Black engine cleaning

[ted aves]

I've now got my 73 Z1 and am pretty bloody chuffed actually. A thought has occured to me while I've been cleaning it all afternoon. The finish on my Z1-R engine was something I never really worried about. Does anyone have any advice on keeping the black finish on the engine looking really good? I don't want to wash it and find cleaning residues dulling down the black, getting baked on and making it look crappy.

[Steve S]

Congratulations on the bike Ted, not sure what others use but in the past on black engines I have used either black shoe polish or 'Zebo' grate polish as used on fireplaces to keep the black 'black'....worked for me

Good luck with the bike.
Steve

[MaineKZ]

Hi Ted
Great buy!! I've got a 73 which I'm just about to spruce up.
Experience with previous Zeds and many other classics has shown that the very best water based (non-ionic) surfacent cleaner you can use is AutoGlym Engine Cleaner.
Superb cleaning and rinses off with ease. All you're left with then is the chalk in the mains water you've rinsed with - if you're Bucks then I'm sure your water's hard as nails! Only way round that is to hand dry with a chammy! Finish off with a light coat of Motorex preservative spray to restore a lustrous black.
Then next weekend - do it all over again!
Depends on how fussy you are I guess!