Chrome engine covers- Bad idea?

[Guest]

I am thinking about getting my clutch cover, stator cover, ignition pickup cover, and sprocket cover chrome plated. But, will the chrome hold in too much heat or will there be little difference? Only the clutch cover and stator cover will have oil behind them and only on the very bottom 15% of the cover too. It is a gs1100e with 1198 kit/ 10.5 compression/ bigger cams, etc. I do run it very hard and yes it has a lockhart oil cooler. What do yall think? Thanks

[Nessism]

There are about a million Harley Davidson's going down the road with chromed engine covers. Chrome will look bright and shinny without all the needed upkeep that polished aluminum requires. Go for it!

[storm 64]

"Chrome don't get you home" is what the old timer I use to work with would always tell me. ☺

[gsrick]

I am thinking about getting my clutch cover, stator cover, ignition pickup cover, and sprocket cover chrome plated. But, will the chrome hold in too much heat or will there be little difference? Only the clutch cover and stator cover will have oil behind them and only on the very bottom 15% of the cover too. It is a gs1100e with 1198 kit/ 10.5 compression/ bigger cams, etc. I do run it very hard and yes it has a lockhart oil cooler. What do yall think? Thanks

I say go for it if you can afford it and that's what you want. Engine covers have been chromed for decades, but I would go for show chrome or triple chrome for longevity. I see some cruisers come into the shop where the chrome is wearing thin and on wheels flaking. So look for a quality dipper and ask for show chrome. If you want to be a little different look into a nickle finish or black chrome. Here is something that will help. https://www.finishing.com/faqs/chrome.shtml

[Kiwi Canuck]

I say go for it if you can afford it and that's what you want. Engine covers have been chromed for decades, but I would go for show chrome or triple chrome for longevity. I see some cruisers come into the shop where the chrome is wearing thin and on wheels flaking. So look for a quality dipper and ask for show chrome. If you want to be a little different look into a nickle finish or black chrome. Here is something that will help. https://www.finishing.com/faqs/chrome.shtml

Great article, thanks for posting.

My suggestion is try polishing the covers first (or have them polished) and see if that gives you the look you want, the cost to have those covers chrome plated will be quite expensive.

[Rijko]

My suggestion is try polishing the covers first (or have them polished) and see if that gives you the look you want, the cost to have those covers chrome plated will be quite expensive.

excellent tip.
Chrome shows every small dent or scratch, so sanding and polishing until you have a perfect finish is a good way to prepare for chrome.

Cost of chrome is high, i did a set including front fork legs - cost me 500.

[Who Dat?]

"Chrome don't get you home" is what the old timer I use to work with would always tell me. ☺

No it doesn't, but it sure looks great while you are sitting on the side of the road, waiting for the tow truck.

..., the cost to have those covers chrome plated will be quite expensive.

I stopped by the local chrome shop to see what they would charge. To do the four covers at the bottom of the engine was going to be about $400.

And that is starting with some highly-polished aluminum already.

Also note that you will have to get new emblems for the covers over the ends of the crank, as well as gaskets, of course.

I am just going to continue breaking out the elbow grease every once in a while.

[Paul.S]

Well thanks for the replies. I will go ahead and polish mine up then and take it to the local chrome shop. I like the look of polished aluminum but don't want to have to maintain it. Plus. chrome of course does look a little better

[dorkburger]

"Chrome don't get you home" is what the old timer I use to work with would always tell me. ☺

Ha, I always heard "if it don't go, chrome it"

Personally I prefer the look of polished aluminum over chrome, but really prefer to not need to fuss over keeping either shiny, so I have neither.
Paul, if chrome is your gig, go for it..... and it sounds like you have plenty of go....

[hillsy]

I have no evidence to back this up so make of it what you will, but when I worked in the shop with a bunch of mechanics that pretty much specialized in making race / drag motors only out of GS and KZ roller bearing engines they would always go with paint over chrome because they said the chrome held in extra heat.

[AMK]

I have no evidence to back this up so make of it what you will, but when I worked in the shop with a bunch of mechanics that pretty much specialized in making race / drag motors only out of GS and KZ roller bearing engines they would always go with paint over chrome because they said the chrome held in extra heat.

This is why you see pot belly stoves in black.

[Rijko]

amazing, i did not know chrome could trap heat so well.

(Source : https://www.findtheneedle.co.uk/comp...er-heat-output)

For example, Feature Radiators’ D-Line contemporary style radiator, comes in white, black or chrome. You would think that in the same size, they would all give the same heat output, but this is not the case. Instead the white and black models give out 20% more heat output than the chrome version. Chrome radiators will always give out less heat (up to 30% less) than a painted equivalent.

So why do chrome radiators give out less heat than painted radiators? There are 3 key reasons why chrome radiators are not able to radiate as much heat out:

1. Firstly, this is down to the scientific phenomenon known as “surface emissivity”. Chrome has a low emissivity value; this means that chrome tends to trap heat and it is difficult for it to emit or radiate heat. This explains why the seatbelt buckle in your car gets so hot on a sunny day. Although this may not make them ideal for “radiators”, chrome does provide an excellent material for drying towels on.
2. Chrome is coating applied on top of another metal, usually mild steel or brass. This means that the heat has to penetrate through 2 layers of metal; and
3. Chrome is as shiny on the inside as it is on the outside meaning it reflects heat back in on itself reducing the amount it can radiate; it has an effect similar to the space blankets you see wrapped around long distance athletes after a race.