whats the best way to clean and polish tarnished aluminum on a motocycle?

Answer 1

Do not use steel wool on aluminum! Steel will embed into the aluminum surface, rust and cause the aluminum to further oxidize. This happened to me.
On older bikes, a mottled appereance on aluiminum parts can also be caused by the factory laquer protection peeling or wearing off. The laquer keeps the aluminum looking good for years, but eventually yellows and comes off with age, or with abrasive cleaners. If you have small amounts of laquer finish remaining, you could try to remove whats left with lighter fluid or denautured alchohol and soft rags. If its really stubborn you may need a 'scotch bright sponge pad'.
If its clean uncoated aluminum, you can use a household metal cleaner, or an alum car rim cleaner, and follow the directions. I like Simichrome for bare metal and chrome, but its expensive.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
whats the best way to clean and polish tarnished aluminum on a motocycle?

Answer 3

Get some Mother's brand polish or some Never Dull & be prepared to use some elbow grease.

Some real fine (00) steel wool will work also but you will still need to put some kind of polish on it to keep it from tarnishing again quickly.

Answer 4

For a shine that will blind you use 00 steel-wool and Mothers Mag & Chrome Polish. I also use Simichrome metel polish, it does a gret job.Don't quit til you can see yourself.Before I do any polishing I use Bike Brite cleaner and degreaser, you just spray it on and hose it off.I'm not sure who makes it but J&P Cycles sells it.Have fun.

Answer 5

Steel wool, lots of clean cotton towels, Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish , and lots of elbow grease.

Answer 6

I saw that someone has already told you about Mothers aluminum cleaner and polish.It is a good product.

Answer 7

Do you want to polish aluminum to a mirrior like finish? (like chrome)
You can buy polishing supplies here -
http://www.caswellplating.com/index.html