Suggestions for cleaning aluminum?

[montmil]

The aluminum sliders on my R65 look pretty sad. "black-ish" stains that are proving difficult to remove. The brake-side leg is the worst. Been using lacquer thinner, medium ScotchBrite pads, rotary S'Brite disc, elbow grease and sore fingers.

Any tips or ideas on getting the legs looking better? Nothing concours, just plain ol' clean. Considering a rubbing compound in conjunction with a ScotchBrite pad.

And what about the aluminum engine components and the spotty looking places on the snowflake rims? I'm going buffing daffy.

Hook me up with the magic stuff, folks. Thanks for any help.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Motor vehicles are a mess.

I have been blessed with a blind eye.

[Justin B.]

Eagle 1 wheel cleaner for uncoated wheels for taking out stains and Greased Lightning for general extra heavy-duty cleaning have both worked well for me.  But, rinse, rinse...rinse, rinse...  The wheel cleaner contains phosphoric acid so you can take it from there.  Be careful, though, I have found that on some of my bikes it turns some assemblies darker than others.  Where the engine might turn out a nice "white" color the tranny may have a "grayish"  tint to it.  Still, this looks considerably better (in my opinion) than stains...  Others use Simple Green and Scotch Brites, WD-40 and Scotch Brites,

[montmil]

Thanks, Justin. Been using the WD-40 and ScotchBrites. Also rubbing compound and ScotchBrites. A ScotchBrite rotary wheel (big 'un on a low speed hand drill & a smaller one on the Dremel), BonAmi, Simple Green, lacquer thinner, and probably a fee others I've already forgotten.

This is just on the fork sliders. Keeping them rinsed after each experiment. They are looking considerably better. Still more work to be done. So many tiny little corners...  Grubby work.

Won't be concours but that's not what I'm looking for. Sanitary. Yeah, that's the word.

[benlawlor85]

You mean u guys clean your bikes?
damn i thought they were all oiled color!
LOL
this is a job i should get around to...
SHOULD....
Cheers
Ben

[Ed Miller]

You mean u guys clean your bikes?
damn i thought they were all oiled color!
LOL
this is a job i should get around to...
SHOULD....
Cheers
Ben

Sounds like you should join the Rob and Ed club.  Of course if you do, the name won't make any sense.  

[msbuck]

Hey, I want to join the Rob & Ed club, too!  I mean these bikes are for RIDING, right?!  

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

With my new seat, I just might get to experience that, again!

Gathering of the Clans, Aïda?



(sorry about your thread, montmil )

[msbuck]

Rob, we'll see.  We're planning on going to a /5 rally up at Seneca Rocks, WV the next weekend.  I would love to do both, but we'll have to see how the schedule works out.  

Montmil - I can't help with cleaning tips except that we use Simple green for the tough oil and grease.  Not sure what kind of blackness you have on the forks(?).  I have lots of black under my engine, but nothing like that on my forks...

I made a BAD mistake trying to clean my bike years ago and don't do it much anymore.  The owner of the dealership I worked at (previous owner of same BMW dealership) was a WHIZ at cleaning bikes!  All the used bikes on the showroom floor looked brand new.  So I took home a bottle of his cleaning solution and proceeded to take the large bits of the black paint off the engine casing.    My only solution at that point was to remove the rest of the paint off the engine.   [smiley=cry.gif]  I wish I could remember what the stuff was, but I am careful about what I use now...

[jusgus]

Hmmmm, Clean the wheels or go for a ride?
Ride!

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

During the replacement of the wheel bearings on my rear wheel at the May Boxerworks rally, paint thinner was offered up as a means to clean up "Rob's grubby wheel" before working on it.

I don't know if paint thinner is recommended for this sort of thing, or not, but it was quite effective with nothing more than a paint brush.

That was, however, the rear wheel, which is covered with mostly oil-based dirt.

I found the front wheel to be a whole nuther animal with it's brake dust dirt.
Well, that and it was probably only about the 5th time in the bikes' life that I have tried to clean that wheel.

[msbuck]

Rob, Graham just cleaned up my wheels using Simple Green (full strength).  We'll compare effectiveness at the Gathering - mine has been cleaned about as often as yours!  

[NC Steve]

I learned a neat trick recently about cleaning melted boot soles, rain suits, other plastics & rubber, etc. off of chrome exhaust systems.

Get a can of Easy-Off COLD oven cleaner, spray it on as directed, wait 2-3 hours, and the melted crud literally wipes off with a swipe or 2 from a paper towel or damp sponge. No scrubbing required.
I was amazed, but it really does work like a champ! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]