Tarnished 2012 primary cover!@@#$%!!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 4,416
Likes: 88
From: San Quirino, Italy
strip off the factory coating and polish it. the cam cover can be taken off because there is nothing behind it. the primary cover should be polished on the bike. it will look really good after that. then use wax to keep them shiny between polishing. i use bike bright or s100 to clean mine. a cheap alternative is dish soap or car wash. i have found that semi-chrome works very well to polish bare aluminum.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,881
Likes: 3
From: Pennslytucky
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,881
Likes: 3
From: Pennslytucky
i know that you can strip them with a buffer and clay bars but that takes a while. paint stripper will eat any painted or coated surface so be careful if you decide to go that route. maybe some other guys know a better way to strip off that crap. in a few years it turns yellow anyway.
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4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Texas
strip off the factory coating and polish it. the cam cover can be taken off because there is nothing behind it. the primary cover should be polished on the bike. it will look really good after that. then use wax to keep them shiny between polishing. i use bike bright or s100 to clean mine. a cheap alternative is dish soap or car wash. i have found that semi-chrome works very well to polish bare aluminum.
What would be good to use to strip it off?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,881
Likes: 3
From: Pennslytucky
if you have never done this or have no friends who could lend you a hand, i would pay a polisher to do it for you. or, you could get some brasso and spend a few hours doing it yourself.
brasso will do the job but i guarantee you your arms will be sore when done.
http://www.google.com/products/catal...ed=0CEQQ8wIwAQ
only use this to strip off the coating. you will be able to tell the areas that are coming off. get it all off then use a polish made for aluminum after that to buff it to a shine like semi-chrome.
http://www.amazon.com/Restoration-Ce.../dp/B000FGICHM
brasso will do the job but i guarantee you your arms will be sore when done.
http://www.google.com/products/catal...ed=0CEQQ8wIwAQ
only use this to strip off the coating. you will be able to tell the areas that are coming off. get it all off then use a polish made for aluminum after that to buff it to a shine like semi-chrome.
http://www.amazon.com/Restoration-Ce.../dp/B000FGICHM
Last edited by jo_mama; Apr 4, 2012 at 08:56 PM.
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Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,126
Likes: 51,455
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Looks like somebody used a wheel cleaner or product not rated for aluminium , need to know what you used or how you washed the bike before a workable solution can be offered . Don't want to make it worse or cost you unnecessarily .
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: cali
Yep. looks like what happens with "Mag Cleaner" or some other Caustic cleaning solution.