Removing carbon from heads and pistons.

[Dave_H_M]

Surely this is RV related since it is cutting into my recreational time. :h

My 2 cyl opposed Briggs in the lawn tractor has progressively gotten noisier. It was knocking sort of like the same music carbon buildup makes when there is no more room for carbon. Sure enough I can see where the pistons were banging on the carbon buildup on the heads.

so Is there a nice and easy way to get that stuff off of the aluminum heads and piston top. I really do not want to gouge around on the aluminum.

[NinerBikes]

I'd tune the carb so you have the right fuel /air ratio, so you don't get carbon buildup in the first place... a sign of a carb set too rich.

[Gale_Hawkins]

3x on Seafoam but there are newer options but may not be better.

[badboy368]

a heavy dose of seafoam does wonders

[old_guy]

I used to rev up the motor to keep it from stalling and put small amounts of water down the carb. you should see a lot of steam coming out of the exhaust but that is OK. just don't pour all the water at once. it will clean out the pistons pretty good.

[wirenutz]

x2 on the sea foam

[msgross]

sea foam is great stuff... unless the build up is that far along... not sure if it would loosen (or if you'd want it to loosen on a running engine).

[MrWizard]

My advise
Both intake and exhaust closed
Remove spark plug
fill chamber with liquid sea foam from can
Let set 48 hours
Add Sea foam to gas in tank
check for sea foam in cylinder first, then start and run engine until exhaust is clean
Change oil

[landyacht318]

Mist a gallon of warmed distilled H20 into the intake with a finger on the throttle to keep engine from stalling.

Did you ever see the cylinder on an engine whose head gasket leaked coolant into the cylinder? Not a speck of carbon to be found.

Google 'water decarbonization.' No need to bust out tools or wire wheels or oven cleaner.

Or you can run some techron or Gumout Regane, or some Redline Sl-1 or some berrymans b-12, or Similar PEA based fuel system cleaner through some fuel for a slower clean.

[riggsp]

If you have the heads off (sounds like you do), spray them with Easy-Off Oven Cleaner, let them set for several hours, respray if necessary (you'll be able to tell if the carbon is coming loose), hose it off with water and blow it dry with an air compressor...make sure you wear safety glasses and rubber gloves.

[time2roll]

A small amount of water injection will do it while running under load.
Otherwise scrape or wire wheel away.
It is not as critical as you might think as long as you are reasonably careful.

[azrving]

Manufacturers usually recommended a wood device so as not to gouge. I always used a wire wheel on the heads. I would just scrape the piston so you dont get a piece of wire brush in the gap at the piston to the cylinder. Its best to run full throttle when mowing.

[Ray___June]

Wire wheel on a bench grinder, or a drill motor with a wire brush that fits the chuck. Please wear goggles.

[naturist]

No easy way I know of, though others might.

Only effective way I know of is the old hammer and chisel. And yes, takes a great deal of care not to gouge around on the aluminum. Good luck.