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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Corroded aluminum
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Message started by TVRacer on 04/07/05 at 09:56:30

Title: Corroded aluminum
Post by TVRacer on 04/07/05 at 09:56:30

Is this a lost cause or can the case be polished out to remove all the pitting and look like new?

Tom

http://www.tvracer.com/images/web/corroded_aluminum.jpg

Title: Re: Corroded aluminum
Post by lancer on 04/07/05 at 10:08:09

Looks like you need to do some grinding before you start the polishing...how deep are the pits?

Title: Re: Corroded aluminum
Post by TVRacer on 04/07/05 at 10:55:22

I don't know, it's on a bike I'm thinking about, but haven't seen other than a photo.

I gather the surface is pretty rough. I've read some articles about having to use wet/dry sandpaper. I don't mind putting work into it, if it will look good as new.

The other solution would be to buy new looking used case covers. What are the chances of finding these?

Tom

Title: Re: Corroded aluminum
Post by Kropatchek on 04/07/05 at 14:54:48

Check E-bay first and then if you are prepared to spend the money: buy new.
Price indication www.ronayers.com

Note : in 1996 the partnumber of the LH cover changed.

Greets
Kropatchek ;D

Title: Re: Corroded aluminum
Post by cphilip on 04/07/05 at 16:12:31

That probably can be polished out. Its hard to tell how bad it is from the pictures but I see worse Polished out. Starting with some 320 then 600 then on down with 1200 and start the compounds then. Best done apart though... These Savages seem to have some sort of a clear coating on them thats more what comes off first and once is does it tends to undermine the rest of it. So once you start your sort of commited to finishing the whole thing. And because your ending up with raw Aluminum Once it will continue to need maintenance without recoating in some sort of way... but can look nice if kept polished. I have seen some nice work done with bead blasting and leaving it sort of rough with the texture of the media in it. And some repainted with high temp engine paint look good. And there is a clear powder coating that is high temp stuff but I am not all that familiar with it. I heard some done.

All the Aluminum trim bits on that last Vespa project I just posted were polished out with 600 grit then 1200 and then compounded and finaly polished. They then were clear coated.

Title: Re: Corroded aluminum
Post by slavy on 04/07/05 at 17:00:34

Piece of cake. Almost every bike made before 88 I buy is in a simillar condition. First thing You do is You strip the clear coating with paint stripper. When You strip it all of a sudden the things will look easier. You can use a carb cleaner as well. After that You might use directly a buffing wheel with a compound or You can ise first some 500 grid sand paper and after that a buffer.
You will do a better job if You remove the cover, but it is possible to be done on the bike too.
Have fun!

Title: Re: Corroded aluminum
Post by TVRacer on 04/07/05 at 18:35:42

Geez, you are all soooo helpful!! I surely appreciate it. I am not certain if the seller will accept my offer, but at least I have more confidence that I can take care of the corrosion on the bike :)

Tom

Title: Re: Corroded aluminum
Post by WD on 04/07/05 at 22:04:53

Most of that appears to be the Suzuki standard under clear coat "chalk". Strip the clear, sand down to 1000 grit or so, apply zoopseal (good stuff, you can get it online, believe site is that name dot com), and forget about it. Are you buying it to ride it or to look at it?
-WD

Title: Re: Corroded aluminum
Post by Greg_650 on 04/08/05 at 07:19:32

You also have the option of paint, but you really need to pull the engine to do that....

Title: Re: Corroded aluminum
Post by TVRacer on 04/08/05 at 08:57:55

WD,
Never heard of Zoopseal. I just checked out their website. Looks great...but NOT cheap ::)

Ride while riding, look at while not riding :D

Greg,
I have even considered powdercoating the wheels, but I like polished aluminum too much to consider painting the engine :)

Tom

Title: Re: Corroded aluminum
Post by WD on 04/08/05 at 09:20:16

Yep, it's a product for the moneyed old goat, trailer queen street rod scene. But, the stuff works...

Ride when riding, look when not riding. :D Cute, might have to "borrow" that line sometime.

There is a powder coat you can use on the polished bits that won't change the look all that much. It is a polished aluminum color...same look, no work.
-WD

Title: Re: Corroded aluminum
Post by TVRacer on 04/08/05 at 20:48:52

WD,
I even thought about powdercoating the wheels, until I realized the spokes would all have to be removed. Too much work :)

Tom

Title: Re: Corroded aluminum
Post by LondonThing on 04/10/05 at 06:55:07

TVRacer wrote:

WD,
I even thought about powdercoating the wheels, until I realized the spokes would all have to be removed. Too much work :)

Tom

Why? Are you sure? as iv seen powdercoating done on spoked wheels before wilst keeping the spokes in there... Hummmm....

Title: Re: Corroded aluminum
Post by WD on 04/10/05 at 08:25:13

Spokes only need removed if you don't want tem coated, or coated a different color. Coat the spokes, they are just going to rust anyway.
-WD

Title: Re: Corroded aluminum
Post by TVRacer on 04/10/05 at 09:36:07

I thought powdercoating the wheels would be cool! But the powdercoater I use leaves the spokes in, unless of course I wanted to pay the extra $ to coat each spoke and then the extra $ to relace.

So he powdercoats the rim and spokes as one unit. What good does that do if I need to tighten/readjust a spoke or more...they are sealed to the rim ???

Tom

Title: Re: Corroded aluminum
Post by Greg_650 on 04/10/05 at 12:33:38

WD wrote:

Spokes only need removed if you don't want tem coated, or coated a different color. Coat the spokes, they are just going to rust anyway.
-WD

Aw, just shoot it with appliance epoxy. It won't make it go faster, lean harder, or stop quicker 8)

Title: Re: Corroded aluminum
Post by WD on 04/10/05 at 14:59:28

But it will let you hose off the wheel and go, as opposed to spending hours trying to keep the spokes and rim clean... A lousy day riding is better than a perfect day cleaning. ;D
-WD

Title: Re: Corroded aluminum
Post by TVRacer on 04/10/05 at 15:15:32

You guys are a kick....that means fun :D

Seriously, do you think that would be a good thing, powdercoating the spokes in?

I don't know, that is why I am asking. Again, what if spokes need to be adjusted?

Greg,
I have no experience with appliance epoxy so I don't know what advantages, if any, it would have over powdercoating. I can tell you I just had my race car chassis powdercoated and it is beautiful and durable.

Tom

Title: Re: Corroded aluminum
Post by WD on 04/10/05 at 23:44:46

Appliance epoxy=dig at my expense (I tend to paint over chrome, I hate trying to keep it clean). Appliance epoxy is more chip resistant than standard enamels. Not as strong as powdercoat unless baked on like powdercoat (and even then...).

I'd powder coat the whole thing. Once you hit the spoke ends with a wrench, a little leverage should (key word) crack the coating loose where they go into the rim. Again, should, in 7 years, my spokes haven't needed adjusted. So, I don't know. You could use masking tape on the spokes, have the rim and hub dusted, and pull the tape before baking, but, you might end up with polka-dotted spokes. I painted mine, with a detail brush and alkyd enamel. Not recommended, way too much like work, especially since the hubs and spokes are black, the rim center and spoke nipples bright orange...
-WD

Title: Re: Corroded aluminum
Post by TVRacer on 04/11/05 at 22:37:14

Thanks WD!

Tom