Smethurst Engine Clean

[DogsbolloxofZ1B]

I did speak to Steve about this, my images would show exactly the same issue, and he’s confident that sympton occurs when the guide is pushed in. I’m 50:50 on that point of view
as the bits I’ve fished out were tiny balls that were rock hard.
Other bits were more like tiny slithers of ally.

I’m also going to get the dremel out!

[Blackseven]

I have no idea what he means by symptoms occurring when the guides are pushed in. I am 99.9% sure that they are ceramic beads from the cleaning. After a bit of experimentation with Dremel bits I've found the best tool for the job, which does (eventually) work; I will PM you details.

[zed1015]

I have no idea what he means by symptoms occurring when the guides are pushed in. I am 99.9% sure that they are ceramic beads from the cleaning.

He's talking bo***cks.

[Ultim8pc]

I don't understand why you're dicking about. I'd expect Mr.Smethhurst to sort this out, unless of course he told you the engine would be full of blast media and slithers of metal after blasting and how it should be dealt with...

[Steve Cooke]

At least you've seen the problem and are taking measures to sort it out which I'm sure you will but the worrying thing is how many more engines that have been cleaned that way won't have been? many I would imagine, for me that is not the way to clean an engine under any circumstances, a better finish can be achieved by hand without the risk.

[Pigford]

It does put a rather HUGE area of doubt on all the "reconditioned" examples out there

[ZedHead]

I was telling a well-known engine builder (who will remain nameless ) about this and he didn't think it would cause a problem.

[zed1015]

I was telling a well-known engine builder (who will remain nameless ) about this and he didn't think it would cause a problem.

And that's why i do all my own engines.
Any grit is too much no matter how small and while it's probably only a one in a million chance of causing a problem it's still too much especially when you are paying for it..

[ZedHead]

I would be worried too if I didn't trust the knowledge and experience of others. Your suggestion to heat the head and knock the offending guides back just enough to remove the remnants of media seems a sensible way forward.

I suppose the grit risk is no more than running an engine with open stacks?

[zed1015]

I suppose the grit risk is no more than running an engine with open stacks?

It all depends on if those beads disintegrate on the way through.
0.5mm beads would be like boulders compared to minute airbourne particles.
They may just get blown through the cylinder when the engine is running ( much like when my spare blower ate one of its rotors and it just blew through and ally coated the exhaust valves with no damage at all to the pistons or cylinders ) but if they drop in at rest which is likely after a heat cycle they will get down the side of the piston and liner and possibly get jammed in the ring land which could cause no end of excessive wear.