Engine and gearbox casings

[jiggers]

What is the best cleaning solution to achieve a top class finish on your alloy or aluminium engine or gear box casings.I want to achieve a concourse standard.

thanks in advance

[KiwiBob]

 

[Simon Davey]

18 minutes ago, KiwiBob said:

 

 

That's seriously good polishing 

[KiwiBob]

28 minutes ago, Simon Davey said:

 

That's seriously good polishing 

I once polished the rocker covers of my cx500 almost as good as that! .. It took an age.

[husoi]

Depending on the bike, some will be painted not polished.

[Nick the wanderer]

Hi, yep if you want concours condition, as it came out of the factory, you'll find most (like the Honda casing above) were painted and lacquered not polished.

Do you have a bike in mind you are restoring?

[RideWithStyles]

As nick said - most jap or Italian bikes were painted and lacquered, only the very few weren’t and most of them were poorly done.

So really that’s not factory finish (polished) unless it’s old nortons or Brough superiors just to name a few.

[AstronautNinja]

Pretty much a time based task. Want to cut things short and save time? Accept a lesser mirror finish...... Happy to dedicate some time and graft? Get rewarded with true mirror finish

 

A bench polisher will save you days of work. Can get them from screwfix etc pretty cheap. Stick a polishing wheel on and get some quality compounds.

 

For smaller items a dremmel is great.

 

Your comounds are of great importance. You wont just be able to use a rough grit paste. Actual finishing compounds will make that next level finish.