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Buell Motorcycle Forum » Quick Board Archives » Archive through April 21, 2009 » Polished aluminum turned green!? « Previous Next »

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Pkforbes87
Posted on Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 10:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Just got my cam cover and primary cover back Tuesday from getting polished. There was still some dust from the polishing compound in little crevices and the shop told me to just give them a good cleaning with a hose.

I cleaned them off real well with a garden hose and they both started showing weird patterns and spots like water spots but they were still wet. Now they've turned a greenish hue that is pink/purple in areas if you look at it with light hitting it at the right angle.

Absolutely no chemicals were used on the surface while I was cleaning them - just water. I've tried Mother's carnuba cleaner wax to get the finish smooth again and it doesn't appear to have any effect.

WTF happened!? The finish is still very reflective, but I was kind of hoping for an aluminum colored reflectivity - not this weird ass green!

http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/pkforbes87/polish%20gone%20wrong/

I tried doing image links to the pics - no joy
tried a url link to the album - no joy
Today's just not my day.

(Message edited by pkforbes87 on April 16, 2009)
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Just_ziptab
Posted on Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 11:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

That is weird.
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Pkforbes87
Posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 - 12:22 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Thanks for posting the pic, and yes it's pretty weird. Minus the pretty.
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Mnbueller
Posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 - 09:00 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I'm thinking its just a reaction between the buffing compound and the hard water. Try using some glass cleaner, rubbing alcohol, or even just soap and water to clean them up.

Even though its polished, there are still lots of microscopic pits that are filled with the rubbing compound.

Hope this helps!
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Swordsman
Posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 - 09:03 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Could it be a reaction to chlorine in the water? that might explain the color.

~SM
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Cyclonemduece
Posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 - 12:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

get some never dull it wil take it off in no time.
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Jramsey
Posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 - 12:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I'd call the shop that did the polishing and see what they have to say.
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Pkforbes87
Posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 - 01:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Here's the same thread in Old School. For some reason I was able to post pictures there but it wasn't working here.

Jramsey - I took the covers by the shop that did the polishing, and they think that either my water has zinc in it, or the covers have some zinc content. I wrote all about that in the other thread.

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/476 23/452863.html?1239986991
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Sparky
Posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 - 07:10 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Whatever else you do with this part, don't use Windex to clean it because of the chlorine content.
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Methed
Posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 - 09:29 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Blue Magic (chrome) polish would take that haze off, plus it adds a decent protective coating. Low-budget, redneck-engineered anything-polish, including faded plastics.

Probably not what the pros would recommend, but from my experience, it puts the lotion on the skin.
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