[TroyH]

1) Whose bar-end mirrors are those in your picture album?

2) Can you point me to your procedure for polishing sprocket & crankcase covers? I searched but couldn't find it.

3) How hard has it been to keep the covers polished?

TIA!!

 

[Thrux-ton-up]

Troy - 1 Rizoma "reverse" bar end mirrors - get at PJ's - sorry don't have a link right now.

2 - covers - go to Ace - get "dads" paint stripper. Use tape to mask around case. Remove parts - shifter, brake pedal, etc. Apply dads with paint brush - clear coat will immediately bubble up - remove with damp sponge and then dry with towel - next wash with soapy water and rinse well. The dads is weak and WILL NOT remove hard anodising such as on shifter linkage and pedals. I did the covers on the bike. If there off your task WILL be easier.

Next work over the damage - use a course enough grade of sand paper to sand away the scratches - experiment here. If your scratches are deep you may need to work with a fine file or dremel tool and fine grinding wheel. Then use finer and finer grades expanding out from the damage to the entire part. I used 300 - then 400 - 600 - 800- 1200 - 1500 grits. Use the wet and dry variety and keep em plenty wet and rinse paper and parts often.

Next go to Home depot and get a few cotton buffing wheels, and some rouges - use only the final rouge or any type of cream aluminum polish such as wenols or blue magic if you have sanded with 1500 - the part will already be very smooth and shiney just need to brighten. Use course rouges and buffing wheels (on your electric drill) if you got tired of sanding and quit at say, the 800 grit :-D .

Keeping them polished - about every six months get a clean buffing wheel out and put on your electric drill - smooth aluminum polish all over the part - then buff to a brilliant shine - takes only a 1/2 minute or so and no hard rubbing and buffing by hand. Cleaning will depend on use and storage - mine bike is ridden about 12000 miles a year - but is not parked outside at work all day - and is stored in a garage. Ride only when caught in the rain. JCW

Should look like this when done.

 

[Mancha]

John, have you heard of and/or used a product called Mother's? My friend recommends it for polished parts. He says that you put some on a final polished part and bake it in the oven for a while, and it prevents the aluminum from discoloring afterwards. Sound likely/familiar?

 

[Bonefide]

Mancha - which Mother's product? They make a BUNCH of stuff. Bets known for their car wax. http://www.mothers.com/

[ This message was edited by: Bonafide on 2006-11-28 12:25 ]

 

[Thrux-ton-up]

On 2006-11-28 11:02, Mancha wrote:
John, have you heard of and/or used a product called Mother's? My friend recommends it for polished parts. He says that you put some on a final polished part and bake it in the oven for a while, and it prevents the aluminum from discoloring afterwards. Sound likely/familiar?

Jason - have not heard of such a process. I do have Mothers wax in the garage now. Nor I have I heard of the technique of baking the polish on. The easy way would be to polish and then clear powder coat. I just spent the morning looking at hundreds of chips and parts over at the powder coaters. Wow - theres at lot of choices - I'm probably more uncertain of the frame color now - than before I went. :-D

 

[sweatmachine]

JCW, we can't wait to see what you come up with!

I'm about to follow in your footsteps...I'm going to order valves from Keith and I called Dinqua's recommended machine shop to do the valve install and port/polish, I'm going with a Wiseco kit I think, and the 41mm mikuni carbs...

that is, IF the XS650 sells and I have a few bites on it now.

 

[Thrux-ton-up]

On 2006-11-28 12:46, sweatmachine wrote:
JCW, we can't wait to see what you come up with!

I'm about to follow in your footsteps...I'm going to order valves from Keith and I called Dinqua's recommended machine shop to do the valve install and port/polish, I'm going with a Wiseco kit I think, and the 41mm mikuni carbs...

that is, IF the XS650 sells and I have a few bites on it now.

Jeff - just mailed my head and jugs to the machine shop and ordered the 42 mm Mikuni's from Bill. Now - what kind of cams...hmm

 

[sweatmachine]

I was wondering what cams you're going to use.

I don't see anything that really grabs me, and they're easy enough to pop in later so I'm going to wait. I really think our stock cams are ok and I like where they make power. Nice meaty midrange up to around 6k where they taper, so I'll stick with them for now. Plus after the valves, big bore, machine work, and $1400 carbs I'm tapped. Looks like this endeavour will cost me around $2500 bucks not including any shipping or my labor. Ouch!

I'm hoping to net around 85rwhp though...

 

[Mancha]

I just spent the morning looking at hundreds of chips and parts over at the powder coaters. Wow - theres at lot of choices - I'm probably more uncertain of the frame color now - than before I went. :-D

Some powdercoat colors are a two-stage process, with one color baked on first, and then a second overlying it. I wonder if these particular colors are as stable? I think it may be the case that the second coat adheres to the first coat poorer than the first coat adheres to the bare metal. If you're thinking about such a color, you might want to ask them about it first.

 

[TroyH]

On 2006-11-28 05:50, Thrux-ton-up wrote:
JCW

Should look like this when done.

JC, thank you! Sounds pretty straight forward, especially since I already own a ton of detailing supplies for my cars.