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Message started by VOLKY on 09/17/11 at 11:25:08

Title: Pitted Aluminum
Post by VOLKY on 09/17/11 at 11:25:08

I went ahead started polishing the aluminum parts of the engine. I started with the smallest piece that covers the belt pulley. After removing the clearcoat with aircraft paint stripper, i sanded the metal starting with 600 grit, then 1,000, and finally with 1,200 grit. Then polished by hand with aluminum polisher.

Looks a lot better when you compare the old and the new.

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/volkyland/DSCF3745-1.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/volkyland/DSCF3746.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/volkyland/DSCF3744-1.jpg

Title: Re: Pitted Aluminum
Post by Starlifter on 09/17/11 at 11:35:38

Nice, how long will it stay that way? Do you reapply the clearcoat?

Title: Re: Pitted Aluminum
Post by VOLKY on 09/17/11 at 12:35:27

Starlifter:
I did not apply clear coat. I tried that before and it turns yellowish in color.
I don't know how long it will last between polishes. I guess I have to polish very often. Eventually I might powder coat these parts in black.

Title: Re: Pitted Aluminum
Post by drums1 on 09/17/11 at 15:43:10

Good lawd, that looked almost like my side covers. Nice polish job. So, the clear coat can't just be sanded off? You need to use stripper 1st?

Title: Re: Pitted Aluminum
Post by MotoBuddha on 09/17/11 at 17:15:47

Mine were so bad that I started with 220 grit. My covers probably weigh a lot less now. ;D

Title: Re: Pitted Aluminum
Post by MotoBuddha on 09/17/11 at 17:20:06

3620273F2163520 wrote:

Good lawd, that looked almost like my side covers. Nice polish job. So, the clear coat can't just be sanded off? You need to use stripper 1st?

You can sand the clear coat, but it's a lot faster to use stripper. Besides, in some instances, it's mostly the clear that's damaged. Once it's stripped you might find that most of the aluminum is fine. If you sand the clear off, then you scratch all the aluminum, even if it was fine before.

Title: Re: Pitted Aluminum
Post by verslagen1 on 09/17/11 at 17:29:47

look up zoop

Title: Re: Pitted Aluminum
Post by MotoBuddha on 09/17/11 at 17:56:23

485B4C4D525F595B500F3E0 wrote:

look up zoop

Last report, Zoop is out of business.

Title: Re: Pitted Aluminum
Post by mmosel on 09/18/11 at 02:49:47

It's a real shame this clear coat starts to look so bad. Mine has been getting worse. Having my bike outside through the rains didn't help much. I'm garaged now, but still, I wish they didn't get like this.

Title: Re: Pitted Aluminum
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/18/11 at 09:41:23

Mine has been under cover nearly its whole life & the clear looks raspy.

Title: Re: Pitted Aluminum
Post by VOLKY on 09/18/11 at 18:17:19

After I stripped the clear coat, it was not as bad as it looks. Must be a cheap clearcoat they spray on this parts.

Title: Re: Pitted Aluminum
Post by stinger on 09/19/11 at 00:49:05

First off, forget the clear coat. I polished my casings using a stripper first then used one of those foam sanding pads. Works great for getting in all the curvy places. They come in fine, medium and coarse. Then I use a polishing wheel on it and it's hard to tell its not chrome. I can read a newspaper on the reflection from the casings. Takes maybe 2 or 3 hours from start to finish. The clear coating makes it dull and it will flake. I did mine 2 or 3 years ago and all I do is hit it with some metal polish and it shines like new. As soon as I can figure out how to post pics( you would think after 8 years I would have tried by now) I'll post some.

Title: Re: Pitted Aluminum
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/19/11 at 10:03:43

I am no metallurgist, but I would think that the shinier ( smoother) you get the aluminum, the easier it would be to keep up. I would think the tiny scratches that make the difference between "shiny" & "mirror finish" would give oxidation an invitation.