Removing rust

[Metalor]

Hey guys, just started getting into riding and I love it. Bought a Volty from Mt Eden motorcycles as they are alot nicer than the gn250s (I reckon anyway) and was a good price.

It just has the odd bit of rust on parts of the chrome though that I'm wanting to get rid of. Places like the indicator bars, bolts, and the odd spot on the exhaust etc (is this normal btw?).

What is the best way to go about getting it off? I looked at the motomail website and thought that autosol stuff might do the trick. Any advice is appreciated!

[Pwalo]

You could definitely give the Autosol a go. If you have really heavy rust pot scourers (used very gently to start with) can give a reasonable finish.

Some rusting on GN/TU chrome is the norm I'm afraid, but keep on top of it and it shouldn't be an issue.

Do a search on the site and I'm sure you'll find more advice.

[James Deuce]

Steel wool and glint works brilliantly. Pun intended.

I had a Kawasaki CSR 250 that was like that. I stripped all the chromed parts off, washed them in warm soapy water using a steelo pad to get all the grime and rust off, and then used Glint and a soft cloth to polish the chrome. Came up really well.

Autosol works really well on alloy. I've found it can dull chrome.

[Crisis management]

An angle grinder is especially effective......sets you up nicely for the rat bike look which is achieved after the first bin.

Actually, save on the expense of Autosol etc and go directly to Matt black spraycans. :gob:


This may be proof that Jim2 does know more than me..........

[surfer]

Lots of elbow grease and autosol works well

[Metalor]

Cheers guys. Looks like I've got a bit of work ahead of me! Not too keen on stripping my bike down though... although there is one place where the thread might be starting to rust a little (I think it's on the indicator arms). Is it possible to take most of the rust off without pulling parts off the bike?

Mt Eden Motorcycles said they'd do it, but I thought it might be easier to do it myself.

[James Deuce]

Absolutely soak the rusted thread in WD40 or CRC and leave it overnight. Get a good ring spanner set and a good socket set.

[crashe]

Go to the $2 shop and buy a packet of toothbrushes (Pkt of 5) for $2.

Use the autosol for chrome (approx $10 a tube at Mitre 10 or bike shops)
1. Use a toothbrush to get to the hard to get places.....
2. Wipe off with a cloth (old soft towel)
3. Then buff it with a soft cloth (old t-shirt)
4. Then a extra buff with a soft polishing cloth.

Do all the bigger areas of chrome with either a toothbrush or a old towel and then repeat 2, 3 and 4.

You will be amazed at how sparkling your bike will look.

[surfer]

Absolutely soak the rusted thread in WD40 or CRC and leave it overnight. Get a good ring spanner set and a good socket set.


Give the nut a light tap with a hammer and punch, if it is stuck after you have soaked it.

[Metalor]

Awesome! Hopefully I'll be able to get onto it this weekend. So autosol for chrome will take rust off?

[James Deuce]

Autosol costs more than a steelo and some elbow grease, and I reckon that rusted chrome comes up dull when you've attacked it with Autosol for Chrome. Just my opinion though.

[Metalor]

Don't really want the chrome to be dulled. I'll see if attacking it with steel wool will do the trick. Cheers!

[peasea]

Ring Pacer Car Clean Products, 027 478 1296, and see what they suggest for chrome because I too have found that Autosol can dull chrome. I use pacer's chrome and glass polish which is a blue/green cream. I bought a 4l bottle of it ages ago and use it on all the glass in the house (and car) as well as chrome on the bike. The best I ever had for surface rust on chrome was 'Blue Magic', it is also a cream, came in a tube and I think it came from Pioneer Auto Parts. That was ages ago tho.

[Macktheknife]

Use steelo first then Autosol or similar product and lots of elbow grease.

[Metalor]

The best I ever had for surface rust on chrome was 'Blue Magic', it is also a cream, came in a tube and I think it came from Pioneer Auto Parts. That was ages ago tho.

I've found some on trademe, does it sound like the same stuff?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=94228000&permanent=0

[peasea]

I've found some on trademe, does it sound like the same stuff?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=94228000&permanent=0


Yup, I've still got the tail end of my tube and the more you work it the better things get, like Autosol on alloy.

Good spotting, batman.

[nudemetalz]

What I use to polish alloy or chrome is, fine grade steel wool (remember you can get different grades of it) and a little autosol. Then I use 2000 grade wet&dry (not always easy to find) wet but rubbed not too hard.
Wipe off.
After that, buff up with a rag and very minimal turtlewax.

Like Jim says though, I have also found that autosol can dull chrome if used too aggressively as it is quite abrasive.

Hope this helps.

[Steam]

How do Autosol and similar products work? Are they super-fine abrasives or some other clever thing? They claim not to be abrasive but they must be...?

[nudemetalz]

They basically fill in dimples or tiny holes in the metals surface and then (supposedly) put a layer over the top of the metal. However, in my experience, you have to go easy with autosol as it has a type of toothpaste texture that if you rub for too long you can lose the shiny (esp on aluminium) that you got.

[Logan5]

I'll probably get shot down for this but for small rust spots on chrome I would recommend cutting/rubbing compound (and elbow grease). This is the stuff used to smooth paint surface after spraying or to remove a layer of oxidised paint. It's abrasive to paint (and rust) but chrome is a lot harder than paint and in my experience it doesn't scratch or mark the chrome. At least the cutting compound I've used, if you try it check on a small patch first.

[newmanz]

An angle grinder is especially effective......sets you up nicely for the rat bike look which is achieved after the first bin.

Actually, save on the expense of Autosol etc and go directly to Matt black spraycans. :gob:


This may be proof that Jim2 does know more than me..........


I hear ya !!! Aerosol overhaul time !!!!
Can really make a bike look mint, just remember to tuck some old shirts round the stuff yu dont want to get overhauled, many a GN 250 got my loving touch. Oh so shiney.. me love you long time.
"Hey.. whats that silver spots on the wire loom, is it paint, have you painted this bike recently?"
"Nah mate, that be Painted Apple Moth dust, will wash right off...see.."

[Monolith NZ]

you may not believe me but coke + toothbrush + gentle scrubbing actually works quite well!

[johnnyflash]

Having a Auto Detailer for a son, Ive used all sorts of cleaners on Chrome, depending on how bad any surface rust is., Mostly I use Auto Glym Metal Polish only to remove any surface rust and polish it, but if its really bad then a bit of watered down JIFF to get the bad rust off, then Auto Glymm again to polish and seal it. The important part once again seems to be to SEAL The surface with a good quality polish as once rust grows it leaves tiny imperfections for the stuff to grow in again.

[Dodgyiti]

Cheers guys. Looks like I've got a bit of work ahead of me! Not too keen on stripping my bike down though... although there is one place where the thread might be starting to rust a little (I think it's on the indicator arms). Is it possible to take most of the rust off without pulling parts off the bike?

Mt Eden Motorcycles said they'd do it, but I thought it might be easier to do it myself.

If a part is showing rust on the threads, such as a mirror stalk. Soak it with some WD-40 and then take it apart and protect it. Short cuts will end up in grief later.
I use copper paste on threads to lubricate and sacrifice it's self during electrolisis.
A bit old school, but it works for the winter riding.
Doing little things like that to your new bike will help to familiarise you and give you confidence to tackle other things. Working on my bikes give me more of a feeling of ownership- blood, sweat and plenty of tears

[Toaster]

Absolutely soak the rusted thread in WD40 or CRC and leave it overnight. Get a good ring spanner set and a good socket set.


Yep, works well.

Hey congrats on 10k posts dude, that's alot of internet time!