Cleaning engines.

[dman10]

I'm hoping to sell my 200 soon, and I don't want it looking like crap.
The engine has had gas from the carburetor all over it, where dust and dirt have collected in that. Oil has also gathered around the top end. And I'm not sure how to clean the fins.
Also, would it be best to remove the blue paint by sanding it off the plastics then smooth it out some and just paint them red? The previous owner sanded them then threw some blue paint on them.trailpro(Very poorly to.)
Thanks,
Daniel

[rg97]

pressure washer with soap or degreaser
as for plastics, you can sand them down and polish them to look good, not needing to paint them

[Ghostv2]

Dawn dish detergent has a degreaser in it. I usually clean my bikes with that. You can buy engine degreaser. Or even better than both of them go to your local autozone or some sort of car parts store or maybe even a atv store and they have some good cleaners. My brother paid $5 for this purple power (that's what he called it I don't remember what it is ) and it came with a refillable spray bottle and that makes things clean as a whistle.

[Yamaha_Rules69]

I have used purple power and it works well. Gunk brand engine degreaser in the "original" spray can works really good. Spray it on, let it sit for a few mins, rinse it off. For the fins, I would find a long bristle soft plastic brush, to get deep in there and scrub. Pressure washer may rough up the plastics. I would use a plastic safe paint stripper, in the spray can. I believe you spray it on, let it sit a couple hours, then rinse it off. Ill see if I can find a link.
Found it. This is what I used. Worked wonders. I found it at my local runnings hardware store, and it was about 10 bucks a can. Cheaper than this site. Im sure other hardware stores would carry it as well, and it does NOT damage plastic. http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/DUMOND-Paint-Remover-39C330?gclid=CJ_epJLU4rkCFWZk7AodyiAAaQ&cm_mmc=PPC:GooglePLA-_-Paint,%20Equipment%20and%20Supplies-_-Specialty%20Paints,%20Coatings,%20and%20Additives-_-39C330&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=39C330&ef_id=UbPwrQAABYEbdBCP:20130923231959:s

[rg97]

I had meant pressure wash on the fins, not the plastics. there are plenty of threads on restoring plastics with sandpaper and a few hours of work, dman you should look into them

[dman10]

I have, I just didn't want to spend hours and hours on something I'm going to turn around and sell with hours I don't have. Ya' know?
Also, Anybody wanna give a price check?
177703
I paid $500 for it, he had offers for $600, is $700 to far out? Or traded for a 200x.
Just imagine it red and clean. Good, strong, reliable machine. Taken everything I throw at it. Starts 1st to 2nd pull.

[rg97]

That doesnt look bad, but if you want to ditch the blue like yamaha rules said, plastic safe paint stripper.
I'm sure it would fetch 600 if you cleaned it up real well. I got my 200x In good shape for 500, so that possibility is not out, but money adds up quick when fixing them. I was 15 when I got my X, and for a while i struggled to get parts until I got my first job at 16. Thats where I am now, and i probably have an easy 1500+ in my X all in all.

[dman10]

Nice 200x's are running about 1,000 in my area.:cry:
So HOPEFULLY somebody would wanna make that trade.

[Marty]

try to get most of debris off with a soft brush first then spray with engine degreaser but let it bake in sun for a few min to let oil and grease soften up a bit, last but not least connect you water hose to hot water heater and rinse off. But just a thought you are supposed to rinse your hot water heater 1 a month so if this is your first time using this method let water heater hose run a few minutes or else you will have scale all over the place. I use my hot water heater for everything washing bikes, cars, driveway, patio best of all it leaves no water marks!!!!

[oldskool83]

commet bleach directly on motor thats wet and pressure wash...done it a few times works decent. 1.88 at wallmart.

[Jwmajic]

Just be careful with the pressure washer they have a tendency to push water into places it shouldn't go.

[rg97]

Not if you use a 40 degree nozzle on low pressure, along with being careful

[sweetip2000]

Use the Zep Purple power or simple green. Use a small scrub brush with a handle on it to get around the motor. Hose down and wash again. For the fins get a peice of plastic and put a cloth around the edge. wedge it into the fins. A small plastic putty knife will work too.

You can get the Zep simple green and small plastic putty knife at home depot and while your their get some paint stipper, the gel stuff, spread that on your murdered plastic, it will bubble up that paint like butter, remove with a plastic scrub pad, do not use anything abrasive like steel wool or scotch brite. It will dull the plastic. Then wash the plastic real good after it has been stripped and you will be good to go.

[swampthang]

Once you get the crap all cleaned off an engine (unpainted engine) you can spray on some Eagle1 etching mag wheel cleaner. Has to be the etching to work. Spray in on a few seconds and wash it off GOOD. Makes a cast aluminum engine look like it just rolled off the showroom. Bad part is it does take the zinc plating off the bolts after a few uses and they will start to rust. Other then that its primo.

[kebby28]

Just curious what year it is. I'm guessing its a old 200s but I have never seen one with no front suspension.

[dman10]

Its an 82' atc200, just a plain boring old 200. no S, no M, no ES, just 200.