Cleaning parts for a rebuild...

andrew · Mister Road Rage Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

I've had the frame and swing arm powder coated on my bike, the problem i've got is the rest of the bits look pretty dull in comparison.

What would you recommend for bringing cruddy bits of metal back to new. I've been trying to clean up the rear suspension linkages but when i use a scouring pad and wd-40 it gets them clean it just doesn't give the metal that new look.

I don't want them to look shiny (i.e polished frame), is there some sort of mild cleaning disc that i could get to fit to a drill or something??

I'm sure someone here has rebuilt a bike and found a really good cleaning technique. Please share it! Cool

phill.c · Traffic Copper Joined: 13 May 2004 Karma :

autosol will give you the finish you want, and get a polishing mop with a arber for the drill.

try using a degreaser first to get the muck off.
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CBR400RR the funs started - Honda MTX 125 ongoing project when i can be arsed Smile

andrew · Mister Road Rage Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Not sure exactly what you are looking for. Autosol will polish it up, but will do that by taking off the anodised surface.

If it is just ingrained dirt, oil and grease, try leaving them to soak overnight in a bucket of water with some biological washing powder. This is meant to work very well on plastic header tanks so is worth a try on alloy.

All the best

Keith
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andrew · Mister Road Rage Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Cleaning the muck off should be possible. Problem is that on an old alloy part the finish is bound to have been damaged slightly (eg, stones thrown up by the back wheel) and will suffer small amounts of corrosion which will attach dirt and make it obvious.

Use autosol and you will polish the corrosion out, but it will likely reappear fairly rapidly (any unprotected aluminium alloy is likely to corrode rapidly), do it enough and you will remove the anodising from the rest of the alloy giving it a nice shiney appearance until it too corrodes.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing