Clearcoated metal- Harleys

shotime

shotime

Privitize it
What would I use to polish the clearcoated metal on Harley's? (Located on the heads/tranny cover/etc.) I've been doing a lot of bikes and haven't found a product and/or technique that gets the scraches out. The bikes come out looking absolutly gorgious but that cleared metal just takes away from it. I haven't had one complaint, but to me, it drives me crazy knowing I can't make it look like the rest of the bike.
 
Shotime,
Any luck with S100 Total Cycle Finish Restorer? I may have some here...

Don't mean to Hi jack your thread but I would be interested in your regimen that you use when detailing the Harleys.
 
I've never tried, that. They have the whole S100/P21S line at the local dealership so I'll have to pick up some next time I'm there.

My process is-
Wash/Dry with waffle weave/air blower
Machine polish tank and all fender parts that I can reach
Hand polish all parts not reached by polisher
Clean and condition leather
Degrease engine w/ brake cleaner
Hand polish all chrome
Final hand polish
Wax
QD any splatter/smudges/etc.

I use pretty much what ever I feel like for paint, usually either Poorboys or Meguiars. On chrome I use Poorboy's Pro Polish, wind screens- PlastX, Woolite/Lexol on leather.

I'm doing an 83 FLH on Tuesday and I'll make sure I get some pics do document my process. I really haven't started doing bikes until this year, now I'm doing 3-4 a week. I'm also considering buying some 4in spot pads to get more of the fenders by machine.

I also have another question- on the mag wheels, do I treat those as car mags? That's another part I'm unhappy with my results on. The back wheels always seem hammered and I'm hesitant to use harsh products on them.
 
If I had a small container I could squeeze some out of the tube and send it to you to try before you went out and bought some.

I have the same question on the wheels. I had posted a question on what to use to clean the grooved solid wheel...
 
before my fatboy i had a 2001 sportster with a lot of polish aluminum. i found the scratches were pretty much impossible to get out for some reason. i used a light polish then a glaze and that seemed to hide them like you said for a while, i think that is harley's way of saying buy chrome to replace the aluminum. i haven't tried many of the s100 line, only the engine brightner. i would like to here your opinon on them. then engine brighter works really well and doesn't burn off with engine heat. keep me posted.
 
The polished aluminum on Harleys is not clear-coated. Use any good aluminum polish ---Meguiar's , Mother's , S100, Simichrome, etc. They all work. You really need to keep at the aluminum. My 1995 Sportster has polished aluminum engine and wheels. I polish the aluminum at least three or four times during the riding season. I apply wax after the polish. My 2002 Super Glide is all chrome. All it takes is a liitle wax every now and then. Life is good. :D

Tom :cool
 
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