General Harley Davidson Chat Forum to discuss general Harley Davidson issues, topics, and experiences.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Aluminum Polish Issues

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 4, 2014 | 06:32 PM
  #1  
LokiBobber's Avatar
LokiBobber
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: Lincoln, NE
Default Aluminum Polish Issues

So I used some aluminum polish on my primary cover and I managed to get some on the inner primary cover. It was black, but now it has a silver or grayish look where the polish touched it. Is there anything I can do to get it back to the original color? Thanks!
 
Old Mar 4, 2014 | 06:35 PM
  #2  
seniorsuperglideE8's Avatar
seniorsuperglideE8
Supporter
Veteran: Navy
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,788
Likes: 5,625
From: along the shore of Mishigami
Supporter
Default

Scrubbing with a good soap/detergent (Dawn) or spraying the area with Brake cleaner.
 
Old Mar 4, 2014 | 07:31 PM
  #3  
monkeyboy22's Avatar
monkeyboy22
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,971
Likes: 840
From: In front of the computer for now.
Default

WD-40 does wonders.
 
Old Mar 4, 2014 | 07:45 PM
  #4  
mariner227's Avatar
mariner227
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 862
Likes: 1
From: Western PA
Default

Scrub it with detergent and a tooth brush. Then apply pig spit, if you can find it!
 
Old Mar 4, 2014 | 07:46 PM
  #5  
perki48's Avatar
perki48
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
15 Year Member
Liked
Top Answer: 10
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,135
Likes: 4,780
From: Sandpoint, Idaho
Default

Originally Posted by monkeyboy22
WD-40 does wonders.
Been using it for a good 25 years to make wrinkle black look like new.
 
Old Mar 5, 2014 | 04:46 AM
  #6  
LokiBobber's Avatar
LokiBobber
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: Lincoln, NE
Default

WD wont have any negative effects on the powder coat?
 
Old Mar 5, 2014 | 06:25 AM
  #7  
dog155's Avatar
dog155
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
Default

Griots Garage sells a wax remover for that very reason,if you decide not to use WD40
 
Old Mar 5, 2014 | 06:29 AM
  #8  
baka1969's Avatar
baka1969
Extreme HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 12,986
Likes: 715
From: NE Philly
Default

Originally Posted by LokiBobber
WD wont have any negative effects on the powder coat?
You can pretty much use WD-40 all surfaces. Even painted tanks and fenders if you want to remove, say, tape residue.
 
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 5, 2014 | 08:42 AM
  #9  
fissco1234's Avatar
fissco1234
Road Master
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 896
Likes: 11
From: Whitehall, MI
Default

Originally Posted by LokiBobber
So I used some aluminum polish on my primary cover and I managed to get some on the inner primary cover. It was black, but now it has a silver or grayish look where the polish touched it. Is there anything I can do to get it back to the original color? Thanks!
I did the same thing on my rear sprocket. Thanks for all the advice. The spot of polish on the wrinkle finish looks like a turd in the middle of a white sheet.
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
kino44
General Harley Davidson Chat
3
Oct 13, 2012 01:36 PM
VASportster
Sportster Models
4
Jul 5, 2011 04:54 PM
toby7362
Sportster Models
8
Jun 15, 2011 09:43 PM
Ventana
Powdercoat & Paint
0
Jun 3, 2011 07:14 PM
OneBlackFly
Primary/Transmission/Driveline/Clutch
3
Mar 28, 2006 06:27 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:15 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE