Bare aluminum

[red1100]

Anyone know how to clean up oxidized side covers without pulling them to be polished? Can’t think of anything else and polishing would be very costly and labor intensive.

[gsrick]

Anyone know how to clean up oxidized side covers without pulling them to be polished? Can’t think of anything else and polishing would be very costly and labor intensive.

Well when you get into vintage bikes, very costly and labor intensive is part of the game if your not willing to get in there and get dirty. Polishing the covers is not that labor intensive as you would expect. It does take time as you have to work in steps, but the result is well worth the effort and you get to say, "I did that". Look at some YouTube videos, you can get a polishing kit at Harbor Freight that will come with most of what you need for a little cost. While your there if you have a compressor, get a cheap die grinder, it will work quicker than an electric drill.

[Spyder]

If you already have a 4 1/2 inch angle grinder, polishing is VERY cheap, and not very hard. Just dirty, and a little time consuming. A 4" cloth polishing wheel fits (with a little muscle) on a 4 1/2" grinder. Polishing compound sticks are cheap. Looking at around $20 from Lowes or Home Depot... I will dig up some pictures...

[Spyder]

Only picture I could find while at work. That's a new badge after polishing.

de05540c.jpg

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-Buffing-and-Polishing-Wheel-Set/50124431

https://www.lowes.com/pd/PORTER-CABLE-5-Piece-Fiber-Cleaning-and-Polishing-Wheel/50171523

[Nessism]

There are about 100 "how to polish" threads here. Condensed version (mine): paint stripper to remove clear coat, DA w/220 grit paper to remove deep corrosion, polishing motor with a sisal wheel and black cutting compound for final polish. I use a paint buffer motor for polishing since it's what I have. Heavy gloves needed because the aluminum gets HOT when hammering away with the sisal. Good fun!

[red1100]

I’ll give Lowe’s a try since I have about $150 in gift cards for them. My 83 GS 1100E has black cases and that’s how they will stay but I do cosmetic rehabs on my flips so polished pieces help brighten up the look.

[850 Combat]

I find that in general, alloys used in die-cast engines doesn't keep a polished finish as long or as well as alloys used for sand cast engines. Either takes a good while to clean-up after a long rainy ride. with the engine up to full temperature.