Time to clean up the Rats Nest..

It must of been the new tyre looking pretty and the fact that the weather has been rainy/ overcast since last Monday. I know that I am probably creating a monster but the Rats Nest is looking more unloved than usual. Most of the Vetter mounting hardware was pretty rusty so I had always wanted to change as much to stainless as possible.
All the fuel pump screws, some of the Carby cover guard screws and the washers under the intake manifold runner bolts were rusty/ tarnished.
I also have surface oxidisation that needs a polish up around these same areas. I have ordered new brake pads as the rear ones are getting close to the end and the front will soon be changing to 82 twin pot calipers. The front will also get progressive springs and a gl1000 front metal guard.

You start cleaning up that stuff and people are going to start offering money to buy the bike! :yes:

You might be changing the name from "Rat's Nest" to "Rat's Den" if you get it too clean!

careful Tony, that kind of attention to detail can become obsessive.......... :shock:

:shock: NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Don't do it Tony!!! Yer gunna wind up down a rabbit hole once you start..."clean this...ah hell, while I'm here, do this....then that...."
Before you know it, you will have passed the point of no return..... :smilie_happy:

I don't know. There's no such thing as "too" fastidious. Nothing wrong with a clean machine. Shows it's loved.

Of course, it helps if the humidity level is routinely in the single digits. Like today. 3%.

[url=https://www.classicgoldwings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=191971#p191971:i33vz380 said:

desertrefugee » Sat Jun 17, 2017 1:36 pm[/url]":i33vz380]
I don't know. There's no such thing as "too" fastidious. Nothing wrong with a clean machine. Shows it's loved.

Of course, it helps if the humidity level is routinely in the single digits. Like today. 3%.

Click to expand...

:good: :moped: :clapping:

:salute: Now look what you have started. I think I have some polish around here somewhere.

Some more little improvements.

To all the polishing experts, if I pull the rocker covers for polishing will I need new seals or should I be able to rescue mine without leaks? At the moment I don't have any leaks and really don't want to gain any for a little bit of shiny stuff. I will polish the rocker cover bolts when I take the bike down to my bench grinder that has a buff wheel on it.

They should seal back up just fine - unless they get damaged taking the covers off. Alternatively, you might try polishing the covers in situ. It can be done on the valve covers, but not the timing covers.

The bolts should be chrome already. I polished the valve covers on the '81 Standard on the bike. I did not bother trying to polish the underside or any areas that are not seen. Saves a lot of time!





Before you start, you might need to remove the clearcoat first. It can be a real bugger if there is still clearcoat on them. I spray paint remover on the aluminum parts that are going to be polished to remove clear coat.

I still use this method:

500 grit, then 1000 grit, then Mother's aluminum polish followed by 0000 steel wool.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ijxdjf4TmNc[/video]

I love polished aluminum. It has a luster that chrome just can't duplicate. Put them both together and the horsepower potential is undeniable.

[url=https://classicgoldwings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=191986#p191986:3h25h4dy said:

desertrefugee » 4 minutes ago[/url]":3h25h4dy]
I love polished aluminum. It has a luster that chrome just can't duplicate. Put them both together and the horsepower potential is undeniable.

Click to expand...

Lol.

Nice photos :thanks:

Went for a ride to a couple of the local shops as it was the first opportunity since the new rear tyre went on.
[video]https://youtu.be/BXWAAQu4oVM[/video]
I have a bypass switch on the fan which I fitted ar Steve's place after our big ride in Aug 2013 as the auto fan switch had stopped working in SD. Today just before I reached my carport it started working again. :clapping:
All that rubbing must of woken up the fan Genie. :smilie_happy: