This is one thing I've never been able to deal with on my bike since I got it - the oxidized "aluminium" on the forks. Any tips on this?

Thanks

 

Throw those ugly aluminum forks in the trash and get chrome, or have them powder coated.

 

I used #000 steel wool and Flitz paste metal polish on one of my bikes and it cleaned them up real nice. Took the whole day, but the result was worth it. After that, you have to stay on top of it. A body shop friend polished his and clear coated.

 

Thanks. I've had this on other bikes and a bit of 3m scour pad or steel wool plus Mother's or rubbing compound and it would knock down. This is apparently structural oxidation :-/ Will check out the Flitz.

 

steel wool and coke works too. Than a good metal polish and wax

 

Two products I like for polishing aluminum are Blue Magic Metal Polish and Nevr-Dull. They will both turn things a little black at first, but keep polishing and they will bring back some shine. The amount of shine depends on the amount of elbow grease applied. It can be a long process.

 

I used a sock turned inside out(more abrasive side of the sock) and some mothers metal polish. if you wrap the sock around the fork tube you can grab each end of the sock and pull back and forth rapidly. The oxidation on mine was not that bad though.

 

Wet sand with like 800 grit sand paper then 1000 then 1500 then 2000 then use a good polish like Mothers, Never Dull and there is a product called Hoosier Metal polish that is fabulous Google it. Or remove them and get Powdercoated any color under the sun.

 

All good tips. I did mine two seasons ago when I had to replace the seals. Did a total disassembly but not necessary. My 94 dyna had the original clear coat and it was looking nasty.

I used paint stripper to get the old clear coat off, then did like what others mentioned using various grits of wet sand paper. My goal was to keep the original "brushed" look but I did not want to re-clear it.

Using the wet sandpaper to get the nasty stuff off like 220, then went over it 400/600. Can't remember if I went any finer but was not to worried because of the finish I was going after. If your gonna polish them then go finer. I used the green 3m scotch brite and "grained" it (for lack of a better term) by wrapping the pad around the fork and twisting while paying attention to pattern or grain.

It turned out really well, and I just wax the aluminum 2 or 3 times a year when I wax the bike and it seems to be holding up well (bike is kept in garage). If it does get funky, I can touch it up with the scotch brite.

The clear from the factory and any clear that you put back on is only going to chip, peel, and yellow over time. So leaving the clear coat off with either the factory brushed look or with polish will make easier to keep it looking good. I did this with my sporty years ago on the forks, primary and valve covers and could not be happier with it. YD

 

One more option from MoCo for protecting bare aluminum: Harley Preserve Bare Aluminum Protectant (99845-07). I used it once and it has held up nicely. Blue Magic also leaves some type of silicone coating that you can feel.