Author Topic: Cleaning and protecting cast alloy.  (Read 1126 times)

Offline v8ivor

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Cleaning and protecting cast alloy.
« on: 22.09. 2015 08:54 »
Hi Peeps,
I have tried everything that I can think of to clean the full width Arial type front hub and brake plate, buffing to a mirror finish just makes the pours stand out, so a dull sheen would be good. I understand that soda or aqua blasting  would do the job, but I wanted to do it myself. (I can
only find baking soda in small tubs in the supermarkets ) However after cleaning, does anyone know what to protect the alloy with ? Most rattle cans of lacquer don't mention to be used on non ferrous metals.
Ivor.   

Offline duTch

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Re: Cleaning and protecting cast alloy.
« Reply #1 on: 22.09. 2015 09:49 »
 Sodium Carbonate is the stuff (NaCO),  washing soda.
 Baking soda is Sodium BiCarbonate (Na2CO)
Started building in about 1977/8 a on average '52 A10 -built from bits 'n pieces never resto intended -maybe 'personalised'
Have a '74 850T Moto Guzzi since '92-best thing I ever bought doesn't need a kickstart 'cos it bump starts sooooooooo(mostly) easy
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Offline WozzA

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Re: Cleaning and protecting cast alloy.
« Reply #2 on: 22.09. 2015 14:13 »
To get a mirror shine you need to sand the pours & scratches out with wet & dry,
starting with 800 then work your way up to 2000.. then use buffing wheels & white buffing compound.
it's a lot of work, but worth the effort. 
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Online Topdad

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Re: Cleaning and protecting cast alloy.
« Reply #3 on: 22.09. 2015 16:46 »
So that's how you win shows hey ? nice job.
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Offline v8ivor

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Re: Cleaning and protecting cast alloy.
« Reply #4 on: 22.09. 2015 20:30 »
WOW ! That sure looks SHINY !
I thought that the poors went all the way through, How do you keep it looking that way ? Especially the ribs in the centre of the hub.
Also what have you done with the crankcases ? (The bits that are not mirror finished )

Offline WozzA

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Re: Cleaning and protecting cast alloy.
« Reply #5 on: 22.09. 2015 22:36 »
The ribs & behind the rear sprocket are just painted ...
& the shiny bits are not coated...  just keep the polish up to them..  *wink2*
The cases were soda blasted prior to rebuild..
'51 Golden Flash Plunger
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Offline duTch

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Re: Cleaning and protecting cast alloy.
« Reply #6 on: 22.09. 2015 22:52 »

 Special wheels for tram tracks..? *smile*
Started building in about 1977/8 a on average '52 A10 -built from bits 'n pieces never resto intended -maybe 'personalised'
Have a '74 850T Moto Guzzi since '92-best thing I ever bought doesn't need a kickstart 'cos it bump starts sooooooooo(mostly) easy
Australia

Offline v8ivor

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Re: Cleaning and protecting cast alloy.
« Reply #7 on: 22.09. 2015 23:10 »
What are Tram tracks  *????*

Offline duTch

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Re: Cleaning and protecting cast alloy.
« Reply #8 on: 23.09. 2015 00:03 »

 Tracks that trams run on, kinda like a train *eek*...maybe then we could call'em 'training wheels' *bash*...
Started building in about 1977/8 a on average '52 A10 -built from bits 'n pieces never resto intended -maybe 'personalised'
Have a '74 850T Moto Guzzi since '92-best thing I ever bought doesn't need a kickstart 'cos it bump starts sooooooooo(mostly) easy
Australia

Offline WozzA

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Re: Cleaning and protecting cast alloy.
« Reply #9 on: 23.09. 2015 01:40 »

 Tracks that trams run on, kinda like a train *eek*...maybe then we could call'em 'training wheels' *bash*...

GREAT for running in a straight line...   *wink2*
BUT a bugger in the corners..   *countdown*    *whistle*
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Offline v8ivor

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Re: Cleaning and protecting cast alloy.
« Reply #10 on: 26.09. 2015 19:14 »
I didn't mean that the pores go through the casting, I meant that when I sand through the surface pores, other ones appear further in, if that makes any sense ? Anyway, it looks quite good now after starting with 180 wet & dry and finishing with white soap on a buffing mop.

Online RichardL

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Re: Cleaning and protecting cast alloy.
« Reply #11 on: 29.09. 2015 21:22 »
Looking at my own Ariel-type full-width hub, the outer dome has concentric rings in the surface which appear to remain from the original machining process. Those are obviously gone in Ivor's job and it certainly looks great. As for another technique, I was wondering: has anyone thrown this type hub on a lathe and sanded everywhere to a brushed finish, completing the job with clear anodizing?

Richard L.

Offline trevinoz

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Re: Cleaning and protecting cast alloy.
« Reply #12 on: 29.09. 2015 22:42 »
Would you believe that the Ariel hubs were originally painted in Hammertone silver?

Online RichardL

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Re: Cleaning and protecting cast alloy.
« Reply #13 on: 30.09. 2015 00:53 »
Oops. I meant Wozza's hubs. Those are painted between the flanges, as he says, but I doubt if it's hammertone. I do really like the way Wozza's turned out (what's not to like). I was just thinking about different approaches.

Wozza,

Is it a problem to keep the exterior free of corrosion?

Richard L.

Offline WozzA

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Re: Cleaning and protecting cast alloy.
« Reply #14 on: 30.09. 2015 01:14 »
Richard...   I also own a Harley Heritage Softail...  ( with heaps of Chrome ) 
so...I'm used to polishing...    *whistle*
Re the painted surfaces..  I believe it was done in silver Hammertone..   *conf2*
I just give them a wipe over every now & then..

Pic is the other side prior to being re spoked & painted.
'51 Golden Flash Plunger
'57 Golden Flash Swingarm

Melbourne
The biggest lie I tell myself is
"I don't need to write that down, I'll remember it"