rust removal

Hi all,
I just got a 75 Z1 that has been setting out for a while. I would like to clean it up and restore it to original as possible. My first question is what are your best ways and products to clean the rust off?
Thanks
Lynn Walton

Best way is take it down to nuts and bolts. Sort between what needs replacing and what can be salvaged, what can be restored and what needs paint, plate and polish. Then clean and decide where you want to go with it. A 75' Z1 is a classic and deserves a good shot at restoration. But ultimately it's up to you and your determination and budget. A better description or better yet a mess of pictures would help us give better advise and put silly grins on a bunch of faces or at the least set off a great debate. :ohmy: :blink: :woohoo: But till then congrats on your acquisition of a nice New York Steak!!! :huh: :blink: :huh:

All chrome is rusted and will need replated except maybe the wheels, they will need new spokes.I have been looking at this bike for a few months now trying to decide how far I wanted to go with it. I bought a 74 brand new and sold it when I bought the gs 1000 and I have kicked myself ever since. I rode that bike 42000 miles in 4 years built it with an RC 1015 kit and had some of the best times of my life with it.
I was asking about the rust and wondering if any one had a super removal product that they used and liked.
This bike really needs to be striped to the frame and started from there to get it the way I would like to have it but the more I have investigated it is going to run into big money real quick.

pick up a gallon of swimming pool acid - it absolutely kicks arse. Then you also need a little bucket of soda ash neutralizer. Once you get the rust off (almost instantly) then drop the parts into the soda ash. I recommend using a glass jar for parts.

Try it on some various parts, it makes stock hardware look brand new, and cleans chrome up too. You MUST use eye and hand protectionB) and neutralize. Do not breathe the vapor it gives off either.

It'll get oil off your driveway as well.

Oh yea, DONT use it on aluminum - it will dissolve aluminum

the z-1 will cost ya more to restore than it can fetch.....but are you gonna build it to enjoy or sell? enjoyment doesnt have a price tag on it...just my .02.....by the way , my first bike was a gs 1000
(79)...rode the wheels off that thing and have a lot of fond memories......keith

I have used plain old walmart brand vinegar for rust removal, It will take some time, but seems to work pretty good...It will make the chrome look very nice...I have some rubbermaid tubbs filled with vinegar and just let the parts soak, the rust will come off and fall to the bottom of the tubs...The rest just rub off with a shop rag...

I had pitted rust on my old headers and the only thing that would get it off was naval jelly. You have to get all the rust out before you plate or it will rust again and take off the chrome.

Oddly enough a ball of crunched up tinfoil will remove rust from chrome really well. I was using 0000 steel wool up until I tried it last night. Its amazing.