Wirewheeling Compressor Pistons?

[Burgerkong]

Wanted to clean them up, obviously blasting isn't an option, so I wanted to wire wheel them clean. Wont be touching the lands, but is everything else fair game?

 

[Packard V8]

Soda blasting would be my recommendation.

jack vines

 

[Burgerkong]

See that's the thing, I don't have a working compressor as the pistons aren't installed. Maybe i'll just use some scotchbrite and clean up the tops and leave the skirts and whatnot.

 

[MDK22]

What you want to do is use something plastic and something that will eat away the dirt. I recommend soaking in simple green. Scrub them with these: Round Nylon Dish Scrubber / Sponge (Colors May Vary). You can get them at pretty much any dollar store, kmart, walmart, etc.

The other option is scotchbrite but, not the type you are thinking. Scotch-Brite 3M Non-Scratch Scrub Sponges or Scotch-Brite Scrub Sponge Delicate, Delicate Duty. I still recommend soaking.

The safest would be heat oil up and soak it for a day or 2 in some hot synthetic royal purple but....

 

[bsaint]

I used to wire wheel them all the time. Whats it gonna hurt?

 

[martin666]

Never cleaned a compressor piston, but I've been a Harley mechanic for 40+ years, wire wheel would be fine for top of piston but I'd never touch the skirt with one. If the piston doesn't clean up with something like simple green and a scotchbrite pad then its probably shot

 

[bsaint]

This isn't an engine tho. I've rebuilt hundreds of compressors and always cleaned them up with a wire wheel. Never an issue. Also this is how it was shown to me by the old timers.

 

[CNGsaves]

Throw those compressor pistons in bucket of diesel fuel for few days. Most likely any carbon/gunk on dome of piston will fall off.

I'd say a small brass brush in your bucket of diesel fuel should get top of piston plenty clean. Likely you won't need wire wheel.

 

[2oolhound]

Never cleaned a compressor piston, but I've been a Harley mechanic for 40+ years, wire wheel would be fine for top of piston but I'd never touch the skirt with one. If the piston doesn't clean up with something like simple green and a scotchbrite pad then its probably shot

This ^^^

Piston clearances are kept to a minimum for a reason - blow by. The average piston clearance is about .005" so it isn't long before you effect the clearances. All you will do on a compressor is reduce the efficiency and introduce a little more piston rocking which effects longevity and efficiency. Be gentle with the piston skirts.

 

[bsaint]

I don't think he will be that aggressive with it where he removes enough material to drop the efficiency that much. You remove more honing the cylinders! I think we over analyze things here at gj.

Anyone who's worked at a compressor shop hones cylinders, cleans up the ring landings and installs new rings and out the door it goes for another 10-20 years. Its just an air compressor running at 600 rpm, compressing air at a fraction of the pressure of a engine, and not getting anywhere close to "hot".

 

[PoorOwner]

What are you cleaning off exactly ?

I imagine a little bit of carbon or oil soot?
Is it rust ? I would imagine using chemical like combustion chamber cleaner to strip whatever is on there instead of using wirewheel, at least that's what I would do since I don't want to abrade the material in anyway.

 

[ez-duzit]

You'd be crazy to wire brush any piston skirt or touch it with anything metal.

Soak it in carburetor cleaner or try EZ-Off oven cleaner.

 

[bsaint]

You realize pistons are steel in a compressor right?

 

[ez-duzit]

You realize the steel in a wire brush is tempered, right?

 

[Skin]

OP specifically asked about wire wheeling the tops, not the skirts. Theres no problem with doing that.

 

[ez-duzit]

Wanted to clean them up, obviously blasting isn't an option, so I wanted to wire wheel them clean. Wont be touching the lands, but is everything else fair game?

Actually this is what he said.

 

[Burgerkong]

I felt that this warranted an explanation. Please take a look at the attached photo. I ended up wirewheeling the top and then finishing with a scotchbrite pad.

 

[Ilikeike]

What causes all that pitting on an air compressor ?

 

[LXCam]

Kinda late now but both oven cleaner and good paint remover will eat the carbon off and not damage the piston or the head.

 

[Burgerkong]

Disuse mainly, condensation forms and sits on top of the cylinders, if the compressor isn't used or intermittently used for short periods of time before the head heats up and evaporates the moisture, that's what you get. Less so on the high pressure pistons because the compression cycle produces a ton of heat especially when the pressure difference is higher.

 

[ez-duzit]

I felt that this warranted an explanation. Please take a look at the attached photo. I ended up wirewheeling the top and then finishing with a scotchbrite pad.

Even in those low-rez photos you can see the damage that was done to the corner of the piston by wire brushing.