How to clean and polish hub

zoom · Post by **zoom** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 5:42 pm

How and what have others used to clean and polish the hubs? I soda blasted them and this got the crud off pretty good. I am wondering if they "had" a clear coating on that also that I might need to wet sand off or can I go straight to a polish pad now?

cyclon36 · Post by **cyclon36** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 6:48 pm

From what I've read, there was no factory clear coat on them.

I plan on getting a bench polisher like the one here: http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/34hpbuffkit.html

I have the drill polishing kit for the moment and it works ok, but I've seen the big ones work and the difference is night and day. Someone told me to spray a bit of wd40 while I was polishing for a mirror finish.

Here's a decent drill kit: http://www.amazon.com/ENKAY-Metal-Polis ... 624&sr=8-3

When you're done, you want to look into getting a sealer so you're not polishing them constantly afterwards. Zoop seal is pretty good I've heard. There are others also. The caswell plating site has a good bit of polishing goodies.

davomoto · Post by **davomoto** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 9:07 pm

Yes, thet were clear coated from the factory. I use stripper to remove the clear coat, and then an electric sander. I start with 220 grit, and work my way up to 600 grit. Then I polish away with a buffing wheel, using tripoli. It takes a while to do, did a front yesterday, probably 1 1/2 hours.

Davo

cyclon36 · Post by **cyclon36** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 10:17 pm

Oops, I stand corrected. Thanks for the info Dave. I think someone already stripped the hubs on my bike down once.

zoom · Post by **zoom** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 8:56 am

I thought stripper didn't work so great on the old clear coat. What kind did you use. I am wondering the best way to do the area in the middle of the hub with those groves. I have a polishing wheel. A local mechanic that runs his own shop is restoring an old Kaw police bike for a display in a new law enforcement center and he wet sands every thing to get the clear coat off then polishes on a wheel. Again its that darn center area that I'am wondering about, don't really want to kill my hands trying to wet sand that area, already need to have my carpel tunnels fixed.

cyclon36 · Post by **cyclon36** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 9:33 am

zoom wrote:I thought stripper didn't work so great on the old clear coat. What kind did you use. I am wondering the best way to do the area in the middle of the hub with those groves. I have a polishing wheel. A local mechanic that runs his own shop is restoring an old Kaw police bike for a display in a new law enforcement center and he wet sands every thing to get the clear coat off then polishes on a wheel. Again its that darn center area that I'am wondering about, don't really want to kill my hands trying to wet sand that area, already need to have my carpel tunnels fixed.

I would assume some paint stripper and a metal bristle brush would clean out the grooves nicely.

davomoto · Post by **davomoto** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 9:43 am

I use Zep Off gasket remover to strip, and bead blast the center of the hub, no polishing. It's a nice contrast to the polished hub, and saves a lot of grief!

Davo