Question...
All the major internals on a 1990 Evo have been done and i am hoping for the best there.
My engine rebuilder guy has glass blasted the entire motor including all the very aged and very bad looking aluminum parts.
My question is ... what is the best way to bring these glass blasted alumium parts back to there shiny original state AND what is the best way to seal them as Mother Harley did.?

 

Something like this?
http://www.kutterharleyonline.com/ha...ge_580440596=2

 

With fresh beads in the blaster, the aluminum castings actually look better than new, with a sheen to them, or at least here.
If you coat them, that can dis-color over time.
Scott

 

Hit the freshly blasted aluminum with a stainless wire brush by hand. Not hard, but it takes a little time, especially the fins. It gives the aluminum a nice sheen. Yd

 

Thanks Hillside .,
Can you elaborate a little here as im sure all others are wondering about this .
Question :
After glass or whatever blasting of old aluminum parts , what is the best way to ensure that the aluminum parts will hold there shine .?
Is there a way to do this with a final coat of some type or should there be some other way .???
Danged if i can find any real info. here.
Appreciate any Hillside help here.

 

Did you miss this part of his answer?

 

Sorry Beerervet , cant access or too dumb to get it .?

 

Many "clear" coatings, especially where heat is involved, will turn yellowish and continue to get worse (like the stuff they used to put on HD mags). Instead of having to strip a coating off it makes more sense to leave it alone and clean when necessary. YD's suggestion will smooth the beaded surface and make it easier to clean.

 

Yes, don't put a coating on it! Been there, done that. Try the stainless brush, you will be surprised at what it looks like when you are done.

To keep the raw aluminum clean, just make sure you keep it clean, don't use any harsh chemicals (like acids) on it. Be careful of the type of cleaners you use on the engine during routine cleaning, some "aluminum wheel cleaners" are baaaaad chit for your aluminum, paint, and other metals. They can breakdown the paint, remove metal finishes, and oxidize metals prematurely.

Nice safe cleaners like s-100 and an occasional stainless brushing of the fins and other non coated aluminum surfaces will make the engine look new forever. YD

 

we glass bead street driven bikes BUT on the inside of the cases Glass shot breakes down to a super fine media and it gets trapped in the pores of the coarse finish of the alloy, < not a good thing

then we believe it is released into the oil as the engine gets hot I said WE believe this

soo what WE Do is paint the complete interior of the engine with Glyptol < it is a product that covers up the glass media and traps it in place it also aids in the transfer of heat from the oil -

originally glyptol was used on elect motor armatures to dispell heat it has an orange red color you might have seen it before

we also with the antique bikes blend a series of different media - corn huskers - walnut shells - peanut shells and alike to get the 90 year old just out the box for the first time look to the aluminum - next time you see a museum piece you will see what is done

that is actually Proprietary what we blend and how we do it --

eastwood has it glyptol but they dont always have it the catalog -- johnjzjz