Triumphrat

freeflynick · 01-14-2009

When I bought my bike about 8 months ago, I noticed there was some white crap on the sprocket and crank case covers, looks like oxidation of the aluminium or something like that.

Now that I am actually spending a little time cleaning and maintaining the bike rather than just riding it, it is time to see if I can get that stuff off, but it is pretty stubborn.

Anyone know how to get rid of it?

Cheers!

robnobrakes · 01-14-2009

They all do that. Moisure gets under the clear coat. I removed the clear coating and regularly polish the covers with Autosol.

triton_750 · 01-14-2009

When I picked up my '04 Thruxton last year it had only 450 miles on the clock but the corrosion had already crept in between the clearcoat and the brushed alum underneath. I have been taking the covers off one by one and sanding them and polishing them to a mirror finish (there's a massive thread on this subject for more info if you need). It's a big job to do all of them but it's the only way to get rid of it - or spend $400+ on a chrome set or the powder-coated ones which you can get in all types of colors.

SHILOH · 01-22-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by triton_750

When I picked up my '04 Thruxton last year it had only 450 miles on the clock but the corrosion had already crept in between the clearcoat and the brushed alum underneath. I have been taking the covers off one by one and sanding them and polishing them to a mirror finish (there's a massive thread on this subject for more info if you need). It's a big job to do all of them but it's the only way to get rid of it - or spend $400+ on a chrome set or the powder-coated ones which you can get in all types of colors.

I polished the alternator, sprocket and clutch covers, but couldn't see how to polish the cam covers, so it got powder coated black.

Any hints of how to do the narrow access areas of the cam cover?

triton_750 · 01-22-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHILOH

I polished the alternator, sprocket and clutch covers, but couldn't see how to polish the cam covers, so it got powder coated black.

Any hints of how to do the narrow access areas of the cam cover?

I'm still in the process of doing this - I had to buy extension arbors for both sides of my grinder to give myself more room to manuever (www.swmetal.com) - I've now put on 8" buffing wheels to get inside the recess but I might hve to put a small wheel on it for the sides. It's a real PIA this bit but it's a huge improvement on the clearcoated & corroding ones! I even took the inlet manifolds off & polished them too.
Do you have pics posted of yours? I might start on the clutch cover this weekend - I'd like it finished before Bike Week!

SHILOH · 01-22-2009

Here's some pictures from a month or so ago. I went with the sanding, buffing, and etc that you are on now.Yep its a PIA, but I think it well worth the effort.

When you take the clutch side off, watch for the oil, better yet, drain and change the oil as part of the process. I learned this the hard way and yes, kitty litter is great to get the oil up, but still a mess.

redhawk34 · 01-22-2009

There's several items on this page for polishing into nooks and crannies. (Just what the hell IS a "Cranny?")
http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?i...ORY&itemID=434
Redhawk