Today, I did SCIENCE

[spikenipple]

When I bought my Firestorm it came with some awful blue anodised stubby levers (along with a minging off-green paint scheme) so as the panels have just been sprayed black I thought it's time to sort them out and bring the bike up to scratch.

Firstly I removed the levers and disassembled them from the adjuster mechanism, leaving just the blue anodised lever parts. Note that you should only do this in a well ventilated area due to it giving off Hydrogen gas. Don't smoke during this
Also wear gloves or your skin will melt. srsly.

https://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f277/Spikenipple/IMG_1151_zpsc5422aa3.jpg

I then mixed up 15% concentration sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) & water solution in a plastic tub. This stuff eats aluminium so removes the dyed oxide layer in no time.
I chucked the first lever in for about 30 seconds after thoroughly degreasing it, gave it a good scrub with an old toothbrush, et voila!

https://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f277/Spikenipple/IMG_1150_zps2dbe84f1.jpg

Rinse levers off with water, job jobbed.

https://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f277/Spikenipple/IMG_1155_zps9252b8f3.jpg

mmmm tasty

https://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f277/Spikenipple/IMG_1153_zpsa672a6ea.jpg

I'm going to have them re-anodised black or buy a kit and do it myself.
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C50 > GN250 > XJ600 > SV650S K7 > 2001 RSV Mille R > MT-09, XR400R > 2005 Fireblade (trackbike) + 2022 MT-09 + ZXR400 race bike

[weasley]

[Teflon-Mike]

We did this at school with a car-battery charger; trying to remember what electrolyte we used; I have a feeling it was plain water! Might have been brine.
Anodise colour provided by adding food colouring to it! THAT I distinctly remember.
Worth raiding the kitchen cupboard for baking decorations & trying it on a bit of scrap?
____________________
My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[spikenipple]

[_Iain_]

I got lots of caustic soda (500gr to about 2l water mix) all over my hands. Washed it off about 10mins later and my skin went all dry. Diddnt really do as much damage as i was expecting though...

Million man points for DIY re-anodising in a different colour.
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[cathalmf]

[_Iain_]

Homebase own brand.

Was panicking & trying to make the remainder of the solution stay in the H100 exhaust instead of pouring two stroke gunk all over the communal area of Paddys flat following the potato rotting out the end of the pipe. Was about 10mins by the time it was all stable again & had a chance to wash it off.

Skin goes all tight like it needs moisturising and flakes off a little bit between fingers
____________________
Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[garth]

[Entertwainer]

anodised coatings can also be removed with 'oven pride' oven cleaner
dont think it makes a cleaner job than whats been done here - may require some work to clean it all up afterwards, but, it does the job all the same
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Honda CG 125 W - Turkish - 1998 - 2015 RIP

[Alpha-9]