Cylinder cleaner 550xp

[Aled Hughes]

Just purchased a 550xp cylinder which was obviously overheating due to its orangy/brown colour. Anyone used any type of cleaner successfully so it's back to silver alloy colour? Thanks 

[spudulike]

I would imagine scotchbrite or 400 grit emery paper would be enough and just use a little GT85 or WD40 whilst rubbing......not up and down but around the bore.

[Stubby]

On 22/01/2026 at 19:37, Aled Hughes said:

Just purchased a 550xp cylinder which was obviously overheating due to its orangy/brown colour. Anyone used any type of cleaner successfully so it's back to silver alloy colour? Thanks 

Do you mean on the out side on the cooling fins or on the inside of the bore ? 

[Aled Hughes]

11 minutes ago, Stubby said:

Do you mean on the out side on the cooling fins or on the inside of the bore ? 

Outside thanks 

[Stubby]

1 hour ago, Aled Hughes said:

Outside thanks 

It could be burnt on sap/resin  from softwood  cutting . How about a thin brass wire brush and some solvent ?

[pleasant]

Put it in an ultrasonic cleaning bath with an overly strong water to solvent ratio and cook on a high heat for about half an hour (if it has a heating element) or use very hot near boiling water. Will come out a dark, uniform alumimium colour.

 

(ps, I know this by mistake whilst finding out how it worked on a carb when it first arived, but genuinely it will give it a decent, near factory finish)

Edited 12 minutes ago by pleasant

[Aled Hughes]

Great thanks, any solvent recommendations? 👍