While not Ranger Related this is a detailing question, so mods and admins, move this thread as you see fit.

Ok here's the deal. My Dad is looking at a bike online for sale. The bike is a 2000 Honda Valkyrie. The bike is in exceptional good shape but has some minor surface chrome pitting. Little pinhole size surface rust spots on the chrome. It's not severe but it definetly needs some attention.

What would be a good polish for this? We've tried Amsoil Metal Polish before and it's literally sandpaper in a bottle so we don't need that aggressive. -Mike-

 

ive heard of using soapywater and some tin foil... its supposed to get the rust out and can fill in the holes some what... probably needs to be polised after though to get rid of the scuffs

 

if it's actual pitting, you may be able to blend them with some polish. Use a rotary buffer if you can, it'll work better, and less time consuming.
Try using either wheel acid[35% acid/65% water mix] with a pressure washer, or even use a clay bar, it might be brake dust. with the acid, it may "cloud" it up a bit, but it'll all polish out, and they will shine like no other.

 

I have a rotary polisher but i do fear to use it on a bike especially with small chrome pieces. I'll use mine on my bike's gas tank from time to time but that's about it. I polish every other thing on my own bike by hand just because of all the curves, nooks and crannies.

No offense, but i'm not real fond of the idea of using acid even mixed with water on chrome. Yes it might haze and then polish out but it still makes me uneasy.

What about using just regular Chrome polish that comes in that silver can? Pinkish in color. -Mike-

 

what about using something like 0 or 00 steel wool? would that be too aggressive w/o scratching the chrome? Sorry the double post -Mike-

 

if its not to bad of rust, you could try gasoline and a toothbrush or coke with a toothbrush.

 

that wheel acid mentioned before works unbelievably well on taking rust off chrome, it will take off EVERYTHING depending on how strong of a mix you make. that's why you have to make sure to wax and polish the **** outta it right after. I used to use muriatic acid on my wheels, but keepin the chrome shiney is just becoming too much work that's why I just bought black powdercoated wheels

 

Loneranger, my point exactly about the black wheels, i never have to worry about any street grime, brake dust, not being shiney.
Feel uneasy about wheel acid on chrome? how uneasy do you think any new employee i train at work feels when i tell them to spray the rims, then the body of the car?
Takes industrial fallout and brake dust right off a car's paint. As long as it is clearcoated. Actually i don't think true chrome will cloud up. i know polished aluminum will, but i can't see chrome doing that, never had a problem with chrome clouding up. Just don't spray directly on any plastic, or anything that is leather, rubber molding, or non-clearcoated. As long as you use a pressure washer, you can let it sit on the chrome for about 10-15 seconds, if dulited alot.

 

so basically it works like a clay bar then?

what's usually a good ratio to mix it at? -Mike-

 

ive had great luck with the Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish in the little red and white tubs.

as far as the aluminum foil trick, wasnt it supposed to be foil and a can of Coke?

 

at work, i use a mix of 50-50 wheel acid and water, for wheels. for fallout/brake dust on the body, i use a spray bottle with about 3/4 of the 50-50, and top it off with acid, so, maybe like 75% acid, but i am experienced, and can get fix anything but melted plastic.
If you are uneasy about acid, then dilute it with water more, it will be alot safer to use.

 

your best bet is to just polish the chrome up and try not to worry about the pitting. you won't get rid of the pitting with steel wool, tin foil, etc etc. pitting in chrome is basically permanent.

they only way to truly repair the pitting is to have the piece/pieces re-chromed.

 

I used to have a chrome bike, every couple months it would have rust break outs and I just used steel wool and it came out like new.

 

once again tin foil and soapy water, if you saw my intake tube youd see how well it worked...

 

well i just read a post on here yesterday saying "never dull" works great so i went out and bought it.. took away all the little rust specs on my exhuast tips... worked great.. takes a couple of minutes of rubbing the cloth that you tear off and they are gone.. tips look brand new..