clearcoat on aluminum?

[barrelguy]

Finally getting around to doing all the cleaning/maintenance stuf I have been putting off. Front forks now have new oil and actually hold air pressure. Front wheel off, calipers refurbished and painted, s/s brake lines ordered, etc.

In doing the cleaning and polishing I was wondering whether to spray clear coat on the newly polished aluminum bits? Thanks.

[natemoen]

If you are polishing to a shine then the clear coat will not want to stick to well. Needs a slightly rough surface for the paint to stick.

[crazy steve]

You won't find anything in a spray can that will work well IMO; as Nate said, the better the polish, the less well the paint will stick.

If you just have to have a clear coat, clear powdercoat will work best, but keep in mind that any coating will chip sooner or later, letting moisture to the base metal and starting the corrosion process over again. Once the corrosion gets under the coating (and it will...), the only fix is to strip and repolish. The tougher the coating, the harder it is to get off....

[jetmechmarty]

Most of the clear coats you put on there will yellow over time. I used Glisten PC on the forks of another motorcycle, and after several years it is still crystal clear. The downsides are that the prep will dull the finish (it will look nice, but no mirror shine) and it's expensive. Once it's on there, you're done.

I have been wanting to try Shark Hide. The downside to it is that it has to be reapplied periodically, depending upon exposure.

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Clear

Here is a link to an Eastwood product I have used, comes in spray can or gun spray cans. You will need to compleaty clean the alum. after pollishing with a good prep cleaner. I would apply at least three coats and be carful not to miss any spots as it is clear and hard to tell if you got them all. I will mute the chrome look some (anything you put on it will also) but helps it keep from tarnishing You can see my bike I put it on in my profile pic's

http://www.eastwood.com/ew-diamond-c...ero-11-oz.html

[skids]

I say that once you polish out all off the oxidation an get a nice luster, just use car wax.

[Shacknasty]

I enjoy keeping up the shine, a good excuse to spend quality time with the old machines. A couple t-shirts, a jar of Mother's aluminum polish, and some time in the garage with the motorsickles. Now that can be a nice evening.

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Clear coat

Here is what it looks like clear coated Barrelguy, and I don't have a garage to protect it, it lives outside so I am pleased with the results

[petejw]

im a fan of polished alluminium,



if u can get hold of a buffer, itll make life a lot easier.

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Looks nice

im a fan of polished alluminium,



if u can get hold of a buffer, itll make life a lot easier.

Looks nice Pete, that is what mine looked like after I polished the parts on a bench polisher. The picks of yours and mine a a good before and after for what the clear coat does, like said, it does mute the chrome look to a "stock" look. If I had my drouthers, I would like mine to look like the motor on the cover of the Clymer manual But mine sits outside, I have never waxed it and it still looks the same

[petejw]

thanx OEM4ME, if i had to leave mine outside id probably clear coat it as well,
the only problem i get is if im caught in the rain and cant dry the engine
quick enuff to prevent water stains, i never have any problems with
oxidization of the alloy. u do need to be careful, it can become addictive. :-)

[barrelguy]

Thanks everybody - always good info here.

I think at the end of the day I will go with a good buffing / polishing with no clear coat. Although I think I will try the past wax option to see how it holds up over the winter. The bike is garage kept but we have the luxury of year-round riding if you dress for it.

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Cool

Thanks everybody - always good info here.

I think at the end of the day I will go with a good buffing / polishing with no clear coat. Although I think I will try the past wax option to see how it holds up over the winter. The bike is garage kept but we have the luxury of year-round riding if you dress for it.

Don't blame you for that, when I get a place with a garage again I will be polishing all that clear off Nothing looks better then the "chrome" look like Pete's motor I ordered my bench polisher from Northern Tool for around fifty bucks with two polishing wheels Worked great for my bike with the parts off like you, send some pics when done