Polishing Aluminum - Yamaha Virago 1000 Restoration Video 19

Рет қаралды 1,668

Күн бұрын

Hello again planet Earth...
I've done all of the restoration on the chrome plated aluminum (aluminium) parts and it was a bloody nightmare. In the beginning, I was hoping to find a reasonably priced chrome shop and simply drop off all the parts and pick them up a few days later all nice and shiny. Big fat NOPE.
All of the chrome plated steel survived the nearly 40 years of neglect with some rust remover but the chrome plated aluminum was badly flaking and pitted. The only recourse was to remove all of the flaking plating (chrome & nickle), sand & polish. Sounds easy. Another big fat NOPE.
There was a lot of experimentation, research and of course, watching other KZfaq videos. I finally got a new 3/4HP 8" buffer with the proper wheels & compounds and proceeded to sand until I had no feeling left in my hands. This whole video culminates with 3 months of forced labour.
I have new gaskets and oil seals for the engine side covers and I have a local shop redesigning & 3D printing the side logos. I'll be painting them in chrome Alclad paint before reinstalling them. Also need to sort out my clutch and starter before putting everything back on.
0:00 INTRO
1:43 Setup for Sand Blasting
4:47 Sandblasting
7:55 After Sandblasting
9:58 Sanding & Fairing
17:47 Polishing - Stage 1 (Bench Grinder)
18:44 Before & After
19:51 Polishing More Parts
20:27 Polishing Final & Reveal
21:46 Before & After
Music by TuneTank
tunetank.com_5546_graceful-style_by_alexey-anisimov
tunetank.com_5635_shine-on-the-waves_by_isaevilnarmusic
tunetank.com_5689_so-much-fun_by_alexey-anisimov

Пікірлер: 28

@janne4330 Жыл бұрын

Your local elbowgrease seller is millionaire now :) Awesome job!

@KensWorldRestorations Жыл бұрын

Hahaha!! Yeah...a lot went into this one. Thanks for that - I really appreciate it!!

@randymcm4019 Жыл бұрын

Great job you have the touch.

@aaronwillie5625 Жыл бұрын

Great commitment bro

@KensWorldRestorations Жыл бұрын

Thanks...I really appreciate that.

@AC-vz9cz Жыл бұрын

Very nice Ken ! ...Ralph west Coast bc

@KensWorldRestorations Жыл бұрын

Thanks Ralph!! Starter & clutch overhaul are next then it's the fuel system!

@paulnagel8161 Жыл бұрын

Absolutely fantastic! After witnessing that I may try my hand at powder coating instead. I picked up the parts to convert the starter for my 1983 920 to the 1985 1000 version, and the parts all have nasty chrome on them that needs to be addressed. Great series!

@KensWorldRestorations Жыл бұрын

Thanks Paul!! Wow…comments like this really inspire me to drudge on. This one was the worst - the mess, the time and the effort was so much work. Obviously, they look great but that was a total of 2 months of work (between work shifts) and I had to spend moolah on a new buffer. So hard to get the chrome off and so many shops were afraid to even touch them. With the starter mod, pay close attention to the clutch - the 1000 version has 19 teeth and the 1100 has 18 (they are different part numbers) but both fit the same starter as the inner splines are identical. I just replaced my starter and noted the difference. Good luck with the mod - I’d be doing the same.

@KensWorldRestorations Жыл бұрын

I think powder coating has come a long way in recent times too. They can replicate chrome really well. Next restoration, I’ll be considering more if it - frame and other components.

@BikeFromTheBrink Жыл бұрын

I preferred the brushed look on my forks I did on the 535

@KensWorldRestorations Жыл бұрын

Me too. My forks turned out really nice. I tried a bunch of different methods (by hand) and now have a pretty solid setup for brushing a finish on just about anything with my new buffer and wheels. This bike, however, is still a pure blood restoration so the shiny bits will go back that way. Next bike project will be different!!

@user-py8rv3fg3c Жыл бұрын

Вы проделали огромную работу! Что то подобное я делал с своей Virago. Только двигатель двигатель у меня был черный. Вы не показали как полировали многочисленные углубление на крышках двигателя, но мне и так понятно. Это тяжело и долго. Спасибо за видео!

@KensWorldRestorations Жыл бұрын

Спасибо за хороший комментарий. Я использовал те же методы шлифовки и полировки на крышках двигателя, что и на более мелких деталях. Большая машина упростила задачу. Еще раз спасибо за хороший комментарий.

@DaveYadaraf Жыл бұрын

Lot of work. How are you tackling the chrome-plated plastic parts, like the cover on the fuel pump?

@KensWorldRestorations Жыл бұрын

The fuel pump cover is new - I sourced an OEM/NOS part from CMSNL as the original was gone when I got the bike. The headlight, speedo & tach covers, center cover, tail light bracket and tool box case (over the rear fender) were all polished using a soft polishing wheel and some automotive polishing compound. I was really surprised at how durable that plastic chrome is. That seemed to work for the red plastic tail lens too. There are two emblems on the engine that were completely gone so I had someone make some resin emblems on a 3D printer. I'll be painting those chrome with Alclad II chrome laquer with my airbrush. I've tried painting it on some plastic spoons and the results are amazing - as close to chrome as I need it to be for that. I'll make a video of that since I think it's pretty cool.

@dextervonbakata Жыл бұрын

if i am not wrong exposed aluminum will oxidize quite easily in a little time. taking away the shine. before you reasemble everything find out what is the best clear paint to protect al that elbow grease. thanks for sharing the process. Ive no doubt you'll be able to get a classics plate for your virago.

@KensWorldRestorations Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment!! Yes, you can clear aluminum, chrome, brass, etc., but you can keep polished aluminum looking new by cleaning often with window cleaner. The ammonia does a pretty good job of keeping it looking like new. You can also use a metal polish like Auto Sol or Mothers whenever needed. Since I only plan on driving this on sunny days, I think I'll see how it goes as it is naked.

@joef6858 Жыл бұрын

The 2 outer head fins on my Kawasaki h2, I would polish them with auto sol. They would look amazing when I finished. But wasn’t long before they started to look dull again. It would be interesting if you clear-coated one part to compare in the future. As always you have created another amazing video.

@KensWorldRestorations Жыл бұрын

@@joef6858 Hey Joe!! My two lower fork tubes are aluminum, not polished but brushed and clear coated with an aerosol made for aluminum wheels/rims. I’m curious to see how they hold out. A 2K clear would be more durable, that’s for sure. For the aluminum parts, I was advised to clean often (in between the AutoSol) with window cleaner that has ammonia - apparently it’s supposed to keep oxidization at bay. That’s what I’m doing now so we’ll see how well it stands up when I get this beast back on the road.

@owencaton2433 5 ай бұрын

Do you not need some form of clear coat to protect from future rusting? It is bare aluminum after all.

@KensWorldRestorations 5 ай бұрын

Polished aluminum keeps really well in dryer climates. I keep it clean with regular washings and glass cleaner with ammonia. It’s been a year now and it still looks like chrome. If I want a bit deeper lustre the I go at it with a drill puff and some mother’s aluminum polish.

@owencaton2433 5 ай бұрын

@@KensWorldRestorations okay so I’m going to do something similar to my bike and I live in a much more humid climate would you suggest clearing it or do you think it would ruin the finish?

@KensWorldRestorations 5 ай бұрын

@@owencaton2433 Just be careful with clear - I wouldn't suggest using a spray can/air dry type clear. If you want to clear polished aluminum, use 2k clear and use an adhesion promoter and use isolpropal alcohol to make sure all polishing compounds and residues are gone. The brushed aluminum takes clear coat very well but polished needs some extra care. Once the clear sets up, it should last for years.

@owencaton2433 5 ай бұрын

@@KensWorldRestorations thanks mate, I’ll take as much advice as I can get I am trying to restore my 1985 XV1000 to as original as possible and so far you have been a life savour. Your video series has been a great help so far. Be prepared to hear from me again as it seems you have lots of experience on this matter

@KensWorldRestorations 5 ай бұрын

@@owencaton2433 Feel free to email me - the address is on the info page. Cheers!