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22nd April 2012
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Biker
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 55 Sportster/Buell Model: XLH 1000 Sportster/Buell Year: 1985
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Engine Cosmetics
I just got my first Harley and its an '85 XLH1000. Cosmetically, the bike is in great shape, clean, and in total original configuation with 15K miles. The major cosmetic issue is the chrome engine side cases and the chrome rocker covers on the heads. Please forgive if I am calling these things by improper names -- I will learn in time. The chrome is peeling off what seems to be aluminum. Can I totally remove the chrome and polish up the aluminum? I fabricate many solid aluminum parts for electric guitars in my shop and find that its not hard to get a mirror finish with a bit of work. Are these parts aluminum or pot metal? Is there a specific gasket set that I should get one or two on hand before I begin? Is there a recommended clear protective coating for these parts when they are polished up? I am all set up to spray lacquer but it might have a problem with heat and light my bike on fire. Or, am I better off just biting the bullet and buying new parts? There is little else that I'd need to do to this bike to make it quite respectable.
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22nd April 2012
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Bike Builder
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,892 Sportster/Buell Model: xlh convert to xlch Sportster/Buell Year: 1978 Sportster/Buell Model #2: xlch Sportster/Buell Year #2: 1972
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just clean up and plolish what you got. dont buy new parts. chances are, what ever you buy new are going to be half of the quality.
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If your gonna do something, do it right!
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22nd April 2012
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Senior Custom Bike Builder
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SW. Pencilmania
Posts: 2,535 Sportster/Buell Model: chopper looking thing Sportster/Buell Year: 1978 Other Motorcycle Model: Triumph POS Other Motorcycle Year: 1972
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Parts are aluminum.
When I have had to remove chrome I use a Dual action sander and starting with 80 grit, I work progressively up the scale to 600 and then start polishing. And polishing, And polishing.
Did I mention it's a labor intensive process?
You may as well buy a complete engine gasket set, [OEM, James, Cometic, etc] and shoot for a leak free bike while your there.
Cory is correct, Aftermarket covers and whatnot are generally crap.
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22nd April 2012
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Senior Master Custom Bike Builder
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Pottstown PA.
Posts: 5,138 Sportster/Buell Model: xlch Sportster/Buell Year: 1960
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they are definitely aluminum parts,but removing the chrome wont be easy.best left to a,chrome plating shop. be very careful when ordering parts for an,85.many parts are 85,only.this was the last year for the ironhead,and had several changes to it. [i,refer to it as a,freak of nature]
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72 1000cc barrels and heads, s&s 41/2'' flywheels, sifton cams, s&s super B w/ zippers thunderjet w/yost powertube, andrews gears,and shafts, competition engineering kevlar wet or dry clutch, 72 oil pump, morris magneto w/auto advance and single fire module, cycle electric generator w/electronic regulator,73 cu.in.
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22nd April 2012
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Senior Master Custom Bike Builder
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Puget Sound--Washington State
Posts: 3,838 Sportster/Buell Model: Sportster XLH Sportster/Buell Year: 1961 Sportster/Buell Model #2: Sportster XL Sportster/Buell Year #2: 1957 Other Motorcycle Model: XLH 62, 65, 68, FLH 1970
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Yes, the best approach is to take it to a chrome shop. They don't charge much (comparatively) for removing the chrome, but there is a big difference in how well different shops do it. Using the original cam cover means the bushings are already aligned, which is is huge plus, and the aftermarket stuff is not good quality.
After you get it back from the chrome shop, you may still have residual plating, depending on the era the part was plated. The copper is the toughest to remove. There are some posts on the CAIMAG site as to possible methods, but I haven't tried them.
Chroming aluminum is a bad idea because chrome is hard and aluminum is soft. The aluminum presses in and the chrome doesn't; peeling results.
__________________
If I could only live at the pitch that is near madness
When everything is as it was in my childhood
Violent, vivid, and of infinite possiblilty:
That the sun and moon broke over my head.--Richard Eberhart
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23rd April 2012
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Senior Master Custom Bike Builder
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 7,863 Sportster/Buell Model: XLCH 1000 Sportster/Buell Year: 1977 Sportster/Buell Model #2: 75 motor in Norton frame. Other Motorcycle Model: 42WLA 45, Harton, Narley Other Motorcycle Year: 1942
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And if you are going to take those rocker covers, primary cover and cam gear case cover off, you will need a factory workshop manual as there are many and mysterious moving parts that fall out when those items are removed.
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In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.
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