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View Full Version : New Bike = New problems



bgreer
02-26-2011, 05:12 PM
Just bought another VTX, and the yahoo I bought it from never cared for the aluminum on his bike. I want to stop just short of sanding these wheels down and polishing with jewlers rouge....what is the BEST aluminum polish...I need aggressive and finish with passive high shine...here's some pics

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/bgreerVTX/IMG_0229.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/bgreerVTX/IMG_0228.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/bgreerVTX/IMG_0226.jpg

tuscarora dave
02-26-2011, 06:46 PM
I would start with Poorboy's World Pro polish 2 after claying with an aggressive clay. Truck stops are also a good place to get some serious aluminum polishes with different levels of cutting ability.

sqeekykleen
02-26-2011, 07:11 PM
Truck stops are a good source to get aluminum polish. I have gotten both Blue Magic and Zephyr Pro-40 at truck stops. They are easy to use, and do a great job.

TLMitchell
02-26-2011, 10:31 PM
Man, have you got your work cut out! A polishing ball might help on the rims but those spokes are gonna have to be done by hand. Doesn't look like they started to seriously pit though.

Dunno what you might find at truck stops, as for more pedestrian products, first thing I would do after claying would be a dose of P21S/S100 polishing soap. It may not be the stoutest thing around but it's easier than most with good results. Repeated applications and work it, work it, work it. The S100 version is found in any Harley shop as well as many metric places.

I've used Meg's Hot Rims Mag & Aluminum polish with good results on cruddy aluminum rims. Lots of black residue, MF gloves are helpful. I recently used Optimum Metal Polish and was astounded that it doesn't produce tons of black gunk. Polishes real decent and finishes great as well. That was the older pink version. The new blue stuff is supposed to be better still.

If you're not getting the results you want go straight for the big gun and try M105.

If after you get the gunk off you see the aluminum is indeed pitted wet sand and polish may be your only recourse depending on what results will satisfy you.

I save all my old athletic socks especially for polishing. Turn 'em inside out and use the nap side and it makes for an excellent polishing cloth.

TL

tuscarora dave
02-26-2011, 10:35 PM
I save all my old athletic socks especially for polishing. Turn 'em inside out and use the nap side and it makes for an excellent polishing cloth.

TL
That's a tip I'll have to remember. Thanks.

TLMitchell
02-26-2011, 10:39 PM
That's a tip I'll have to remember. Thanks.

"But wait, there's more"!

Turn your skivvies inside out and you can get double the mileage out of 'em. :rolleyes:

TL <---- just a helpful kinda guy

C. Charles Hahn
02-26-2011, 11:19 PM
This look like a job for Noxon 7

http://www.hardwarestore.com/media/product/145359_front200.jpg

It's extremely aggressive stuff, but finishes down awesome on tough jobs like these. You can get it at Ace Hardware. :props:


I save all my old athletic socks especially for polishing. Turn 'em inside out and use the nap side and it makes for an excellent polishing cloth.

TL

Totally agree, I do the same thing.

jto667
03-01-2011, 02:41 AM
I've used my Dremel with their polishing wheels and Flitz, Mothers Mag and Alum, and white rouge on bare aluminum. All with good results, just got to have a steady hand. Watch the mini screw on the end of that tool if you use one. I've had GREAT luck with Mothers Mag and Alum on some rough alum...but it looks like you have your hands full. Might be a good finisher when you get the big chunks taken care of. I've been told, the blacker the rag gets, the better its working.

Bates Detailing
03-01-2011, 02:49 AM
Had a guy the other day complained about his rims that looked very similar to yours here - I have mentioned this stuff a few times on here, but I don't think it is a norm in the auto industry - more used in aviation...... but I applied it by hand to this gents rims and wala - looked great - NUVITE C GRADE. Very Gritty..... applied by hand has always worked for me .... its really good stuff man.

aerogt01
03-01-2011, 09:13 AM
NUVITE C GRADE. Very Gritty..... applied by hand has always worked for me .... its really good stuff man.

While I love AG, Aircraft Spruce and Specialty has a HUGE selection of polishes specifically for aluminum in a bunch of varying grades. Expensive, though. I would try Wolfgang metalwork compound first with some kind of buffing wheel or wool pad on a rotary.

Midnight1700
03-01-2011, 09:34 AM
I had the same problems with a bike we detailed a couple of months ago. After researching for a while we ended up using Californias custome aluminum deoxidizer followed by their purple metal polish. The aluminum came out perfect. Probably too well for that application on the wheels because they came out looking like mirrors...