Chrome removal and engine cleaning.

[dingman29]

and seal it...

[Petersg_99]

I ended up having my exhaust stripped while having the rest of the chrome re-plated. The chrome stripping was "free" since I was already spending $500 for the rest of the chrome job. The place did a terrible job on the plating, and judging from how well they did on the stripping, I can see why...

[Yard Dogg]

Well that sucks. I'd make em do it again, but who knows what kind of damage their rework would cause.

[Yard Dogg]

Has anyone ever used a machine shop to hot dip their engine parts before? If so, is it a special process for aluminum and what is it called?

[Preacher Charlie]

re: muriatic acid

Hi:
new here, new to owning an 80 G, but not new to motorcycles. I have been using muriatic acid for years to clean out old gastanks. Works well, for a controllable mix, you need to put 1-2 cups of acid in no less than 2.5-3.5 gallons of water. If you put the acid on metal plain, it will burn it and smoke. Also PUT THE ACID IN THE WATER, NEVER THE WATER IN THE ACID!!!! PUT THE ACID IN THE WATER NEVER THE WATER IN THE ACID!!!

there is a reaction between the 2 when you mix them. If you put water in acid, there is a good chance it will blow out of the container/tank/whatever, and of course, hit YOU. Lastly, and this is not brainwork, make sure you wear some sort of protective gloves, even when you are merely checking a part in a bath or whatever. Even watered down, that acid burns skin readily. (don't ask me how I know that, I just do)

Blessings,
Preacher...yeah, a real one

owner: Grunt, 1981 HD Shovelhead chopper
Lazarus, 1980 XS G model, soon to be returned to his former glory

[650mark]

painting over chrome

i've painted several chrome fenders and motors while restoring xs650's. i think the best way to get a good paint job on chrome fenders is to simply sand the chrome well with 600 grit, then 8oo grit. clean very well and then 2 coats of metal etching primer under several coats of gloss, followed by 2 coats of clear. mine looked great, very durable. i also painted the engine in one of my bikes, very lightly sanded the aluminum covers, cleaned them very well, primed with high temp metal etching primer, let dry for a couple of days and then painted gloss black with high temp spray. i baked the parts in an electric oven at 300 degrees for about an hour before reassembling the engine, and then carefully put the new engine through several heat cycles before really riding it. the engine came out beautiful, looked factory. it was also very durable. pics at photobucket.com/albums/yy148/xs650mark.