Topic: polishing crankcase/tranmission cover

[cb350twin]

 i have a friend who said he used to have a old 350 he said that if you take steel wool to the crankcase / transmission cover and used some mothers polish that it would make  it look all crome like and nice. Is this a good or bad idea have any of you ever done this? I dont want to mess anything up hehe
thanks Dan

[GeoffT]

Steel wool is ok but make sure you use a fine grade. i.e. 000 or 0000. I've been using it on my chrome which has some pitting. Keeps the tiny rust spots at bay and doesn't hatm the chrome. This week I tried it on the alternator cover and the crankcase / transmission cover. Used autosol metal polish and elbow grease. It's not like chrome obviously but a vast improvement for a couple of hours work.

If you want a really top finish try this thread.
http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=3707.msg27756#msg27756 

[78_SaltLick]

i wetsanded all my chrome/aluminum with 400 then 600 grit sandpaper, then polished using some sort of chrome polish paste......it somehow got the aluminum to look almost chrome, you can def see yourself in the reflection, i was pretty impressed.

[frostypuck]

I think you probably don't want to use steel wool on aluminum. Use the green scotchbrite pads, or fine aluminum wool if you can find any.
I got a buffing pad that goes on my electric drill and used black buffing compound, followed by brown, followed by white and it shines like chrome. Stays that way a while, too. At least three months in the weather without signs of corrosion coming back.
Chris in Boston
Oh yeah- for the actual chrome, I use the cotton-y stuff in the can, pull out a wad and wipe. Smells like there a petroleum product in it. You don't even rub, only wipe and then wipe off the residue in a little while. The rust comes off, the corrosion comes off. Works great.

[MikeDeB]

Yep, steel wool is a bad idea.  Leaves very small shards of the wool embedded in the aluminum which will eventually rust.  If you have the part off the bike take the part to a buffing wheel with Scotch-Brite pads mounted.  This will clean up all the crud and get a smooth finish.  For any gouges or scratches not removed with the Scotch-Brite, wet sand with 150 emory cloth to smooth them out.  Now wet sand with 600 to 1000 sand paper.  Don't use water while wet sanding.  Instead, use something like WD-40, 3-1 light machine oil or kerosene.  Finish it off with the cotton buffing wheel.  I learned this from a friend who restores British twins and the aluminum parts on the engines of his bikes are beautiful.  It works great.

[cb350twin]

any of you have pictures of the final product?

[seaweb11]

Go to the post refered to you in the 1st answer to your question.
Follow the link.