| Author | Message | ||
     Buellbuster |
I am coming to the end of my "winter project" #1 being polishing my frame and swing arm...I have seen quite a few people asking questions about doing this, and I have learned quite a few tricks and tips along the way, so if you got a question shoot it my way and I'll do my best to help! | ||
| Jeffroj |
I am not going to do this, but I am curious, what did you use to remove the powdercoat? | ||
| Teddagreek |
I just started doing heel guards figured they'd look better raw or polished... My boots keep wearing through and looks like shiz.. Did you use a orbital sander and just go finer. than a buffer? | ||
| Buellbuster |
"what did you use to remove the powdercoat?" I used aircraft paint stripper, but the trick was to pour it on and barely touch it with the brush, and it just fell off! "Did you use a orbital sander and just go finer. than a buffer?" Well I started with just a palm "wiggle" sander and I went all the way through 1500 grit, then I started buffing with jewelers rouge, and it wasn't coming out the way I wanted, so I went back down to 400 grit and did it all by hand with a rubber block, keeping the strokes going all the same direction, up through 1500 grit again. then went to the buffing wheel, but this time I started with a slightly courser compound, and holy smokes it looks good! Like a mirror! | ||
| Ustorque |
pics? | ||
| Buellbuster |
still have 2 sets of compound to go through in this pic, but you get the idea....shiny!  | ||
| Ustorque |
nice work... what are your plans when the polishing is done? are you going to clear them or just maintain the polish? | ||
| Teddagreek |
Very Nice... Where did you get the polishing compounds.. Auto store? Some one told me try a westmarine store.. | ||
| Buellbuster |
dont want to clear them because I dont feel like re stripping it after it turns yellow...so I am going with a good coat of the eagle one nanowax and a heavy coat of regular wax. picked the compounds up at lowes | ||
| Werewulf |
nice job... | ||
| Dtmb |
Eagle one wax sucks. Get some Zaino products. | ||
| Skinstains |
Wow ! I am kind of the anti-shine but wow that looks cool. | ||
| Ochoa0042 |
Let me know when it's all finished; IMO polishing the swingarm may be too much bling, but I'll love to take a gander of the finished bike. I might want to follow your footsteps Do ya have any picks of the bike in the garage with no swingarm? I'm interested in how you managed to prop the bike and remove the swingarm. Seems like taking it off is the best way to polish the swingarms' multifaceted surfaces. I used the aircraft remover too, but in the easy on spray-can bottle. And I was told/read that going in opposite (90degree) direction of the previous grits was the best way to polish, this way your 'dig' into/out/away the previous grits mess. And progressively moving to 2000grit. In case you havent done the frame yet.... make sure to give extra attention to the steering-head-area with the coarse grits because that area has bubbles & is somewhat pourus. Sand it down much more than the rest of the frame, so to not have the sand papers grit getting lodged into the frames pours. If you dont it'll look dotted, dull, with little grey holes} | ||
| Punkid8888 |
That look Sweet So how many hours invested? | ||
| Buellbuster |
Ochoa0042 -- here is a pic of my "suspended buell!" Punkid8888 -- many many hours into it!  just a jack under the exhuast mount, and two ratchet straps up to the rafters! | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
the upkeep is gonna be insane and with no clear coat, corrosion on bare aluminum is gonna happen. Nice work though! | ||
| Ochoa0042 |
oh you can see in my photo how dull the steering head was, for a later project: I had to refinish it to look as good as the frame, double time on the frame's neck PICK that doesnt look safe.... I dont think I will be able to remove the swingarm.... how did you have to do it??? does it involves removing the primary drive system and clutch basket??? | ||
| H2owerker |
Ochoa0042 This may look safer...  You could use a widow-maker to hold the rear up and leave the front wheel on. Use a 1/2"x18" ratchet extension through the front axle across 2 jack stands. No need to remove the primary drive stuff, just the belt drive, rear wheel, oil lines, brake caliper/line, oil lines, and suspension. | ||
| Ochoa0042 |
how the poishing job doin BB? | ||
| Ochoa0042 |
I recommend getting these things, it compliments the bike well, for like $35 at the dealer  | ||
| Buellbuster |
Its going well! got one side of the frame most of the way done. And just got my ECMSpy cable in the mail today too woohooo! I plan on painting the the foot guards black to match the new pegs that I asked santa for  | ||
| Kmfw160 |
looks good bro. I've done my frame and side rails and I here to tell you it is time consuming. I used a drill with sandpaper flapper wheels then hand wet sanded then finishing up with compound bars. I want to do my swing arm too but the damn maintenance is killing me. It takes the better part of a day several times a month to remove the crud and restore the shine. Does anyone know how to 'seal' the polished parts? | ||
| H2owerker |
Try using an automotive clear-coat w/ a flex additive for ABS plastic bumpers. The additive will help it resist chipping. Or get some of that clear 3M paint protective film and apply that to the polished areas. (Message edited by h2owerker on November 27, 2008) |
