Engine Polishing??

[trailrider894]

Hey guys, i am looking for some input on this... I don't wanna paint because i was told not to, and i heard that polishing is better. Besides it would look pretty sweet. Is this a good idea?? I would polish the case, head, valve cover, and the side cases. Is this gonna be worth it??? How should i go about doing this myself?

[Thumpin440ex]

I polished mine. It is a PITA, but worth it in the end. I also polished all the factor levers, they were much easier due to the fact they did not have paint on them.. What ever you do do not use a wire wheel, as it will scar the aluminum, will be a **** ton of work to get it out( ALOT of sanding) I used 1500 grit to sand cases, then went over them with fine steel wool. Then started to buff them using a mild cut rouge.. It takes a while and if you do not have the right things to buff it, it will be a royal pita.. Just take your time. If you want to do the valve cover, do it the same way. I do not think it is needed, as you do not hardly see it, it gets hot hot. It will dull the finish fast.. BTW you do have to keep after it, polish it every now and again..


http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/mangler0075/400ex%20build/004-2.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/mangler0075/400ex%20build/007-1.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/mangler0075/400ex%20build/003-1.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/mangler0075/400ex%20build/007.jpg

John

[trailrider894]

How long will it be before it will need polished again?

[Thumpin440ex]

I usually polish them about 2 times a month. But just with good aluminum polish. You do not have to go through all that again LOL..

John

[trailrider894]

Originally posted by Thumpin440ex
I usually polish them about 2 times a month. But just with good aluminum polish. You do not have to go through all that again LOL..

John

did the head and cases look that to begin with? or?

[Thumpin440ex]

All that I had my guy do when he had the engine was sand blast the head and jug. It will be almost impossible to get inside the fins on the jug sand and to polish. Now if you had the engine off the bike you could grind smooth and sand them buff the fin edges. But IMO it is such a small area you prob would not be able to even tell they were polished..

John

[trailrider894]

Originally posted by Thumpin440ex
All that I had my guy do when he had the engine was sand blast the head and jug. It will be almost impossible to get inside the fins on the jug sand and to polish. Now if you had the engine off the bike you could grind smooth and sand them buff the fin edges. But IMO it is such a small area you prob would not be able to even tell they were polished..

John

I am rebuilding so the engine is on an engine stand.

[Thumpin440ex]

Well knock your self out LOL. You will have more time in doing that jug then you will have rebuilding the entire engine. I am not being a smart ***. I have polished quite a bit of metal in my day..You will have to knock all the ruffness of then sand then smooth then buff. If you decide to please post pics.. Remember the more and hotter the aluminum gets the faster the finish will dull..

John

[stroked 400ex]

so all you did was use sand paper and steel wool to polish the covers? i would like to do this but want to make sure exactly how so i dont mess it up... i have very strong aluminum polish so i can make it shine just want to make sure how to get that gray coat off the covers...

[Thumpin440ex]

The initial part of getting the paint off the covers is going to be as long as getting them polished itself. You can use a good paint remover also, it makes things a lil faster, but is alot messier. No you need to sand the cases to get the paint off, then go over it again with steel to asure it is nice and smooth.. Then the buffing process starts. Use a good cut rouge, then polish them. You prob not going to get far with out the buffing rouge, as it is a cutting agent, helps to fine, shine the aluminum. To get a idea, just take the throttle cover, start on it.. It is a good way to start and if you mess it up you can get a new one cheap..

John

[stroked 400ex]

what paint remover do you recomend? and do you know of anything that will remove cooked mud off cylinders?

Originally posted by stroked 400ex
what paint remover do you recomend? and do you know of anything that will remove cooked mud off cylinders? eagle one, etching mag wheel cleaner, find it at any place that sells auto parts

[nelzar13]

i was thinking about pulling off my covers this weekend. i know in the past i had used easy off oven cleaner to remove anodizing off aluminum before polishing it, back in my bmx days. i would imagine it would take off what ever paint is on the cover off also. il post a thread if i can actually get to it this weekend

[stroked 400ex]

nelzar13: if you post a thread let me know i would like to check it out... id like to see how it turns out...

[jcs003]

heres a pic. alot of time involved. always sand in one direction too. also, you may think its smooth enough to go on to the next grit and will end up having to repeat a previous grit.

i like to use oil when i wet sand. wd-40 works pretty good.

[stroked 400ex]

looks good what is it a 400ex with a crf450 motor?

[jcs003]

Originally posted by stroked 400ex
looks good what is it a 400ex with a crf450 motor?

thanks. that is a 400ex with a trx250r motor.

[stroked 400ex]

haha didnt see the reed cage... i tried sandpaper and steel wool works miracles my throttle cover looks like a mirror... will buy some heavier grit tomorrow mines too fine for the removing the paint on the covers... will post pics of how it turns out should be soon my motor is practically out any ways...

[bbender85]

I don't wanna paint because i was told not to,

why not?


i painted -and- polished. :cool:


http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC05120.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC05121.jpg

[trailrider894]

Originally posted by bbender85


why not?


i painted -and- polished. :cool:


http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC05120.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC05121.jpg

I wanted to originally, but was told that i shouldn't because mud would bake on and it would be a pain to clean. I don't really care much about cleaning because my atv remains spotless all the time. Do you think painting the case and jug and polishing the side covers would be smart?

[Dustin075]

Trailrider894, what is done to that quad!? Totally amazing in my eyes! Looks great!

[jcs003]

what grit you start with all depends on the surface of the part you are polishing. on my 250r engine, all the casting marks an pitting had to be removed before the smoothing and removal of deeper scratching.

on the 400 cases you should be ok to start with 600 grit and go up to about 2000 grit then begin buffing with 0 the 00 steel wool. i then used aluminum polish on the 00 steel wool together. the final step was some mothers plish and their polishing ball on a drill at high speed.

[trailrider894]

Originally posted by Dustin075
Trailrider894, what is done to that quad!? Totally amazing in my eyes! Looks great!

You talking about my red EX? Because the silver one early in this post isn't mine.

I decide that i am painting the head, cylinder, and case, then polishing the side cases and all the cover are getting red or polished. This thread is extremely useful for info!!!

[Thumpin440ex]

Originally posted by trailrider894
You talking about my red EX? Because the silver one early in this post isn't mine.

I decide that i am painting the head, cylinder, and case, then polishing the side cases and all the cover are getting red or polished. This thread is extremely useful for info!!!

I would not paint the jug and head, but thats me. Paint holds a decent bit of heat in..

John

[jcs003]

Originally posted by Thumpin440ex
I would not paint the jug and head, but thats me. Paint holds a decent bit of heat in..

John

not accurate. some paints will improve the efficiency of heat transfer.

[Thumpin440ex]

Post up.. Don't keep all the secrets :D


John

[Thumpin440ex]

You are correct. Just did a quick search.. That must have been a myth that I have been hearing coming from old guys.. Now I know. Thanks for pointing it out.. :)


John

[trailrider894]

Originally posted by Thumpin440ex
You are correct. Just did a quick search.. That must have been a myth that I have been hearing coming from old guys.. Now I know. Thanks for pointing it out.. :)


John

I actually had the same idea as you, but i was gonna do it anyway. I searched also and found the same as you. Thanks guys!!!

[stroked 400ex]

bought paint remover and all the sandpaper i needed took my motor out in 30 minutes today, so now im all ready for tomorrow will let you guys know how it turns out

[jcs003]

Originally posted by stroked 400ex
bought paint remover and all the sandpaper i needed took my motor out in 30 minutes today, so now im all ready for tomorrow will let you guys know how it turns out

take pics of the progress.

[jcs003]

heres another pic to motivate you.

[stroked 400ex]

will do i scuffed up the cases with a wire brush because they were painted blue by the guy that had it before me but ill see if i can get most of them out...

[stroked 400ex]

there is no way i can get mine looking like that at least i dont think i can:) ... i bought all the way from 600 grit to 2000 then a few up to 2500... my hardest part is getting that paint off the cases i didnt know the paint remover works i bought a spray can bottle remover they just came out with it i was all ways using a brush to take off paint off painted plastics and other stuff guys paint on bikes i buy...

[jcs003]

it just takes alot of time and patience. if you try and rush to the next grit, it might effect your final results.

what i did to relax while i was doing it was; have someone to talk to. having someone to talk to kind of distracted me from the work. a few beers also helped the process.

[stroked 400ex]

how do you know when to change grit?

[jcs003]

Originally posted by stroked 400ex
how do you know when to change grit?

trust your own judgement.

[Napalm Nate]

when I polished my cases I changed grit when I sanded out all of the scratches made by the previous grit

[stroked 400ex]

well guys i finished the motor polishing it looks sweet:) im very happy that i did it... yes it took alot of time but it was well worth it so everybody do it... will post pics of motor before and after tomorrow... only cost me $20 to buy all the stuff bought paint stripper, sandpaper, wheel polish, and i bought some carb cleaner 2x2 that worked wonders on my cylinder with a brush...

[jcs003]

Originally posted by stroked 400ex
well guys i finished the motor polishing it looks sweet:) im very happy that i did it... yes it took alot of time but it was well worth it so everybody do it... will post pics of motor before and after tomorrow... only cost me $20 to buy all the stuff bought paint stripper, sandpaper, wheel polish, and i bought some carb cleaner 2x2 that worked wonders on my cylinder with a brush...

that was fast. it took me days to do mine. im anxious to see the results.

[stroked 400ex]

not as good looking as yours but its good enough for me

[dc01]

I polished my inspection covers and starter cover by sand blasting them the using a da sander with 1500 grit then wet sanding with 2000 grit then using a polishing wheel with a drill and metal polish.

[stroked 400ex]

here are some pics here is after, before will be lasthttp://i728.photobucket.com/albums/ww283/duramaxfreak94/250xandcr80002.jpg

[stroked 400ex]

http://i728.photobucket.com/albums/ww283/duramaxfreak94/250xandcr80004.jpg

[stroked 400ex]

http://i728.photobucket.com/albums/ww283/duramaxfreak94/250xandcr80009.jpg

[stroked 400ex]

http://i728.photobucket.com/albums/ww283/duramaxfreak94/250xandcr80013.jpg

[stroked 400ex]

http://i728.photobucket.com/albums/ww283/duramaxfreak94/250xandcr80010.jpg

[stroked 400ex]

here is a pic of the clutch cover before it was polished...
http://i728.photobucket.com/albums/ww283/duramaxfreak94/enginepolishing005.jpg

[stroked 400ex]

http://i728.photobucket.com/albums/ww283/duramaxfreak94/enginepolishing014.jpg

[stroked 400ex]

i need a good grab bar, and good oring chain any suggestions?

[nelzar13]

looking good! looks like you got a good base going to keep polishing! ill be tearing my bike apart soon so ill be in the same boat polishing my *** off! luckily i can fit a buffing wheel on my wood lathe so that cuts down on time. just need a dremel for all the small tight parts