Clean/buff/powder coat

Posted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 12:34 pm

I was gonna start cleaning up my all original 1100 because parts are showing there age and was looking for a consensus on whether you guys would just clean, polish or just powder coat the parts. I’m going to powder coat the black engine cases but don’t know what to do about the silver cases, rear sets, and the valve cover. I don’t like shinny parts so if I did clean them or buff them I would not like a high chrome type finish and not sure how to get that original finish. This bike even thou not ridden very much now was a daily rider at one point in time and shows it.

Posted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 12:38 pm

TomK can do all that for you. He has done everything you have mentioned with great results.

Posted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 5:22 pm

The 'aluminum' powder coating finish looks great and just about zero maintenance but if you're a stickler for 'original' you can get close to the original finish by sanding (if necessary) and buffing the aluminum then dulling with a scotch-brite pad.

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2020 1:21 pm

Bucko wrote:

The 'aluminum' powder coating finish looks great and just about zero maintenance but if you're a stickler for 'original' you can get close to the original finish by sanding (if necessary) and buffing the aluminum then dulling with a scotch-brite pad.

Are you referring here to the valve cover? i thought while its obviously aluminum and seeming unpainted there was some sort of a clear coating from the factory

And further i am wondering if anyone knows what that coating is and if it currently attainable and what other surfaces are the same

And actually wondering if it is clear (pun intended) what the besting clear coating or clear temporary protectant is protect aluminum once cleaned and polished

I am asking this as Im going to be starting the cleaning, coating, reapainting process (without a full disassembly on my bike, I am just wanting it to look secent not going for perfection/show bike) starting with valve cover and I am a fan of raw polished aluminum (have a set of wheels on my sports car that are this)

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2020 1:30 pm

If you are going to bare aluminum it may be easier to do what Bucko says. Then every so often run a fine scotch bite pad over it to clean it up.

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2020 2:02 pm

Hey Hondo - fellow Michigander I just noticed - gotcha - do you happen to know what they used at factory or whats best if one does clear coat and/or a real food protectant? I like scotchbrite too for certain parts nut some (talking more generally than Fs here) parts are already nicely polished and scotchbrite not as good there

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2020 2:24 pm

Honda (poorly, IMO) polished the aluminum brightwork and clearcoated the parts to keep from oxidising and to also hide some blemishes.

Although not concour correct, I prefer to have them ceramic coated in bright silver. It's a low maintenance, high luster finish. It's not chrome but resembles polished aluminum. I've done, footplates, exhaust systems, crank covers, valve covers, motor mounts, etc. The process can coat stainless, aluminum, steel for a matching finish on all the parts.
A friend just did his hot rod brake drums. Another fellow did his steel gas tank and painted accents to make it appear as an aluminum tank. The possibilities are endless.

Here's some examples, everything shiny on the blue 1100F is ceramic coated:

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2020 3:09 pm

Leave it dirty and go riding instead.

Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:04 am

CBX-tras wrote:

Honda (poorly, IMO) polished the aluminum brightwork and clearcoated the parts to keep from oxidising and to also hide some blemishes.

Although not concour correct, I prefer to have them ceramic coated in bright silver. It's a low maintenance, high luster finish. It's not chrome but resembles polished aluminum. I've done, footplates, exhaust systems, crank covers, valve covers, motor mounts, etc. The process can coat stainless, aluminum, steel for a matching finish on all the parts.
A friend just did his hot rod brake drums. Another fellow did his steel gas tank and painted accents to make it appear as an aluminum tank. The possibilities are endless.

Here's some examples, everything shiny on the blue 1100F is ceramic coated:

Looks great do you have someone here in SE Michigan younuse?

Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:10 am

grump wrote:

Leave it dirty and go riding instead.

Grumpy I am a rider more than a polisher for sure. Ive been into sports cars and got into bikes again (was a dirt bike / motocrosser, but now into street bikes) lately - the reason for my handle is I wheel to wheel raced a Vette for a number of years, it was driven as could be given the racing, and as a racecar was not that shiny...

i like to have my cars and bikes at least presentable/decent though and bought the 1100f like 3 months back and have been working on it mechanically and cosmetically.
Come on spring!

Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:56 am

I installed a gloss black powder coated valve cover years ago, and it still looks great.

Chris

Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2020 1:09 pm

CDN1100F wrote:

I installed a gloss black powder coated valve cover years ago, and it still looks great.

Chris

That does look great - nice bike - im a huge fan of the boomerang comstars - im problably going to try to buy another bike like a VT or VF from Canada with soem sometime

Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2020 1:09 pm

Yellow02Z06 wrote:

CBX-tras wrote:

Honda (poorly, IMO) polished the aluminum brightwork and clearcoated the parts to keep from oxidising and to also hide some blemishes.

Although not concour correct, I prefer to have them ceramic coated in bright silver. It's a low maintenance, high luster finish. It's not chrome but resembles polished aluminum. I've done, footplates, exhaust systems, crank covers, valve covers, motor mounts, etc. The process can coat stainless, aluminum, steel for a matching finish on all the parts.
A friend just did his hot rod brake drums. Another fellow did his steel gas tank and painted accents to make it appear as an aluminum tank. The possibilities are endless.

Here's some examples, everything shiny on the blue 1100F is ceramic coated:

Looks great do you have someone here in SE Michigan younuse?

QC Coatings. I usually have something there in process. If you're calling, leave a message and they'll get back to you at a break time from the shop.

https://www.qccoatings.com/

Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2020 1:11 pm

CBX-tras wrote:

Yellow02Z06 wrote:

CBX-tras wrote:

Honda (poorly, IMO) polished the aluminum brightwork and clearcoated the parts to keep from oxidising and to also hide some blemishes.

Although not concour correct, I prefer to have them ceramic coated in bright silver. It's a low maintenance, high luster finish. It's not chrome but resembles polished aluminum. I've done, footplates, exhaust systems, crank covers, valve covers, motor mounts, etc. The process can coat stainless, aluminum, steel for a matching finish on all the parts.
A friend just did his hot rod brake drums. Another fellow did his steel gas tank and painted accents to make it appear as an aluminum tank. The possibilities are endless.

Here's some examples, everything shiny on the blue 1100F is ceramic coated:

Looks great do you have someone here in SE Michigan younuse?

QC Coatings. I usually have something there in process. If you're calling, leave a message and they'll get back to you at a break time from the shop.

https://www.qccoatings.com/

Thks JR

Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2020 4:13 pm

Yellow02Z06 wrote:

grump wrote:

Leave it dirty and go riding instead.

Grumpy I am a rider more than a polisher for sure. Ive been into sports cars and got into bikes again (was a dirt bike / motocrosser, but now into street bikes) lately - the reason for my handle is I wheel to wheel raced a Vette for a number of years, it was driven as could be given the racing, and as a racecar was not that shiny...

i like to have my cars and bikes at least presentable/decent though and bought the 1100f like 3 months back and have been working on it mechanically and cosmetically.
Come on spring!

I used to wash my Harley 2-3 time a year, all that chrome yaknow. I like my bike to look nice/presentable/etc. but my limit is at the lower end of the scale. lol Cheer 02Z06 from 280w