Chrome

[chef1366]

I love chrome, I put chrome crankcase covers on my bike including the sprocket cover, bought chrome turn signals, chrome mirrors ..... Now my jugs, head and engine look worse then ever. Is there a clearcoat on these parts? Is there a cleaner I can use without removing my top end to get it powder coated? I plan on doing a ring job after this riding season and will powder coat it then, but until then there has to be something to clean up this aluminum. I have a 1980 GS1100L

[jgordon]

[QUOTE=chef1366]I love chrome, I put chrome crankcase covers on my bike including the sprocket cover, bought chrome turn signals, chrome mirrors ..... Now my jugs, head and engine look worse then ever. Is there a clearcoat on these parts?

Yes

Is there a cleaner I can use without removing my top end to get it powder coated?

No

I plan on doing a ring job after this riding season and will powder coat it then, but until then there has to be something to clean up this aluminum.

If I were you I would just ride and have fun until you get ready to do the rings. I have some extra motor parts that you can get bored for your 1166 kit and get powdercoated and also another head that you can get done.

[83'GK]

Uh Oh...We have a Chromosexual on the site!!!

[Sprockets]

A Game of Constrasts

Uh Oh...We have a Chromosexual on the site!!!

Jeje, great GK, great!

If you are planning on doing a ring job, and you don't like the way your engine looks, why don't you paint it? Paint It black! It will contrast with all the chrome you had put on the bike.
Then, when you disassemble the engine you can send the pieces to power coat, and have them clean aluminium-gray color again.

Ensure to clean every trace of oil and dirty, cover the chromed parts and the other parts that you don't want to paint, remove the exhaust system and and then paint the engine with hi temp opaque black paint. You can use some painter tape and the "new york times" to cover the parts you don't want to paint, and you'll enjoy a different bike until you do the ring job.

The best way to fix the hi temp paint to your engine is to heat the engine, so after doing the paint job, take the bike to be the Highway Star of the day.
Just for a warning, The odor of your engine on the first ride would not to be the best, try not to smell it.

I also am a chromosexual jeje, do you have a pic of your machine?

Greetings from Argentina!

[JHawkins]

Chrome lovers eh! and here I am planning to paint over the chrome and make it a nice bright BLACK!

[Desolation Angel]

A little bit of chrome really dresses up a bike. I went with chrome hand levers, oil cap, and gear shift lever to add a little contrast.

Post pics.

[tracy borchert]

chrome

There's nothing cleaner looking than chrome!\\/

[renobruce]

There is only clearcoat on all the side covers and the cam cover. I stripped and polished those pieces. The rest of the engine I scrubbed with Simple Green (concentrated). I tried alot of different cleaners, but the Simple Green worked the best. Use toothbrushes and baby bottle brushes and scrub, scrub, scrub! Mine was pretty dirty, but came out nice. Have patience!!

[tracy borchert]

shine on

There is only clearcoat on all the side covers and the cam cover. I stripped and polished those pieces. The rest of the engine I scrubbed with Simple Green (concentrated). I tried alot of different cleaners, but the Simple Green worked the best. Use toothbrushes and baby bottle brushes and scrub, scrub, scrub! Mine was pretty dirty, but came out nice. Have patience!!

Beautiful renobruce Beautiful!!!!:-D

[renobruce]

Beautiful renobruce Beautiful!!!!:-D

Thanks, Tracy! Lots of work, but worth it!

[chef1366]

Pics

Took some pics but it was rainy and dark and they came out crappy. I will try again tomorrow. Chromosexual huh, to busy laughing to be offended.:-)

[viperg]

Chromosexual@#$?

If it is not stainless, polished, or powder it is chrome! I must admit I too am a "Chromosexual". Easy to clean and looks good. The first chrome job on my bike lasted for 18 years until I had it redone to perfection again four years ago. My shaft is long, smooth and you bet..... it's CHROME!\\/

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j293/seviston/GS1Chromemotor.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j293/seviston/GS11Chromemotorleft.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j293/seviston/GS1.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j293/seviston/GSchrome1.jpg

[chef1366]

Pics

Here are the pics I promised.

[chef1366]

Pics

Here's another one.

[KEITH KRAUSE]

I like shiny stuff too. Chrome or polished aluminum.