How to: Clean a HPI Baja 5B!

[BrushlessBomb]

I've seen a few threads asking how to clean your Baja. So you have had sooo much fun out in the mud bashing around. Then you start to ask yourself, how the hell will I clean this thing! Gassers are known to need to be cleaned more frequently then your electric/nitro friends because mud gets in EVERYWHERE! I thought I would write up a little tutorial on how I clean my Baja 5b. The instructions are pretty basic, self explanatory. Here we go....

(Note: Whatever you do is at YOUR OWN RISK. If you do this right, you should be fine).

Part 1 - Removal of parts

So first thing, remove the body and side panels.

Remove wheels


Remove wing, 2 bolts that hold the rear shock mount onto the shock uprights.


Remove pins that hold the roll bars on and pull out the roll bar.


Remove pins that hold on the battery/receiver box, dismount servo and pull out the box.


Remove pins that holds down the fuel tank and remove the fuel lines from the carb (note - empty your fuel tank before doing so). And DO NOT push the primer bulb (you will know why if you push it). Apply choke or add a fuel filter maintenance cap so no debris gets into the carb.


Remove the pin that holds the skid plate on and slide it out.


Remove the center roll bar support


Remove all 4 screws from the pinion plate and remove that.


Remove any screws that seems to hold down the engine, once remove the engine should come out. (That includes the 3 on the bottom of the chassis)


So Part 1 - Removal of parts is finished! Now on to Part 2 - Engine cleanup.

Part 2 - Engine Cleanup

So I'm a big fan of Motomaster's tools & parts cleaner (Only found in Canada?) and that stuff works great! It cleans the pipe up real nice. Just spray that stuff on a rag and clean it...


To clean the pipe's stinger, you can use a few q-tips or take your rag, twirl it up and stuff it in no more than 5 cms and move it around.


The carb, I sprayed some cleaner on it, let it degrease and wipe it off with the rag.


Just look at that shine!


The flywheel is a little bit technical and a pain in the rear. I sprayed the cleaner on it and took the rag and manouvered it around and tried to get it as clean as I could.


After cleaning....


The engine head itself, pretty simple, spray the cleaner on it and clean it up.



Now for the pullstart, you could take it apart and get the spring and all the internals clean but I didn't bother. My pullstart seemed to be pretty good at this time. I actually used Goo-gone and cleaned it that way, then polished it with Plexus cleaner.



So that is basically it for engine cleanup, I got all the little grooves and such cleaned out with my air compressor (best tool to have on hand!)

Part 3 - Chassis cleanup
So what I will be used to get rid of all the grime from the chassis is Simple Green. It works great. Now since my pressure washer has been put away for the winter and the hose is frozen, I had to use the sink.


So I have just sprayed on the Simple green (or use any degreaser you choose that will not affect anodized aluminum). Then I just let it sit for 1-2 minutes and then scrubbed it with a sponge.



All clean!!!


Part 3 - Wheels & Tires
Cleaning the wheels and tires is pretty easy. Just put some tape or a sticker over the breathing holes in the wheels.


Then rinse with water...


Spray them with soap!


Now look at them! Air compressor to the beadlocks and add WD-40!



Part 4 - Other parts
Basically the same method as the tires.

1. Rinse the parts
2. Spray soap on parts
3. Scrub the parts
4. Wash off the soap

But.... For the gas tank, Plastic bag under the gas cap so no water gets inside of the gas tank.


Soap it up! Let it sit for about a minute then scrub the parts. Then just wash all the soap off.


Most aluminum parts can be cleaned with a dry cloth.





Part 5 - Reassembly

The engine can be reassembled with those 8 screws.


Gather all the parts together and get your tools ready!


First thing is mounting the engine, basically mount it like you removed it.


Screws in the bottom aswell


Then mount the roll bars.


Then mount the shock mount.


Center roll bar.


Don't forget your throttle/brake linkage


Pinion & Spur plate



Now put in your spur gear with the C-clip, I use a flat head and a hammer if needed.


Now to mount the gas tank


Make sure your fuel lines are in the right places!


Add your air filter if needed


Mount your tires and you should be ready to go, if not... get it ready!

And remember... A Clean Baja is a happy Baja!

[brave]

Wow mate that is way more than i do. I just remove the electrics box bag the filter and rinse it with a hose, dry and that is it

[BrushlessBomb]

Originally Posted by brave

Wow mate that is way more than i do. I just remove the electrics box bag the filter and rinse it with a hose, dry and that is it

I do that too, but I thought I would do a tutorial on how to clean it thoroughly.

[frddyj]

you gotta throw that ss pipe as far into the woods as you possibly can and add a dominator. gives you 1 full extra hp

[BrushlessBomb]

Originally Posted by frddyj

you gotta throw that ss pipe as far into the woods as you possibly can and add a dominator. gives you 1 full extra hp

I know Freddy, I know...

The dom is on my list ever since I bought this thing.

[happytime1144]

How much louder in the dominator pipe?

[insanityrc]

Originally Posted by frddyj

you gotta throw that ss pipe as far into the woods as you possibly can and add a dominator. gives you 1 full extra hp

ROFL! Love that comment! So true..... What a POS pipe.....

[BrushlessBomb]

Originally Posted by happytime1144

How much louder in the dominator pipe?

more then expected. I agree with the above comment, its a POS.

[JRWperformance]

Wow...thats a lot of disassembly. I always pull the electrics box, put a latex glove over the air filter. I remove my pipe...(funny, its a ddm dominator) and plug the little header pipe. Empty about 1/2 a can of foamy engine brite and hit it with a hose with a high pressure nozzle. Then I mist most of the chassis with wd40 when it is still wet and blow it off with compressed air.

[bolej65]

Same Here... I just cover the filter plug the exaust and spray it with evergreen
WD40 mix and hose it down.
But this way will work too.

[atrixx]

here is a great videoTutorial of cleaning the baja
the credit to the user that uploaded the video
check it out!

You Tube

You Tube

[Edgar5bss]

Originally Posted by brave

Wow mate that is way more than i do. I just remove the electrics box bag the filter and rinse it with a hose, dry and that is it

same here, nice write up though

[HazMat1]

Nice write up. It will help allot of newbies and everyone can modify it to fit there likeing.
Thanks for taking the time to put it all in print.
Jerod

[chindo]

Nice... seems to be a lot of work but it looks to be worth it.. looks like you never even played with it...

[ttwelder]

i do the exact same as brushless bomb eccept after blowing off chassis with compresser, i soak the whole thing down with pb blaster pure silicone and let it drip dry in the sun.
this lubes all joints that water can hide and allows dirt and grime to come off even easier next time.

just my 2.5 cents

[zignzag]

Yup!, good write up for a more detailed cleaning. Should be done like that once in a while or when it's put away for a few months during winter or whatever other reason.

[Big John!]

I stay outta the mud whenever possible and blow mine off with the compressor. My detailed cleanings usually come with tear down type fixes. I seem to do a lot of them so my junk stays pretty clean, haha.

[MCRIPPPer]

wow. am i the only one who gets my baja SPOTLESSSSSSSSS. ???

if I'm going to clean it, i take it down to kit form and clean every part with hondabright.

i even dismantle the radio box and redo it every now and then. i should snap a pic of my super clean baja.....

[batmoot]

cleaning the thing in a kitchen sink...wife must be at work!!

[detroiteddy13]

Originally Posted by MCRIPPPer

wow. am i the only one who gets my baja SPOTLESSSSSSSSS. ???

if I'm going to clean it, i take it down to kit form and clean every part with hondabright.

i even dismantle the radio box and redo it every now and then. i should snap a pic of my super clean baja.....

no, no you are not. i strip my baja down to nothing after EVERY time out. 5 minutes or hours, doesn't matter. i am very OCD when it comes to a clean rc. i even clean and re-grease boots/ cups and every couple runs the trans..... it is a sick-ness.....love it though