Surface Rust on Connecting Rods

duo_z

Member

Jan 24, 2009

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Oct 3, 2010

#1

• Oct 3, 2010

• #1

Is a little surface rust going to hurt anything? My project block was sitting for a few months waiting for some parts and some of the connecting rods got some rust on them, will this cause any problems? Should I try to clean it off?

 

rbohm

Founding Member

Apr 12, 2002

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tucson,az

Oct 3, 2010

#2

• Oct 3, 2010

• #2

it wont hurt anything. clean it off if you like though, but use a chemical rust converter if the rods have already been prepped to avoid creating stress risers.

 

G

gr8one

Member

Jun 28, 2008

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Ft. Meade Polk Co FL

Oct 3, 2010

#3

• Oct 3, 2010

• #3

i would use ospho on it (rust converter). you can get it for $22 at ace hardware.

 

duo_z

Member

Jan 24, 2009

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Oct 5, 2010

#4

• Oct 5, 2010

• #4

Ok, thanks for the replies. I'll have to pick some up later.

 

K

KStang65B

New Member

Sep 9, 2006

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Oct 5, 2010

#5

• Oct 5, 2010

• #5

Home Depot has Gallon jugs of Phosphoric Prep & Etch in the paint department for under $15. I use it on all my rusty parts with excellent results.

 

G

gregski

Active Member

Mar 13, 2010

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Sacramento, California

Oct 7, 2010

#6

• Oct 7, 2010

• #6

Phosphoric acid from Home Depot removed all the rust off my roof, however afterwards you have to neutralize it with baking soda and water and then wash it off with soap and water, otherwise it will etch the metal and leave a nice white coat/film on the part, not ideal for an internal part, I would wash the heck out of it after then dry it off and spray it with WD-40

could you use a wire wheel to take the rust off, would that damage the rods?

 

D

D.Hearne

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Sep 29, 2000

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south louisiana

Oct 7, 2010

#7

• Oct 7, 2010

• #7

I use a wire wheel for anything like this. I keep one on one side of my bench grinder. It removes the rust and burnishes the part's surface.

 

rbohm

Founding Member

Apr 12, 2002

6,698

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tucson,az

Oct 7, 2010

#8

• Oct 7, 2010

• #8

D.Hearne said:

I use a wire wheel for anything like this. I keep one on one side of my bench grinder. It removes the rust and burnishes the part's surface.

Click to expand...

one thing, if a wire brush is used to clean off the rust, make sure that you run it length wise along the rod to minimize any stress riser formation that will weaken the rod.

 

D

D.Hearne

New Member

Sep 29, 2000

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south louisiana

Oct 7, 2010

#9

• Oct 7, 2010

• #9

rbohm said:

one thing, if a wire brush is used to clean off the rust, make sure that you run it length wise along the rod to minimize any stress riser formation that will weaken the rod.

Click to expand...

 

K

KStang65B

New Member

Sep 9, 2006

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Oct 7, 2010

#10

• Oct 7, 2010

• #10

Glass bead blast followed up by shot peening.

 

duo_z

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Jan 24, 2009

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Oct 15, 2010

#11

• Oct 15, 2010

• #11

So if I would fog the inside of the engine with the rotating assembly installed using ospho would it do any harm? Sorry I forgot to mention the rotating assembly was installed.

 

D

D.Hearne

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Sep 29, 2000

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south louisiana

Oct 16, 2010

#12

• Oct 16, 2010

• #12

duo_z said:

So if I would fog the inside of the engine with the rotating assembly installed using ospho would it do any harm? Sorry I forgot to mention the rotating assembly was installed.

Click to expand...

Don't know what you mean by "ospho" but if it's any kind of chemical stripper/cleaner.....................NO !!! Leave the rods as is and give em a good coating of motor oil.