On 14 Feb 2006 12:28:49 -0800, wrote:

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?

Lye might work, stay away from the acid. Red Devil lye is available
at Ace Hardware.

But, why don't you do the right thing and have the crankshaft reground
and buy an undersize rod?