Better than Gunk

[A10 JWO]

I am trying to clean a filthy BSA 650 engine. It is covered in oily grim. The engine is in frame so cannot aqua blast it. My Gunk is not touching the mess, is there anything stronger on the market.
It is the inner crankcases that are affected, not the polished outer covers. Thanks.

[Greybeard]

Paraffin/kerosine followed by strong detergent solution followed by clean hot water preferably applied from a compressed air spray gun and agitated with paint brush and tooth brush, (best not to use wifeys electric toothbrush). Blow dry with compressed air. I have used petrol but that's a bit risky.

[coater87]

 I dont know if its available over there, but if you can get hold of Oderless Mineral Spirits it works great.

 The odor is not bad, but still do it outside.

 Use stiff, nylon bristle brushes.

[Bsareg]

I've found cellulose thinners (gun wash) to shift almost anything, even baked on castor but must be wiped off before it dries.

[Greybeard]

I dont know if its available over there, but if you can get hold of Oderless Mineral Spirits it works great.

Is that what we in the UK call White Spirit? Used for diluting oil based house paint and cleaning brushes?

[Bsareg]

Thinners is sold by garage suppliers for thinning the cellulose paint. A cheaper form is gunwash used for cleaning out the spray guns (less refined) . Not the same as white spirit, stinks like old fashioned sweets. Best kept away from paintwork but will pull carbon even off exhaust pipe.

[coater87]

GB,

 I looked it up and Wikipedia says they are the same thing.

 Over here we have stuff that barely smells at all. Most of my buddies use it in their parts washers because the stink doesn't drive you out of the shop.

Lee

[Bsareg]

Definitely not the same thing. In GB we use white spirit for cleaning paint brushes and thinning household type enamal paint. Cellulose thinners is the Base liquid that was used for cars etc ( before it was banned), will flash dry because very volatile, wouldn't want to use it in a parts washer. Its still availible over here for after market use

[bsa-bill]

A product called "Marine Clean" supplied with tank lining kits is very good, it's not a solvent of any sort just a very powerful detergent, but do read the instructions, it requires thinning with water.

straight out of the plastic bottle it will leave a mark on polished alloy that needs to be buffed out at considerable amounts of elbow grease or a buffing wheel and wax, I'll leave you to work  out how I know this

[Greybeard]

Definitely not the same thing. In GB we use white spirit for cleaning paint brushes and thinning household type enamal paint. Cellulose thinners is the Base liquid that was used for cars etc ( before it was banned), will flash dry because very volatile, wouldn't want to use it in a parts washer. Its still availible over here for after market use

I think we are not reading the previous posts properly  . I am asking if our White Spirit is the same as Oderless Mineral Spirits in the US. Others are talking about cellulose thinners. I think we all know they are not the same thing.

[bsa-bill]

I think we are not reading the previous posts properly

Who is 

I am trying to clean a filthy BSA 650 engine. It is covered in oily grim. The engine is in frame so cannot aqua blast it. My Gunk is not touching the mess, is there anything stronger on the market.

this was the original post surely GB

[Greybeard]

I think we are not reading the previous posts properly

Who is 

I am trying to clean a filthy BSA 650 engine. It is covered in oily grim. The engine is in frame so cannot aqua blast it. My Gunk is not touching the mess, is there anything stronger on the market.

this was the original post surely GB

Don't call me Shirley!

[A10 JWO]

Thanks lads, will buy some chem's as advised, are you the original Greybeard that has been on here a long time or the other one on the other BSA Forum, confused.com. Regards A10 JWO which is my number plate.

[Greybeard]

...are you the original Greybeard that has been on here a long time or the other one on the other BSA Forum...

That bloke is a fake! If you see him tell him I'll give him a Chinese burn if he doesn't change his handle!

[bsa-bill]

I'll give him a Chinese burn

that's the kind of threat Big Daddy would use - sure your not Shirely