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Chroming Outer Primary Cover

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Old Jan 10, 2025 | 06:06 AM
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Default Chroming Outer Primary Cover

Quick question, I am sending this OEM primary cover out to be chromed, tired of the after market **** being unsealable.

What do I do with the bearing? Remove it? Remove it and tell them no chrome in the hole? Or leave it and tell them not to chrome the bearing?

I know chrome is a dipping process, not sure how much they can or cannot control the flow. Having never done this before, I would like to do it once, thanks.


 
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Feb 4, 2025, 05:43 AM
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Update to close the thread. $200 later and we have a pretty chrome OEM 8 bolt cover. I have been having a leak which I felt had increased since our little accident a couple of years ago, I was really hoping to find the old after market cover cracked, no such luck. Starting to think from looking underneath that the transmission seal let go and that is the cause of the leak!??!?! Well taking this bike to Daytona in 3.5 weeks, not tackling that job until after some sunshine and palm trees. Cover installed, everything else looked good, chain did not need adjustment etc.

Then because we are going to Daytona the land of too many State Troopers, I decided a good pre-action plan would be to remove the "blue" running lights from the bike. FLA Police have a thing with blue lights, always a no, no down there and no reason to encourage them to say Hi. Plus I figured riding through the swamp at night, some extra running lamps are a good idea.

That closes this thread, success and ready for warm temps and cold beer.




Blue cop magnet lights


Clear for better night time visibility. After this picture I also adjusted the blue window down closer to the nacelle, that gap was making me crazy.

 
Old Jan 10, 2025 | 06:13 AM
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Remove the bearing and you dont want chrome in the hole because it adds dimension. If one insists on pressing the bearing in a reduced diameter hole it will shrink the bearing complicating your life.
 
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Old Jan 10, 2025 | 06:15 AM
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Yes take out the bearing. I had stuff chromed yrs ago and be careful of mating surfaces after they get done buffing it out. They may not be as straight and sometimes the outer places where the bolts go can be polished and mating surfaces rounded a bit. Sometimes can cause a sealing issues.. Just somethings to be aware of.
 
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Old Jan 10, 2025 | 08:16 AM
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Put a cork in it
 
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Old Jan 10, 2025 | 08:46 AM
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Any chromer ( with HD experience ) will know how to handle it ... Removing the bearing is suggested ... Quality chrome work used to be common ... Not so much anymore ... Brown's and ACP ( Atlantic Coast Plating ) were among the best ...ACP did my Shovel rocker boxed and they came back flawless ( NO ACNE ) which is common in shovel rocker boxes ... Not sure if either of them are still open ... Good Luck
 

Last edited by Uncle Larry; Jan 10, 2025 at 09:45 AM.
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Old Jan 10, 2025 | 02:31 PM
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don't chrome it weakens mine and it cracked a year later get some polish and shine the heck out of it polish aluminum looks better to me wow check the price of an aluminum side cover vs a chrome side cover
 
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Old Jan 10, 2025 | 02:52 PM
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not a fan of chroming alloy chroming quality is not what it used to be like. ive seen it peeling off. a good buffing job and it will look like chrome
 
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Old Jan 10, 2025 | 02:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Uncle Larry
Any chromer ( with HD experience ) will know how to handle it ... Removing the bearing is suggested ... Quality chrome work used to be common ... Not so much anymore ... Brown's and ACP ( Atlantic Coast Plating ) were among the best ...ACP did my Shovel rocker boxed and they came back flawless ( NO ACNE ) which is common in shovel rocker boxes ... Not sure if either of them are still open ... Good Luck
Browns closed just a few years ago, sadly.
 
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Old Jan 10, 2025 | 08:42 PM
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wow couldn't find a polish aluminum one on the internet they seem to be sold out LOL keep that one the way it is
 
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Old Jan 10, 2025 | 08:46 PM
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Originally Posted by 1981 suprglide
don't chrome it weakens mine and it cracked a year later get some polish and shine the heck out of it polish aluminum looks better to me wow check the price of an aluminum side cover vs a chrome side cover
... and I've chromed several with no future problems ... Good Luck
 
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