Re: Rachels Can-Am 600, Movin’ on up...

Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

Getting down to cleaning up last bits of chrome.

All of the replacement chrome parts Ive found are coming out really nice.

However, original to the bike rear fender....

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Blasted rust and flaking chrome off undersides. Then soaked them in evaporust for a few days.
I delighted w the results. I am gonna protect undersides w Stainless Steel epoxy.

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The top side of the rear fender has pitting. :( Haven't seen a better + reasonable priced on eBay.

I am gonna scrub it w aluminum foil and Ceramic cooktop oven cleaner.
Then Simichrome polish. On good chrome like front fender and other parts. Simichrome polish is not as easy to use as Meguires polish. But, w some elbow grease the results are outstanding.

Don't get me wrong, for a quickie Meguires is good. Easy on and off. But for real protection I believe Simichrome is the choice.

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Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

And sometime in the future this rear fender is a good candidate for new chrome. No dents or dings.

If I just can't live w the pitting...I may send it out.

We got a good chrome shop here in Illinois, several hours from me.

http://www.qualitychromeplating.com/

they did my 360 and 100 fork springs. So Im no stranger to the process.
 
Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

BTW

Rach and I spent yesterday celebrating our 25th wedding anny, at the Garage brewed Moto show in Cincinnati.

Saw this stock CB750. SO PERFECTLY CLEAN. absolutely perfect in every way.

My goal... get Rachels machine HALF this clean. 8)

Flugtechnic and I were admiring it. I believe we agreed, ALL of the chrome had been done by a good "show" chrome shop.

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Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

Foil scrub chrome...Well it kinda worked great 8)...kinda not so great. :p

Heres what I found. When rubbing chrome to reduce the appearance of pitting.

Work a very small area at a time,

CHANGE FOIL OFTEN!!! CHANGE FOIL OFTEN! CHANGE FOIL OFTEN!!!

As you scrub, the foil becomes imbedded with the microscopic flaking chrome from around the tiny pits.

So, Although the softer aluminum wont scratch the chrome. The flakes of chrome imbedded in the foil WILL scratch.

But, it did work. By adding a "coating" of silvery aluminum to the rough surface of the unsightly pits. It reduced the appearance of the pits considerably. :)

Almost kinda barely noticeable from a few feet away. Obviously visible as I stand here, under good light "inspecting" up close.

With everything bolted over the top of this little fender, the fender in its entirety can barely be seen. Seat, rack/backrest, taillight, tag.

But I will be making an appointment at the chrome shop next winter.

Before...

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After....
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Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

Here's a good explanation of what's going on. Rubbing in a way to produce heat is pretty important, because it's the production of aluminum oxide that's important. It's not coating the spots with aluminum. Also, it's important to follow up with polish. Personally, I like Nevr-dull and Simichrome for polishes.
 
Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

I guess now its a mod. ;)

These bikes came w a crappy black plastic chain guard. They cracked at the mount.
Honda learned its lesson and went back to chrome metal guards a couple years later.
Gregs relocated the mounting tab for an updated metal guard.

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Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

irk miller said:
Here's a good explanation of what's going on. Rubbing in a way to produce heat is pretty important, because it's the production of aluminum oxide that's important. It's not coating the spots with aluminum. Also, it's important to follow up with polish. Personally, I like Nevr-dull and Simichrome for polishes.

thanks bro. I like the simichrome polish too.
 
Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

I still haven't gotten results people claim to get with the aluminum, so that page helped me a ton. I learned about Nevr Dull in the Navy. All the brass on the ships is polished with it. It's nice because it's just a cotton like material soaked in a transparent liquid. No powdery residue to fill cracks and seams. I still don't know exactly why it works so well.
 
Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

irk miller said:
I still haven't gotten results people claim to get with the aluminum, so that page helped me a ton.

Good, it certainly reduced the appearance of the pits...from 5 feet away. Now, had I avoided adding scratches... ::)

Oh and thanks to Levi for sharing his top secret "Cooktop cleaner" recipe w me. Just like G'ma used to make. ;)
 
Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

Been crazy busy in our house and the weather is not cooperating at all.

I don't want to spray paint inside my garage. So doing everything I can until its warm enough to spray outside.

Started cleaning engine, for paint and polishing.
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Easy off oven cleaner worked wonders on the aluminum bmw mags. So I gave it a try...epic failure.
It left a white powder stuck in every nook and cranny on the engine. Ugh. So gonna give the whole thing a scrub w lacquer thinner. Bummer.
And as I currently have a houseful of guests...thats gonna have to wait.

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Rach wants a custom seat. As the stock seat sits a little high for her.

Found the worlds ugliest custom seat on ebay. LOL. Now her Valentines day gift.

Its perfect for her. Sits her about 2-3 inches lower than the stocker.

But my god is it ugly. I ordered black vinyl spray. If that don't work...new custom seat cover.

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While waiting for weather to warm up and black spray to arrive.

I got busy trying to save this factory paint. As its just good enough to try to save. I want to keep 40yrs of wear and tear.

Problem is, its got tons of black paint spattered all over it, along w side covers.

Started w a razor. It worked well for scraping the black off, being very careful not to scratch up the orange or the stickers.

But it was just gonna take forever. So I reached out to Irk for advise. He recommended a paint cleaner/rubbing compound.

Meguiars cleaner works well but my fingers just cant take all the rubbing.

I chucked up a small felt polishing pad in Dremel and dipping it in Mequiars....VOILA!!!!

What would have taken days by hand, now takes minutes. 8). Thanks buddy!!!

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Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

Irk, when you make your way up here. I got a glass of this waiting for you.

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Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

You are smooth like the Lady's Man, Leon Phelps.
 

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Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

Lol I have no idea what any of that means.
 
Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

Nice work on the paint. I agree that it was worth saving!
 
Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

Woke up w incredible pain this morning. An existing annoying med condition of mine.
Went to dr got antibiotics and got back home and the weather improved just enough, I was able to spray a few small parts.
Had I been prepared to take a day off work AND have decent weather I would've finished the engine. GRRRR.
however its painful to sit, stand, walk, bend over or lift. :p
Previously posted sandblasting and evapo-rusting undersides of fenders and guard.
Now a few thick coats of Stainless Epoxy for protection and done.

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Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

Slowly but surely the tank paint cleanup is still moving along.

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FINALLY a break in the weather...

Seat is greatly improved. thank god

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Allballs kit went in smoothly.

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The first fork seal was a bitch. Put some heat on it and still bent my little pry bar.

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Heated the second much MUCH hotter. It popped right out nicely/

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Removing old gaskets has to be the worst job of a build.

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I don't care for the wet sanding part of polishing, but the buffing part is fun.

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In a panic I thought I had lost the copper seals for the fork leg assembly. But, Irk and the boys talked me through it.
Found one still stuck in the lower and the other was stuck on the bolt. THANKS for the help guys!!!

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forks will be 100% as soon as I find my new dust seals. I know they're here somewhere.

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pulled bushings for inspection and cleanup to paint swing arm.

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Engine cleaned up pretty nice.

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Covers are just hanging for the pic. New gasket set going in this morning.

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