How to polish engine covers?

[Guest]

Former cruiser rider here; have to polish something. My A-cade's engine covers are in need of some rehabilitation. They look dull in some spots.

Should I bother? What's the best way to bring the luster back?

[SIR tricky]

If your talking about either the timing belt covers, front forks or valve covers these are finished with silver paint, paint remover will remove the paint and then elbow grease will do the rest.
Should you bother, well if you want a smart looking bike certainly.

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I use mothers aluminum polish

[Guest]

Use some paint stripper to get rid of the clear coat. To polish I used a bench grinder with a polishing wheel using varying grades of polishing compound. It takes a lot of work but they come out well.

[Guest]

Enco products makes a 3M pad that removes the clearcoat easily.
Last item on this page. http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPAGE=275&PMCTLG=00

Then I just took a few minutes with a lambs wool buffing wheel. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/di...mber=95993
And mine cleaned up nicely. (use your preference in polish) I used turtlewax aluminum polish.
Before:

After:

[Guest]

Polished mine once, then coated with spray urethane.
Did not last the season. What do you cover the clean parts with?

[roscoepc]

I think Keener was the one who advised me to use a good car wax so I tried 8 coat's of Mother's Carnuba Cleaner/Wax on all the aluminum that I'd polished last year and they still look pretty good!!