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Author Topic: Restoring, but not over-restoring, engine covers?  (Read 2401 times)

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Offline Scott S

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Restoring, but not over-restoring, engine covers?
« on: August 27, 2013, 07:09:31 PM »
 I know the engine covers were lightly polished and then clear coated from the factory. I've got a place that does awesome aluminum polishing, but what's everybody's trick for simply restoring the covers? Is there a way to bring them back to as close to the factory finish as possible?

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Offline seanbarney41

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Re: Restoring, but not over-restoring, engine covers?
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2013, 08:09:43 PM »
sand to about 320 grit, then hit 'em with red scotchbrite...this will get you in the ballpark....certainly not concourse.  Also, factory aluminum was clear coated...
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Offline bjbuchanan

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Re: Restoring, but not over-restoring, engine covers?
« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2013, 08:17:58 PM »
I sand thru the bad crap and then hit them with a wire wheel. I have a dremel and like to use the carbon steel wire wheel, nice light polished look to it.
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Offline scunny

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Re: Restoring, but not over-restoring, engine covers?
« Reply #3 on: August 28, 2013, 12:43:29 AM »
+1 on the scotchbrite, adds a nice brushed look if you aren't into highly polished. then mothers aluminum mag wheel polish to seal it. only have to redo the polish occasionally.
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Offline Scott S

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Re: Restoring, but not over-restoring, engine covers?
« Reply #4 on: August 28, 2013, 03:18:41 AM »
 Cool. I can do that and probably not have to remove the stuff from the bike. Worth a shot, anyway.

 Were the forks done in this same manner?
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Offline DanJ

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Re: Restoring, but not over-restoring, engine covers?
« Reply #5 on: August 28, 2013, 04:15:47 AM »
A buddy of mine who does some pretty awesome restorations on dirt bikes say polish the hell out of them then sandblast with fine walnut shells.
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Offline flybox1

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Re: Restoring, but not over-restoring, engine covers?
« Reply #6 on: August 28, 2013, 08:22:56 AM »
Quote from: DanJ on August 28, 2013, 04:15:47 AM
A buddy of mine who does some pretty awesome restorations on dirt bikes say polish the hell out of them then sandblast with fine walnut shells.
kinda sounds backwards...
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Offline TwoTired

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Re: Restoring, but not over-restoring, engine covers?
« Reply #7 on: August 28, 2013, 08:35:08 AM »
Quote from: Scott S on August 27, 2013, 07:09:31 PM
I know the engine covers were lightly polished and then clear coated from the factory.
Half true.  They were certainly clear coated.  But, it was a "brushed" finish.  Like what you get from fine sandpaper or Scothcbrite.

Clear coat won't grab onto highly polished surfaces.  To make the tiny scratches uniformly shallow, they were probably polished first, though.  So deeper grooves from coarser grit didn't alter the final visual effect.
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Offline DanJ

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Re: Restoring, but not over-restoring, engine covers?
« Reply #8 on: August 28, 2013, 08:44:45 AM »
Quote from: flybox1 on August 28, 2013, 08:22:56 AM
Quote from: DanJ on August 28, 2013, 04:15:47 AM
A buddy of mine who does some pretty awesome restorations on dirt bikes say polish the hell out of them then sandblast with fine walnut shells.
kinda sounds backwards...
I guess the fine walnut just takes the high gloss off and leaves a nice finish. I haven't tried it but the guy does nice work and I have no reason to doubt him.
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Offline Bankerdanny

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Re: Restoring, but not over-restoring, engine covers?
« Reply #9 on: August 28, 2013, 09:10:45 AM »
I got this finish on my drive side case by using 220, then 400, then 600, then 800, then 1,000, then 1,500 grit wet/dry paper and finishing with semi-chrome polish and a buffing wheel on a drill.

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Offline Scott S

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Re: Restoring, but not over-restoring, engine covers?
« Reply #10 on: August 28, 2013, 05:20:24 PM »
 I took these pics the other night while polishing up some chromed covers that came with my 550F. I realized that they show some NOS, unrestored parts that are a nice example of the stock finish.
 Look at the valve cover end caps in the background. I also have an NOS alternator cover, too.


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Offline Xnavylfr

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Re: Restoring, but not over-restoring, engine covers?
« Reply #11 on: August 29, 2013, 12:40:45 PM »
If you continue to polish with finer grit sandpaper them use SIMICHROME paste the ALT cover will look just as good as the others. Without some type of wax/polish over the shiny stuff , it will start to corrode pretty quick!!


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