Cleaning up aluminium corrosion.

Alex_SG

Alex_SG

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So... I have what appears to be oxidised or corroded aluminium parts on my bike.

I'm a little concerned that these parts are actually oxidising - I'm a DIY kind'a guy, and don't mind a challenge, but should I leave it to a pro detailer to clean up, or should I get some sandpaper and polish and give it a go myself?

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I don't think you can recreate the satin finish without something special - maybe chemicals, or perhaps shot blasting.
 
I was thinking of hitting it with wet and dry sandpaper, then some clear spray lacquer and polishing it.
I guess that would probably work?
 
Alex_SG said:
I was thinking of hitting it with wet and dry sandpaper, then some clear spray lacquer and polishing it.
I guess that would probably work?
Click to expand...

May not look identical, but certainly a heap better than what you have right now. I'd do it.
 
I guess the other alternative would be to sand off the corrosion and paint it with some of that silver "hammer tone" paint...
 
That sucks. Yea, I'm not sure you can remove it, but you can limit it. Wipe it down with wd40, or some type of corrosion reducing/resistant chemical. Just do that part so you can see how it reacts before putting it anywhere else on the bike.

In this picture, it looks like it's only on the throttle housing, which is an extremely easy replacement. Or is it on all the parts? Bikes are very difficult to keep clean. You need to wipe them down daily, or at a minimum, every ride. Which is why my bikes look like sheet!
 
Yeah.... It's on every aluminium component. It was already there when I bought it, but it seems to be getting worse.
I know a friend of mine washes and polishes his bike after every ride... Guess there's a reason behind it.
 
I'm about 15 miles from the beach, but the previous owner (I'm told) lived within a couple of hundred yards of the coast. I have kept it garaged and keep it clean as I can.
 
Yea, that's it. keep up your defenses, but the attack will keep advancing.

Im sure there are applications that can help, I just don't know what they are. But is caused by your environmental condition.
 
Cool. I think I'll have a go at rubbing it back with some steel wool or sandpaper and give it a few coats of clear coat and see what happens.
I didn't pay a lot for the bike, so what's the worse that can happen?
 
There is Solvol Autosol. I used to use it on my aluminum rims on Motorcycles, I don't know if they still make it. It came in a tube it was a crème and worked well. Worth giving it a try.
 
Yep I just checked it out they still make it its for corrosion on Alumium, comes in tube as well as other.
 
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