How to clean valves?

[CyFi6]

This is a pretty noobish question but im really lost here. I cant seem to find much info on how to clean the intake/exhaust valves that i have out of my NA head right now. The exhaust valves have some really tough hard baked on stuff and i cant seem to get it off. I put all the valves in a pan to soak with ATF and it doesn't seem to loosen it up very much. I have been told not to use a wire wheel on them, so my question is, what do i use? A simple wire brush is not doing enough for me at all, should i use a razor blade to chip off the junk first? Thanks for any help, i would hate to screw up all my valves because i was too naive to ask.

 

[benchwarmer]

Carb cleaner and a rag usually does the trick.

 

[Poodles]

says to use a gasket scraper and wire brush in the TSRM...

personally I used wire brush on a drill at low speeds because the scrubbing took too much work...

 

[87mgte]

I had no problems using a wire wheel, so that'd be my suggestion. Just don't grind the tip of the stem with it.

 

[Tanya]

brake clean and your ex-girlfriend's toothbrush.

 

[gennro]

I used a dremel with a wire wheel. Worked great!

 

[sethron71]

brake clean and your ex-girlfriend's toothbrush.

I like your thinking!...lol Wish I met you back when I lived in Wash!

Soak them in carb cleaner or brake cleaner and if it won't come off with just a tooth brush or 3M scrubbing pad but I would only use a stainless wire wheel as a last resort.

HTH,
Seth

 

[Nick M]

Why don't you send the valves out to the machine shop and have the 3 angles redone? They will clean the valves when it is there.