Anybody Ever Polish a GS1100 Swingarm?

Be careful using oven cleaner (or other caustics) on aluminum. It can eat into it and make it quite ugly. (See pics from www.hdforums.com/forum/detailing/229259-...worst-nightmare.html ) Ed

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650ed wrote: Be careful using oven cleaner (or other caustics) on aluminum. It can eat into it and make it quite ugly. (See pics from www.hdforums.com/forum/detailing/229259-...worst-nightmare.html ) Ed

Before:
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After:
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Let's spray sodium hydroxide on my hot, aluminum engine and see what happens! :ohmy: Wow, that is terrible. Thanks for the warning...you definitely can't leave it on too long or you'll be sorry.

I've been SLOWLY working on my swingarm. I've got all the bearings and spacers out and also removed the lower shock bushings (in the swingarm). I have all new parts for when reassembly time comes.

You guys were right about it being anodized. The coating wasn't clear anodize though...it was silver anodize. Small detail I know, but the color is what threw me off...I knew it couldn't be clear anodize and still be that silver. I didn't realize that they had so many colors available for anodizing. The Easy-Off did the trick removing it...no problems there. Thanks for the tips.

So the one side that I have polished looks really nice. I've been thinking though that it's going to take a lot of maintenance to keep it looking good. With that in mind, I've got some prices on having it powder coated. I think a nice metallic silver or maybe the "chrome" powder coat would look good and that stuff holds up real well over time. I found a local place that will do it for $65.

I've also received more quotes on having it polished...prices range from $365 to $750! :blink:

Old Man Rock wrote:

Subtle hint............... :lol:

Get off your ass old man (me too... :blush: )...

Seriously, one after noon and that swing-arm would look like a mirror...

I finally ordered these last night. I think they'll help to get a nice, uniform finish that will help the polishing process.

You'll LUV these... Mostly only required the orange, then the blue for fine stuff...

I've been getting mine at ACE Hardware stores... Home Depot, Lowes and Harbor Fright carry the orange ones but ACE seems to usually have the 3....

This is what I use on the engine cases as well, seriously... Well that and some Simple Green....

All buffing was done with the drill :pinch: ... Did it work well obviously but I should have bought the buffer (Cheap bastard I am)....

Once completed, just some Never dull, mothers etc.... every month or so and she'll stay nice and shiny. No serious buffing required, wipe on/off is all I do...

Post them Pre & Post images...

Perhaps light air pressure in a blasting cabinet with glass would work ? That in effect would set you up for polishing.

geerbangr wrote: Perhaps light air pressure in a blasting cabinet with glass would work ? That in effect would set you up for polishing.

That would be ideal but I don't have access to a blasting cabinet. I haven't been able to find anybody around here willing to do it either. I hope to buy one some day. They aren't that expensive but a proper air compressor sure is.

You're only a few hours from me. I'm out of town working until the end of the month but I'll offer the use of my blasting cabinet when I get back home.

geerbangr wrote: You're only a few hours from me. I'm out of town working until the end of the month but I'll offer the use of my blasting cabinet when I get back home.

Thanks!