Cleaning

[Fox Rider]

Hey guys,

Quick question that doesnt really require much thought...
Just wondering how you would get the Crap of your Engine covers?

I saw a Picture of a bike the same year, make and model as mine and it was all nice and silver and pretty looking... Then i looked at mine...

I heard Metal Polish works well but have also heard when you use it you just make a big mess and have to take the whole engine out of the bike to even bother?

Thanks in Advance

[Wired1]

Most engines have a laquer on the covers or silver paint or both so the trick is to strip it off with automotive stripper. The easiest approach if you don't want to take the engine out is to just remove the engine covers, strip them, buff them and then put them back on. The rest of the engine might just need a good clean so splash out on a few cans of CRC engine degreaser, it really does work wonders on engines and wheels. Once you have stripped the cases and polished them up you will need to regularly give them a quick polish every coulpe of months to keep that shine. There are plenty of paste polishes around and even Brasso works well on aluminium. Have a quick shifty at my project bike on my profile page to see what you can achieve with a bench grinder with a rag wheel and a bit of patience.

[Fox Rider]

Very nice picture, well done on that :yes:

Yeah, I was thinking of just taking the covers off, Having a good go at them, Buffing them up and making them look all pretty and then chucking them on.

So Metal polish isnt recommended?

And is there anything to watch for when taking the covers off? (Am no mechanic so i truly wouldnt know)

Thanks

[Wasp]

Cant look that bad ..... can it?

(my bikes in my profile buts its probably not a good comparision shot)

[Fox Rider]

Well no it doesnt look to bad, It just looks old and worn and old and stuff and grey and dull... Just wanted to shine it up a bit and add a little silver...

Your Covers are grey to, I wonder if that is the Normal colour?
I have seen a bike that is EXACTLY the same as mine but it nice and silver though, but he may have had them sprayed :confused:

[Wasp]

hmmm i wonder if the older model covers were grey and the newer ones silver...

edit: yeap there we go, grey, black and silver http://www.banditalley.com/250.html

[Fox Rider]

You are so right...

So the Bandit i saw which was exactly the same as mine must have had the silver covers (not extremely clean)...

Any ideas where to get them?... Wreakers?

Save alot of Pointless cleaning :yes:

[Wasp]

beats me, im finding this out at the same speed as you.

i think the engines are slightly differnet between versions, its possible that the different colour cover only fits a certain engine....

let the hunt begin!

vic wreckers have some bandit parts :)

[Wired1]

Metal polish is OK, Autosol is the best of them I reckon, but it is hard work and probably better for "maintenance polishes". First time around you are going to have to strip them and buff them. The chromers are the best at this but I have always done it myself with a rag wheel and a cheap bench grinder. Use plenty of stick abrasive on the rag wheel, you get it from the tool shops normally.
Removing the engine covers is a little bit scary first time as you don't know what might fly out at you, you could get a Haynes manual first to see if their pictures show the story inside, or ask around other guys here with the same bike, and don't forget to drain the oil first! you should be chaniging you oil filter at least once a year anyway so it's a good opportunity to have a look when you do. Show us the pics if you do have a go.

[Wasp]

Its probably not worth changing the engine cover, if yours is like mine then the whole things grey - covers, engine, carbs and all

[Fox Rider]

Metal polish is OK, Autosol is the best of them I reckon, but it is hard work and probably better for "maintenance polishes". First time around you are going to have to strip them and buff them. The chromers are the best at this but I have always done it myself with a rag wheel and a cheap bench grinder. Use plenty of stick abrasive on the rag wheel, you get it from the tool shops normally.
Removing the engine covers is a little bit scary first time as you don't know what might fly out at you, you could get a Haynes manual first to see if their pictures show the story inside, or ask around other guys here with the same bike, and don't forget to drain the oil first! you should be chaniging you oil filter at least once a year anyway so it's a good opportunity to have a look when you do. Show us the pics if you do have a go.

The autosol Metal polish is the stuff i was looking at buying, looks like the stuff for the job.
I need a new Crank cover anyway (had a small accident and got a bit of a hiding) so i think i might just take them all off when i replace that and give them a bit of a shining.
Ill be sure to take pic's if it works out.

[Fox Rider]

Its probably not worth changing the engine cover, if yours is like mine then the whole things grey - covers, engine, carbs and all

Yeah true.

Well i have to change the crank cover anyway, so if i found some of those lovely shiny covers ill be getting them and throwing them on... Because from what i saw they make the bike look soooo much nicer.

[Wasp]

Yea it'd be worth a go, mine are scuffed so I might get some too :)

can you do me a favour mate? http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=34225