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Newly Chromed Motorcycle Parts Are Pitting

June 9, 2012

Q. Gudday,

I've ridden motorcycles for years, but in January I was hit by an American tourist. I still have a fractured elbow, and a bike I'm nearly finished fixing. All I need is the chromed parts to be completed.

I have taken a number of aluminum parts to a chromer. Some of the parts are cast, the others are machined billet. Some of the parts are factory new, and some are years old.

Now.. some of the parts appeared to have a lacquer on them. The chromer reckoned it was in fact anodizing, although I've never heard of these sorts of bike parts being anodized before, and they didn't look like it to me.

Anyway, the parts were polished up and buffed and are being dipped in copper, nickel, then chrome.

The problem is, some of the parts keep coming up with pitting in random spots. He has shown me some of the parts, and there appears to be no particular pattern as to why one edge of this or one small spot of that has pitting.

For example, I have a pile of parts that DID turn out well. One is a machined billet foot shifting lever. However the identical right hand foot lever has pitting down one side!

Any ideas?

Mike Rider
Bike Enthusiast and Customizer - Christchurch, New Zealand

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