Trisodium phosphate, used for cleaning should work, I believe it is
available at HD. Some dishwasher detergents used to be TSP, check on the
label. Use boiling hot water to speed the process and frequently check that
the crankshaft is not being chewed up. Are you sure the engine didn't use
Babbitt bearings
(http://www.americanbabbittinc.com/hi...t_bearings.htm) which
looks similar to aluminum?


wrote in message
ups.com...
I am trying to clean up a crankshaft from a briggs & stratton engine.
It has aluminum melted on to it from a low oil condition and thrown
rod.

I learned that Lye can be used to safely dissolve the aluminum and not
hurt the steel. I also kind of understand that muriaic acid can do the
same thing, but if left too long it can damage the journal.

Here's the problem, I can't find Lye anywhere (home depot, walmart,
lowes, CVS) and I think its cause druggies use it for meth or something
like that.

If I can't find lye, will the muriatic acid be ok? is there another
chemical that attacks aluminum but is safe for steel?