how do I make he engine shine?

[KEITH KRAUSE]

Cool thanks Adam... but isn't brown courser than the white?

Yes. He must have it mixed up.
Tripoli is a more aggressive compound and should be used for light scratches, etc, and then you follow with white rouge. The white rouge combined with a drill mounted buff, will achieve a brighter shine than semi-chrome or Blue Magic or Mothers too...

[J_C]

Yes, the white is truly doing wonders for my side cases... two down, two to go.

[Pharkmeh]

Cool thanks Adam... but isn't brown courser than the white?

Oi - NO swearing ....ffs


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p.s. thx for all the polishin tips here guyz - when i get the chance to put the bike off the road for a bit I may just get orf my lazy ar$e n have a crack at it... you lot are getting some pretty impressive results...\\/


cheers

Phark

[akreider]

Sorry got them mixed up guys. Just watch out polishing can be very addictive. I have just finished the engine cases and now I am alreading planning on doing the triple trees, forks, swingarm, wheels, rear sets, and parts of the carbs.

Adam

[J_C]

I already feel that way


Only thing thats keeping me from expanding beyond the case covers is the upkeep after things are polished!

[KEITH KRAUSE]

Yup. I've got the wheels, cases, fork legs, outer carbs and aluminum mini signals to keep polished and it is a chore. Looks great but it's work.

[jeeptrix]

Protecting the finish

I have had great luck with 0000 steel wool is the surface is not too bad. If it is rough start with 1000 grit or 2000 grit wet dry sandpaper.

I have turned my grinding wheel into a buffing wheel. I use a red compound followed by a buffing wheel without any compound for finishing.

Now that all is nice and shiney what does everyone use to protect the finish? Is there a spray coating or sealant that lasts. I certainly don't want to spend riding time polishing what I already polished.

[KEITH KRAUSE]

Eastwood recently released a clearcoat (forgot the name they gave it...Zoop Seal?) that they claim will not dull the polishing work like typical clearcoats. Kind of expensive. I was interested in anything that could help me polish less often, but when I read that the sealer must be re-applied every two years, I gave up on it.
I apply a coat of wax now and then after and between polishings and it helps the shine last longer and there's less "cloudiness" by the time I re-polish. I also keep my bike in a fairly warm garage and the bike always gets its blankies. Keeping as much moisture away as possible helps. Living in California helps some but I still have to polish roughly every 6 months. Depends on what level of shine you wish to retain.

[jeeptrix]

Living in Arizona I don't have to worry about a cold garage. But if the clear coat means I only have to polish every two years I say that is a plus.

But at that two year level I suppose you have to remove the clear coat and start all over.

[jeeptrix]

Keith, I have spoke wheels on my GS1000. Any recommendations on getting those polished?

[Dink]

Keith, I have spoke wheels on my GS1000. Any recommendations on getting those polished?

I keep slav.... ah kids around for the polishing duties, amazing what a kid will do for a ride:-D

Dink

[KEITH KRAUSE]

Keith, I have spoke wheels on my GS1000. Any recommendations on getting those polished?

I don't have any experience with shining up spokes.
I do know that since the stock ones are zinc plated, if you polish too much, you'll go right through the relatively thin zinc plating and you'll end up with rusting. I think even occasional polishing will lead to rusting too.
I'd look into chromed spokes. I think it would be too much work to polish the spokes and before long they'd start rusting as I said.

[jeeptrix]

Chrome Spokes

any source for chrome spokes?

that is going to be a long job replacing all them.

[Big T]

First, Thanks to everyone for the tips. I'm cleaning up my front (spoke) wheel and got ****ed that the coating on the wheel rim won't polish off (I'm using the black stick). I'll try a Scotchbrite tonite, followed by fine steel wool if that doesn't work.

As far as the spokes go, I'm replacing mine with stainless steel from Buchanons ($76). You can get chrome spokes from some suppliers, or even the dealer.
I've got an old biker guy here locally that laces wheels for another $75 and it's getting a new tire to boot.

I'll be into the front whell about $300 by the time I'm done, but that's what happens when you own a bike for 28 years!

[HammerHead]

Well well well! I went out today to sears and bought some cheap craftsman white rouge and went to town. I think I could have gotten better results with something from eastwood or caswell, but I am happy with this now. There are still a few microscratches in the light (thats why I took the pic in the sun so they could be seen), but here is the before and after of my sprocket cover!






Note, the entire process went 400 grit wetsand, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, polish, white rouge

Way-ta-go JC, great info.............