Hey all,
I have a 93 1200 with the aluminum outer primary cover that has seen better days. It looks like it is oxidized/finish has whitish type spots on it...Has anyone ever seen anything like this? Any idea if i can clean it or do i have to replace the cover? If so, can i get another aluminum one somewhere? I don't think i wan to start to getting into the chrome because once you start, you always want a little more. Thanks for all of the help in advance...

 

Yes, I've seen it, and it's just oxidation/pitting. You can clean it up by sanding the whole cover down with fine sand paper and then buffing it with rouge & buffing wheel. What type of finish you want, (buffed aluminum or chrome), depends on you. If you progressively get to the real fine sandpaper and really buff the cover out, you can get it to basically look exactly like chrome.....Or just slightly sand it and then barely buff it out for the factory aluminum look.

 

Beware though, to buff it out to a chrome finish is A LOT, I repeat, A LOT of work. You may not be up for it. I know I am just leaving mine because it's not worth the extra effort for me. (My bike would look weird with all of it being nasty and one shiny primary cover, haha)

 

I am not looking to chrome it...just back to aluminum finish. what grain sandpaper? wet or dry? Have you ever used mother's aluminum polish? Does that produce the same results? Thanks guys.

 

When I did my fork lowers and headlight eyebrow, I did a combination of dry and then wet sanding. I think I ended with something like 1200 or 2000 grit wet sandpaper, and then buffed it out to look like chrome. Yes, you could use the Mother's aluminum polish and powerball. The polish and powerball really did wonders on my truck rims. Heck, you could just use some scotchbrite pads and then buff it out a little too.

 

Can you use the same type of method for cleaning the front wheel rims? I have some oxidation there and on the front forks. Looking to clean the hell out of her today so any tips would be great.

 

Try some 0000 steel wool saturated with mothers alum polish.Works wonders.

 

Thanks, I am going to give it a shot. Any other cleaning tips would be greatly appreciated as well. I am going to scour the other forums too, but any particular secrets would be great.

 

Thanks for all of the great insight. I am going to try the mothers on steel wool too.