Anyone have experience cleaning smoke damaged chrome? A bike that was in a burning building, but wasn't burnt, just a layer of smoke on the chrome and paint?

 

chrome polish from mothers will work just takes a little elbow grease

 

Should come off easily with any chrome cleaner. I use Mother's (I think it is labeled Chrome and Metal Polish).

On the paint, a good wash followed by polishing should work.

 

Try some Boms Away. Best chrome cleaner I've every used. J&P cycles sells it.

 

TSP.........trisodiumphosphate. No elbow grease

 

not even gonna mention the "P" word

 

P.....?

 

Brass O
chrome and aluminum polish works wonders.

 

I'd call the insurance company first.
I worked for over 10 years in sales within the automotive field. I would deal with about 2-3 fires in mechanic shops per year. We sold tools, equipment and tool boxes in these shops. I can tell you that you can clean up the chrome and painted areas of a tool box and make them look fairly decent, however, somewhere between over night and a few weeks, they will begin to look horrible again.
If at all possible, I'd try to get insurance to total it. A good insurance company will go ahead and total it because they know what I just described. A not so good insurance company will pay to have it cleaned and then you'll fight with them later for another claim.
Good luck

 

It is an insurance bike. I just want to know if it can be cleaned up, how hard it will be, or if I'll be buying new chrome if I buy it.