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New bars and whats best to bring up old alum. cases to shine again.

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    New bars and whats best to bring up old alum. cases to shine again.

    1981 GS-550T where is the best- cheapest place to get stock size bars,used would be great to. Is there a product to put on the cases to bring up a shine. How about tank badges,side covers,and badges. I know ebay is hit or miss.

    #2
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    SUZUKI:
    1978 GS1000E; 1980 GS1000G; 1982 GS650E; 1982 GS1100G; 1982 GS1100E; 1985 GS700ES
    HONDA: 1981 CB900F Super Sport
    KAWASAKI: 1981 KZ550A-2; 1984 ZX750A-2 (aka GPZ750); 1984 KZ700A-1
    YAMAHA: 1983 XJ750RK Seca

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      #3
      I use sandpaper. Those cases have a clear coat that has to come off first. I start with 200 grit and end up with 4000 grit.
      A buffer and buffer compound will also work.
      1983 GS 1100E w/ 1230 kit, .340 lift Web Cams, Ape heavy duty valve springs, 83 1100 head with 1.5mm oversized SS intake valves, 1150 crank, Vance and Hines 1150 SuperHub, Star Racing high volume oil pump gears, 36mm carebs Dynojet stage 3 jet kit, Posplayr's SSPB, Progressive rear shocks and fork springs, Dyna 2000, Dynatek green coils and Vance & Hines 4-1 exhaust.
      1985 GS1150ES stock with 85 Red E bodywork.

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        #4
        4000 grit???? What the heck is that?

        I recently did some covers and used: Paint stripper - 220 - 400 - 600 - Mothers polish. Damn I hate all that sanding work.
        I was hating life and sick of sanding so before starting on the last cover I went down to Harbor Freight and bought a couple of sticks of "Gray Cutting Compound" and a stiched buffing wheel - chucked it up in my auto polisher. It took a lot of pressure on the wheel but the last cover came out nicely in only a fraction of the time it took to hand sand the other covers. I'm sold.
        Ed

        To measure is to know.

        Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

        Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

        Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

        KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

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          #5
          Microbe paper
          400
          1983 GS 1100E w/ 1230 kit, .340 lift Web Cams, Ape heavy duty valve springs, 83 1100 head with 1.5mm oversized SS intake valves, 1150 crank, Vance and Hines 1150 SuperHub, Star Racing high volume oil pump gears, 36mm carebs Dynojet stage 3 jet kit, Posplayr's SSPB, Progressive rear shocks and fork springs, Dyna 2000, Dynatek green coils and Vance & Hines 4-1 exhaust.
          1985 GS1150ES stock with 85 Red E bodywork.

          Comment


            #6
            I agree with Chef and Nessism on this one. There isn't any product that will shine your covers. It comes down to hand sanding and/or buffing to get the desired result you want.

            Comment


              #7
              get some aircraft stripper and strip the old clear off. i sanded from 400 to 1000 and then hit it with some mothers. you can see the results...

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by catbed View Post
                get some aircraft stripper and strip the old clear off. i sanded from 400 to 1000 and then hit it with some mothers. you can see the results...
                Works AWESOME!!!
                Unless you have several deeper scratches...AC stripper and med/fine grit on the buffer and finish off with glazing compound and treat it to a hand-rubbed coat of Mothers metal polish / sealer and your set!

                Comment


                  #9
                  what about re shooting the clear when done? is that a good or bad idea?

                  Comment


                    #10
                    If you want to protect the finish a clear coat is recommended. Unfortunately, most over the counter clear paints are margional in terms of durability. If you want to do the job right, find a powder coater in your area. Because of the difficulty is finding a suitable paint most people just leave their cases raw. Use some wax and keep the bike clean and it seems like a reasonable way to go.
                    Ed

                    To measure is to know.

                    Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

                    Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

                    Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

                    KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by Dave8338 View Post
                      Works AWESOME!!!
                      Unless you have several deeper scratches...AC stripper and med/fine grit on the buffer and finish off with glazing compound and treat it to a hand-rubbed coat of Mothers metal polish / sealer and your set!
                      Where do you get aircraft stripper? what kind of sealer?

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                        #12
                        Aircraft stripper is not needed although it does work well. The water based strippers are pretty poor but the good stuff that washes off with mineral spirits will cut though Suzuki's case paint easily.
                        Ed

                        To measure is to know.

                        Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

                        Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

                        Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

                        KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by jwhelan65 View Post
                          Where do you get aircraft stripper? what kind of sealer?
                          Walmart has it, as well as some auto parts stores like Kragen.

                          There are many ways to get them to shine. But you must strip the clear first. I did like others and wet sanded progressively up to 2000 grit. Then I used a buffer (bought at Harbor Freight) in my drill and used Mother's aluminum polish to finish. I chose not to clearcoat anything, but I live far away from salt water and the humidity is very low here. The Mother's adds a bit of protection. I have only had to polish my stuff once. I just occasionally go over the parts by hand and that has kept up on the shine.




                          85 GS1150E May '06 BOM
                          79 GS1000S Wes Cooley Beast





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                            #14
                            If the covers are on the bike "WATCH THOSE GASKETS" the rubber around the oil eye will melt if your not careful, start a small spot in the center and work your way around to be safe!!!

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Originally posted by jwhelan65 View Post
                              Where do you get aircraft stripper?
                              I like to use gasket remover in a spray can. You can get double duty out of it. Spray on covers, let sit a minute, wipe off with paper towel. Works great on gaskets, too.

                              From here sand, grind, polish to hearts content. I have been using a high temp clear coat. Looks okay, slight haziness in finish, not sure how long it will last. Do know that without sealer, had to buff almost weekly due to humidity in my area. They don't call it the rust belt for nothing.

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