Cleaning corroded aluminum

Does anyone have any suggestions for a relatively simple procedure for cleaning off corrosion on aluminum parts, specifically cooling fins and motor side covers?
I am not looking for a like new appearance and I would entertain the idea of painting.
Any input would be helpful. Thanks!

 

Aluminum is prone to intergranular attack that form deposits. The best way to remove it is glass beading, but this is a task. Naval Jelly makes an aluminum cleaner but I've never used it. Abrasive sanding/wire wheeling is the next option but you need to buff out the marks when your done and there is no guarantee you got all of the oxide out of the metal. If I were in your shoes, I'd pull the motor and beadblast it. I have done this and while it is no picnic, the results are spectacular!

 

Give this a shot. Hit a hardware store and get yourself an attachment for your drill that holds various buffing wheels. The one you need comes apart allowing you to switch the buffing wheels. It's got a 7/16 or 1/2 in. Hex nut that comes off the shaft allowing you to swap various buffing wheels without buying buffing wheels permanently attached to their own shaft.

Hit an Autobody supply store and get some RED and GRAY ScotchBrite Pads.

Use a Tuna-fish can as a cutting template and cut-out six or seven discs of the RED. Stack the seven discs and poke a nail down through them ... dead center.

Load the seven discs on the "Universal Tool" with some hardware that will prevent the shaft from spinning without rotating the discs.

Big flat washer, EXTERNAL star locking washer, discs, EXTERNAL star locking washer, flat washer, lock washer, nut.

Tighten the nut as tight as you can make it.

Chuck that baby in the drill and start cleaning-up all of your crappy-looking aluminum!

After all the crap is gone and you like the way aluminum looks -- cleaned-up ... do the same procedure using the GRAY.

Oh, My! Don't this aluminum stuff look great!

After you do the Gray ... you might want to try polishing that fine bright alloy until you can look at it and see how handsome you are ... or, as in my case ... how fat and bald I am approaching senior citizen status!

 

As before, Rick, your bike is beautiful but what did you do to prevent the corrosion from settling back into the nicely polished metal? Did you clear coat? Or do you shine it up every two weeks? I'd never have the time to keep up with that (although your efforts are inspiring).

 

I polished all the aluminum on my XJ as well & I do not have to polish it every 2 weeks & did not clear coat it, I use the "Mothers Aluminum Polish" & it works great, I polish it every 4 to 6 weeks maybe.

 

First I use a product called "Noxon." Green bottle with yellow lable, "Noxon 7 Metal Polish"

I use athletic socks to spread and clean the surface; changing-up and getting a fresh dab of Noxon when the sock gets dark. When everything's cleaned and left with the Noxon haze; I buff it off with clean socks and then spread some "Mothers"

Once I finish hitting everything with Mothers ... I put my softest buffing wheel on that tool I wrote about and really spend a few minutes buffing everything nice.

When I go to Bike Night or to the Hamburger Stand; I hit the engine cases with a more firm (stitched; yet still soft) buffing wheel loaded-up with a product called "ZAM"

"ZAM" is the finishing-touch rouge used by jewelers and silversmiths to apply the finish on fine jewelry, silver and precious metals.

At the moment; I haven't clear-coated anything. But, the surrounds on the side covers and the seat rails are topping the list ... along with the hats on the outboard carbs -- which were pitted, chromed lid's ... I grinded-off the pitted chrome and polished the outside hats; too.

They're so soft; all the hard work is just getting the chrome off 'em!

 

This is an excellent idea! I pulled my front wheel yesterday and went at it by hand with a green scotchbrite pad and some orange cleanser. It looks better, but it's not where I want it yet. I have one of the drill buffing wheel kits and more scotchbrite pads so I'll give this a shot today.