Topic: What's the finish on a 750 K-4 handlebar switches?

[jerrybb]

My K4 came with the correct (I think) left switch but an incorrect right master cylinder. I just bought one on ebay that I have to rebuild and the finish on it looks like lacquered tarnished zinc but it could have had some sort of dark finish on it. Whats the correct finish to do to both of them? Should I just polish and lacquer or were they darker? When did they start doing black painted ones? Thanks, Jerry

[TwoTired]

I don't think they were ever painted.  The aluminum castings were anodized and dyed black during the process.  The sun bleaches them out grey with time and exposure.

Black anodize is not effected by brake fluid. Paint often is.

Cheers,

[chung]

It is a real #$%* to polish that finish off too. Very, very hard surface.

Typically, I try to get two Switch Housings that have a color match so they don't look like a 'married set". Same for the gauges, they fade according to their environment. Pick both sets that look alike and match the finish of the Master Cyl

 It is at least 30 years ols and this is OK. It is an old bike so looking old is fine & normal thing

I get a woodie for a black set of switches with a bright cherry red kill switch on the right side........ but pink on grey will do

I guess that the switch housings could be painted but I tend to sort them so that they kinda match the fade on the rest of those unrestored items 

[eurban]

The original brake resevoir on my K8 and the current F2 one that I use were not annodized but rather painted at the factory.  After these 30+ years the paint was peeling in the brake fluid contact areas.  I used aircraft stripper to remove the paint so I know it was paint.  The lid for the resevoir and the switchgear is blackish annodizing.  Not sure why Honda didn't annodize the resevoir as well but at least on my late SOHC they didn't.

[Cattledog]

if you want to polish them and make the job easy, just soak them several times in oven cleaner.  The chemical etch the anodize off after a couple of soakings and then they polish up real nice.

[pddpimp]

I second the oven cleaner. I used Eazy Off oven cleaner and it worked great. It left a smooth finish. It works great to take the paint off of your fork legs too. Just remember the fumes are horrible so do it in a well ventilated area.

[Hop on a Honda]

Good call.
I used matt black with a good coat of matt satin clear and leave then in the sun all day
works great.
This is the same as the guages