Hi!  My bike is a 2000, but there are a few small rust spots on the fenders, and the underside of the fenders have some rust.  E.g. A small rust spot on the corner of the front fender, a few scratches on the side of the fuel tank, and one spot on the rear render.  I'm guessing that a previous owner had the bike fall over, due to where the few scrapes and scratches are.

Anyway, my husband and I removed the seats, fenders, chrome side handles (rails?), rear tire and other chromes parts on the bike that were necessary to remove the rear tire (acccording to the Clymer Manual).   Now, we want to remove the rust, put on primer paint, and the main paint etc. and re-assemble everything.  

So...are there any suggestions on the best ways to remove the rust, and then do the painting?  The majority of rust seems to be surface rust, but I do want to do a proper job, and then wash and wax the bike really well.  

Also, are there any really good products to clean and care for the chrome parts?  I purchased Yahama Luster Polish, and Never Dull, on the recommendations of a local bike shop.  

I'd appreciate any advice you have!!!  We are hoping to work on the bike tomorrow and have it ready to be re-assembled by next weekend.

DianeS.

Thanks!  Good to know that product is a good one.

Should I just use sandpaper to remove the rust, or is there a product for that?  Good primer paints??

DianeS.

I restore old bikes and deal with rust alot  :'(

Sand the rust smooth with 360 grit sandpaper (maybe some 220 if the 360 isn't cutting it). Put some Metal Prep (phosphoric acid) on the rust and scrub with a Scotchbrite pad. This will prevent the rust from returning. Follow the directions on the bottle for how long to leave it on.

The Metal Prep and Scotchbrite pads are available at automotive paint stores.

If you don't treat the rust it will return eventually, bubbling your nice paint job. Sandblasting will also stop rust but it is for more serious cases.

necropsy wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:04:


I used one time on some over the transome stainless headers and it seemed to stink the first time they  heated up meaning it had left some type of residue that may very discolor chrome.  

have you been using on the head pipe with out ill effect?

My Dad used Neverdull on his Trucks. #2 Daughter inherited all of his supply, huge cans of the stuff, I'd bet she got 10 cans of it and she searches for a way to use it. It does have something in it that leaves a residue but if you wipe it off really good it does a great job of cleaning. My girls used to clean all Dad's chrome on the Trucks as they came in. (This was before they were teenagers) they still thought it was fun. Now she uses it on her bike and VW Bug.

I gotta say that Nevrdull was preferred to Brasso for cleaning brightwork (shiny metal stuff) in the Navy.  If it was really tarnished to start with, we'd give it a bath overnight in bug juice (generic Kool-Aid) mixed double strength without the sugar.  The acid in it eats tarnish.

So far as rust goes, naval jelly will remove it.