Cleaning aluminum

[69ChevyLB]

What's the best way to clean aluminum parts such as alternators to make them look like new. Mine has that corroded look. Thanks.

[shortymac83]

not sure on the cast (lumpy) metal, but I know on smooth aluminum, gunk (to get most of the dirt off), then Nevr Dull or Brasso, then a coat of spray bomb clear will make it look like new.

[71-longbed]

i was wondering the exact same thing today ..... never dull does nothing to that "lumpy" aluminum of an alternator

[Terry Peerson]

Many years ago, I used to pull aluminum dump-trailers and then gasoline tankers. I used to buy this stuff from Fruehauf that I used to brighten them with. I don't know the concentration, but it was a combination of Hydroflouric Acid with some cleaners. Came in a gallon jug for about $ 10.00. It did a great job! After I got a real job, I used the stuff for the wire wheel covers on my wife's Caprice. The results were amazing! They came out perfectly clean and, best of all, the low pH kept the calcium from spotting the chrome (no water spots at all). They looked like I spent hours on them. Just spray and rinse.

Just BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU GET IT ON! And follow the dilution directions. It WILL bleach out the paint on engines (and fenders!). But it will make your A/C aluminum parts look like new.

Good Luck, and don't forget eye protection!

T

[bobs409]

I used mag wheel cleaner on a carb and an aluminum transmission case already. The kind you spray on and later rinse with water. It has some type of acid in it.

For parts like alternator cases though, a bead blast (or walnut shells) will make it look like new! The downside is you would have to take it all apart to do that.

Option #3 would be to hit it with a wire wheel on a drill, then spray it with aluminum paint such as Eastwoods Alumablast.

[Blue Beard]

Try some of the new orange products, it really gets in and cleans.

No harshness, abrasiveness.....all liquid.

Sit and soak, soft brush to scrub.....rinse and clear seal with your choice of product.

[Dean]

I've had good results also with the non clear coated mag wheel cleaner. I think it is made by Eagle in a black spray bottle. It is wicked stuff so wear some eye protecting and I'd recommend gloves also.

Same stuff I keep my turbine wheels clean with. Everyone thinks I have painted them.

[Iminocca]

Easy-Off oven cleaner works well too. It etches the surface of the aluminum so you can't leave it on too long. You would have to disassemble an alternator to clean it this way however. Skin and eye protection required!

[stickshift_or_walk]

We've done it two ways. The shiniest results came from the stout mag wheel cleaner that bobs409 and Dean are talking about - Eagle was the brand, for non-coated wheels. We did take the case apart, but I guess you could put it on with a brush and avoid eating the internals. The problem was, after enough soak time to really clean the case, it was a very dull and dark gray color.

So then we took it over to the wire wheel, and it removed the dull gray and left a very bright aluminum finish. Went to a finer wheel, then used a mag wheel polish to seal. Looks pretty sharp! (its the one you can see in my avatar).

The other solution was taking it to the local starter/alternator shop, and they disassembled, put in new bearings & brushes, bead blasted the case, and even put a shiny new fan and pulley on, all for $30 including parts & labor! It looks factory-fresh.

SSOW

[Wootdog]

FLITZ. You can then use a high speed buffer and it will look better than new. You can make aluminum look like chrome if you polish it long enough. Kerry