Sid
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2009
- Messages
- 114
OK, I’m on my 5th flathead disassembly and I’m getting better at it. Some come apart better than others and the one I’m working on now has some seriously stuck pistons. I de-rust the block for a few days using an electrolysis process, which works great, but these pistons are in tight.
The first flatty I took apart I juts pounded the crap out of them pistons to remove them, but I’m trying not to be as hard handed as I was with the first. One question I have is if anyone has used Sodium Hydroxide (Lye) to dissolve aluminum pistons. It’s a strong base chemical (opposite of acid) and, from what I’ve read, will dissolve aluminum but not affect cast iron.
I was also going to make a tip for my pneumatic hammer that I will try to at least break them loose a bit. Hopefully enough that some penetrating oil can find its way in between the cylinder wall and piston.
Any other ideas and techniques you use would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Sid
The first flatty I took apart I juts pounded the crap out of them pistons to remove them, but I’m trying not to be as hard handed as I was with the first. One question I have is if anyone has used Sodium Hydroxide (Lye) to dissolve aluminum pistons. It’s a strong base chemical (opposite of acid) and, from what I’ve read, will dissolve aluminum but not affect cast iron.
I was also going to make a tip for my pneumatic hammer that I will try to at least break them loose a bit. Hopefully enough that some penetrating oil can find its way in between the cylinder wall and piston.
Any other ideas and techniques you use would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Sid