Need Advice Before I Ruin Something

So, I have a pressure washer that I am rebuilding, the engine is one of the B&S 3.75 HP standard vertical shafts, nothing special about it to cause it to be a pain.....except one thing. Anything that was exposed to the elements that could corrode has corroded, 99% of which is surface corrosion. Plus the paint is all nasty (Labels too, which I discussed in a previous post), so I have been using a 6" brass brush wheel on a bench grinder and various brass brushes on a drill. The problem is all the nooks and crannies, I intend on repainting so I want it all off.



So I go out and get myself a nice new bead blaster. Now just like anyone with a cool new toy, I want the bead blast the hell out of everything in site. Limiting myself to the engine I am working on right now, if it has something like carbon or rust is covering the metal, I want to blast it!



So here's my question for those of you with lots more experience than me (probably 99.9%): What can I and can't I use the bead blaster on? I decided on 80 Grit glass beads based on some other discussion forums I read that stated that medium was safe for aluminum, but wanted to check here. I know I won't be going near the piston or the cylinder walls, but can I clean the head of all the carbon? The flywheel is very corroded, and the fins are impossible to reach with any type of brush; is it normal clean it with a bead blaster?



Any suggestions or help will be very appreciated. I will NOT get butt-hurt if you tell me I'm an idiot either, just trying to learn without breaking too much. (Already learned the hard way not to remove flywheels with 2-pronged gear pullers----CRACK!)



Thanks,



BN