So I was putting the bike away for the winter and I was cleaning the wheels of all the brake dust that had been building up. I decided not to get the H-D stuff and instead I got some Eagle One Mag wheel cleaner. It said was for "rough finish cast aluminum wheels, which is what I have. It also said it was good for all other wheel finishesm including painted, chrome, polished, and powdercoat. So, looking at a few stains I had on my silver powdercoated engine cases, I gave them a squirt as well.

It really didn't clean the powdercoat so well, so I could use some advice as to what to use for that. What pissed me off is that it discolored my aluminum pieces - derby cover, lifter blocks, and chain ispection cover. It also left a spot of dark at the bottom of my rear pully. What the hell happened? :yikes

When I clean my bike, I use Tuff Stuff from Wal-mart. I just spray it on (everywhere), let it sit for about 5 minutes and spray it off with water. I use it a lot around the house also.

xl1200r ...

That shits got acid in it ... I once used some similar stuff on a set of non-coated aluminum valve covers, and it turned them black.

Good luck. I'm sorry ... I don't have an answer to the discoloration you have on bare aluminum parts.

Ron,

I was going to get a new derby cover, inspection cover, and pully (mine is ruined - I must have picked up a stick or something and it got all scratched to hell), but I really don't want to have to replace the lifter blocks, and I don't like the look of the covers. I tried some never-dull on the derby cover and it looked better, so maybe I'll just do that on the lifter blocks.

you could try something like rouge paste and a polish tip on dremel that might get ya bck to a shine

it discolored my aluminum pieces - derby cover, lifter blocks, and chain ispection cover. It also left a spot of dark at the bottom of my rear pully. What the hell happened? :yikes

XL,
Your aluminum covers can be restored with the right polish. Polishing aluminum is usually dirty work, and takes some extra rags. The acid staining will dissappear. Try these websites and products - http://www.englishcustompolishing.com/usca/metalrestorer.html
http://www.topoftheline.com/rolmetpol1.html

WD40 takes stains and dirt right off Powdercoat parts.

Don't worry they aren't ruined. Get yourself some Mother's Billet Aluminum polish, available at any auto parts store and start polishing the aluminum and the stians should come right off with a little elbow grease.

To clean the powder coated surfaces, you can use many products, but always try just plain soap and water with a light bristle scrub (tooth) brush first. I use a powerwasher on mine and it does a great job. I only have a couple of stains on mine after five years and lots of miles. ONe is from some gas spilling on it when it was hot and the other is from washing it at the car wash with that prewash super cleaner crap. I guess we all make mistakes when we are in a hurry:)

Simple Green works decent, and I'm sure the others mentioned earlier work well too. S-100 makes an engine cleaner that is decent. One thing to always remember is to make sure you rince all those types of cleaner really well.

xl1200r,

I use "Eagle One" Original Never-Dull Wadding Polish on my Aluminum, and Chrome!! Works great with a bit of Elbow Grease!! I wouldn't use it on my paint though!! :D

Believe it or not, the best cleaner I've come up with is an orange based stuff I bought at the local dollar stare. Spray it on, let it sit and hose it off. Works fine. I haven't used it on highly polished aluminum tho. Don't really trust the acid even if it is only citric.

As concerns the stained or acid etched parts. Lotsa Mothers and elbow grease.

I too am a regular user of the Eagle 1 NevRDull Wadding. It does a great job cleaning everything off the pipes and does a good job on the polished aluminum, but try to follow up with a better aluminum polish with a better protective coating, like Mother's Billet. The NevRDull doesn't do the best job of protecting, IMO.

Shu,

I'll have to give Mother's a try!!!

I gotta say, I'll have to try the WD-40 on the powdercoat. I really want to get rid of those ugly stains.

I also use Never-Dull - I almost live by it. I tried some on the derby cover and it seemed to start to work. I started on the lifter blocks, but my fingers were too numb at that point as it was below freezing out.

As for the wheel cleaner, it worked really good on the wheels, I don't why it messed up the other aluminum bits. I may just buy the Harley wheel claner. That way they can pay for new parts!

How big of a deal will it be to leave that aluminum until spring?