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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Engine fire

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Roger in Iowa

02-21-2005 06:50:37




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A friend has an engine that was in a fire. Melted the aluminum valve cover and it ran around the rear lifter and camshaft. He has drilled some of the molten metal away, but cannot remove the lifter or cam.

Is there some kind of chemical, acid or other, that would remove the aluminum without destroying the block and cam?

Thanks for any help.

Roger in Iowa




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37 chief

02-21-2005 14:33:10




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 Re: Engine fire in reply to Roger in Iowa, 02-21-2005 06:50:37  
There is a chemical called caustic soda. It comes in flakes. when mixed with water it will eat aluminum. I have no idea where you can get it. I think it was used in hot tanks years ago. Like any chemicles use eye protection.



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Bob - MI

02-21-2005 12:28:06




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 Re: Engine fire in reply to Roger in Iowa, 02-21-2005 06:50:37  
If the fire was hot enough to melt aluminum, it generated temperatures of 1100 deg. F and up. Die-castings are usually cast at about 1200 deg F. Heat treatment of parts such as cams, lifters and others are tempered around that same range. I would be concerned about thermal damage to the surrounding parts. No telling how hot it really was. Don"t know about a chemical that will dissolve the aluminum and not harm the iron and steel. Most acids that clean metal will eventually attack the grain boundarys of the metal and weaken it. Cleaning can go to etching quickly. A call to a plater would proably give some good answers.

I guess I would be calling my insurance agent too.

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RustyFarmall

02-21-2005 07:32:41




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 Re: Engine fire in reply to Roger in Iowa, 02-21-2005 06:50:37  
Muriatic acid will dissolve aluminum. I found this out by purposely applying it to a junk piston. I know it won't attack cast iron, but it will clean it up real nice. I don't know what it will do to the finish on the cam.



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lucasss

02-21-2005 06:58:46




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 Re: Engine fire in reply to Roger in Iowa, 02-21-2005 06:50:37  
the only thing i can think of it to soak it overnight in a hot tank of caustic soda. machineshop that rebuild engines should have one,but it will dissolve othe aluminum parts also. lucas



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