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Polished Aluminum Motorcycle accidentally streaked!




To someone who can help me!

I was looking over your site, I was wondering if you had a product that will help me or if you could suggest a solution to the following problem.

Problem: I have a 99' Honda VTR 996 motorcycle. The frame is made up of forged aluminum, I was at my local repair shop waiting for a normal service, and after the service I asked if I could clean my bike. I grabbed the wrong bottle hanging right next to the cleaning solution, actually it was in the same bottle as the cleaning solution, I asked the mechanic on duty if this was the right thing to use, and he said it would be ok.

I found out a few seconds later that the aluminum was starting to oxidize, in a panic I hose the bike down with hot water which stopped the chemical reaction. Some of the damage had already occurred creating streaks over the aluminum that was affected. Some of these areas are Polished, and some have a texture for looks. Every surface effected now has a milky white coating.

Can you suggest a product that would help remove these terrible marks?

Thank you very much,

Victor Mercieca
- San Jose, California, USA
2001



May 18, 2008

First, I'd try 000 steel wool on eBay or Amazon [affil link] very carefully. Additionally, I use Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish on eBay or Amazon [affil link] , which takes out small imperfections like that with a LOT of elbow grease. If that doesn't work, you can pick up a cheap polishing kit at discount hardware stores with small detailing bits along with polishing compounds for around $20.

Also, are you sure it is the aluminum that is oxidized and not a clearcoat that has been hazed out?

Brian White
- Saginaw, Michigan, USA


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