblast guns'; the 'big one' like maxwestern's, the 'medium', and the 'mini'. They all have their applications for specific jobs.
Medium



Mini

Lots of interesting techniques when cleaning the heads. Mine turned out pretty good with the oven cleaner and some auto sol polish. I could see how sand blasting or vapour blasting could be beneficial as I had trouble getting the very bottom of the fins clean.