I have just acquired and 86 evo sportster...it's had a lot of engine work according to the previous owner and it runs very well for 30 years old. It's aluminum so the blocks in pretty bad shape. I need guidance on how to go about making this thing look brand new...she needs a lot of cosmetic work and I'm new to this game (I'm a young guy with a decently old Harley hahaha) tips would be awesome..I want to learn!

 

Get some Simichrome metal polish and get to rubbin'. Is it an 883 or a 1200 or were they 1000 ? It would be great to see a photo or two.

 

its a first year evo sportster, one of the only evos with a stock 1100 engine i believe. its been swapped out to a 1200 since tho. The photos are in progressing order from the day I found it in the barn compared to what I have done so far.

 

Congrats on the bike! You get that aluminum cleaned up and that's going to be a good looking scoot. I love my sportster and wish I bought it sooner.

 

the problem is i cant seem to get the aluminum to shine up...its all oxidized and pitted

 

Not sure with your year, but HD likes to clear coat the aluminum. That is what is all white and shitty looking.

Get some Scotch Brite pads and 0000/000 steel wool and remove all of the clear coat. Once you get back down to aluminum, Mother's Aluminum polish will make it look like chrome again. This will be a lot of work but well worth it. Good luck.

 

Its the first year evo and yes it was coated...the problem is, is while it sat most of the coat came off in different decades (lol)which led different patterns of where and shittyness...but the oxidized and pitted aluminum should still shine up with that style polish?

 

Yes, aluminum is good that way. Pitting may remain but you can really doll her up with effort and Mother's. PITA on your fingers for sure. A buffing wheel can help with some of the bigger areas. I did the rocker boxes on my Ironhead that way a very long time ago, my buddies thought I had them chromed. I just had a cheapo flexible attachment to a drill.

 

If you are able to, then pull everything off and soda blast it before polishing.

The heads will come nice and clean that way. You can't polish them anyway as the casting isn't smooth, but the valve spacers and covers will look amazing.

Maybe just ride it and have fun for now, do the heavy work during the winter.

Nice scoot, make her shine.

P.S. I love my Super E. It's a great carb.

 

haha sadly winter will be here soon...and i will be tearing it all the way down then...hopefully between the blasting and polishing will help her out..shes come along way...thanks