how do I make he engine shine?

[J_C]

Thanks Bud, but all the credit goes to reno bruce and keith krause; I just used a cross of their techniques. Have fun!

[Ishamael]

So I was reading on the caswell forums about removing the clear-coat or anodizing on the aluminum before you polish. On an 82 GS450L, which am I looking at? My guess is anodized, but I don't know.

So once I've determined which type of coating I have, I have to remove it. What I read was - Easy-Off oven cleaner for the anodizing, aircraft stripper for the clear coat. Is that right?

[J_C]

Aircraft stripper worked great for me on the clear coat. It just shrivels right up and you can peel / scrape it off. On my 80 GS1100L I don't think I had any anodizing?

[Ishamael]

Aircraft stripper worked great for me on the clear coat. It just shrivels right up and you can peel / scrape it off. On my 80 GS1100L I don't think I had any anodizing?

OK, cool. Where does one buy aircraft stripper.....besides at an airport? ;-)

[renobruce]

OK, cool. Where does one buy aircraft stripper.....besides at an airport? ;-)

Most Walmarts have it, or you can get it at any automotive paint supply store

[Ishamael]

Most Walmarts have it, or you can get it at any automotive paint supply store

Cool, thanks! I think I've found my winter project!

Sadly, I've also found my winter, as it was 33 degrees out this morning.

[Pearson]

Any ideas on how to get deep within the engine fins? I've tried the brass wheel on my dremel but get these results since it won't reach all the way to the back. Would some kind of a buffing wheel on a drill be the way to go?

[renobruce]

Any ideas on how to get deep within the engine fins? I've tried the brass wheel on my dremel but get these results since it won't reach all the way to the back. Would some kind of a buffing wheel on a drill be the way to go?

Are you trying to clean the fins or polish them? I would think it would be hard to polish the fins and make them look consistent. The brass wheel or something similar will in effect "polish" them by removing the matty finish. If you want to just clean them, use a good cleaner like Simple Green or Purple Power and an old toothbrush and baby bottle brushes and scrub like hell. That's what I did.

[J_C]

Eh. There comes a point where scrubbing like hell just doesn't cut it. I have some baked oil on parts of mine that just isn't coming off. Even scrubbing with a brass brush using stuff more powerful than simplegreen wouldn't remove it.

I wish there was a simple solution like a flapper wheel. Has anyone ever tried the flapper to clean, not polish, the fins?

[HammerHead]

Are you trying to clean the fins or polish them? I would think it would be hard to polish the fins and make them look consistent. The brass wheel or something similar will in effect "polish" them by removing the matty finish. If you want to just clean them, use a good cleaner like Simple Green or Purple Power and an old toothbrush and baby bottle brushes and scrub like hell. That's what I did.

Man that is pretty...............

[Pearson]

Are you trying to clean the fins or polish them? I would think it would be hard to polish the fins and make them look consistent. The brass wheel or something similar will in effect "polish" them by removing the matty finish. If you want to just clean them, use a good cleaner like Simple Green or Purple Power and an old toothbrush and baby bottle brushes and scrub like hell. That's what I did.

aw hell, I'd settle for half the shine you or Keith have on your bikes. I'm not interested in show finish, but she's got to look respectable when I finally reveal the finished bike.

[renobruce]

Eh. There comes a point where scrubbing like hell just doesn't cut it. I have some baked oil on parts of mine that just isn't coming off. Even scrubbing with a brass brush using stuff more powerful than simplegreen wouldn't remove it.

Like this?




Mine was pretty rough... lots of oil and road grime.

Have you tried bleach? I wonder if that would help.

[HammerHead]

Like this?




Mine was pretty rough... lots of oil and road grime.

Have you tried bleach? I wonder if that would help.

Now here's a picture that looks really familiar..............

[HammerHead]

I used engine degreaser and let it soak in really good. It crempled the plastic coating that was on the covers but that need to come off anyway. Then I used solvent and a small wire brush to clean the fins because I also had cooked on grease that even the degreaser would not get off. Its just a lot of work to get that crap off of alum. and you have to have a wire brush thats small enough to get in between the fins. JC suggested a flapper wheel which I think is a good idea. I've seen them at the hardware store and the flaps are at about a 30 degree angle which would allow you to get between the fins, maybe.
Let us know what you end up doing as I will be faced with the same issue in the near future.
Thanks,
*Steve*

[froldt]

Reading through this thread makes my hands ache already. Made an offer on a bike today, and if he takes it, I'll have this to look forward to. The bike was a commuter, and I don't think he did much more than hose it off. Of course, I'm inspired by what it can (and will) look like!