Polished engine covers - maintenance?

I've read some great suggestions for polishing the covers on a KZ I've been playing around with the polishing wheel and some jeweler's rouge on the ignition cover. Impressive shine is possble.

I ran into a motor officer/buddy today who warned me off doing this because it creates some added maintenance headaches. Can anyone fill me in on what goes wrong with nicely polished aluminum? I guess I'm removing a plastic coating of some type as I do this.

Mike

My hand polished parts shone for years after. Needed a touch up with Autosol periodically to keep shine at best but no worse than having to do a wax job. If clear coat on parts was doing it's job wouldn't have to polish would we?

keep it waxed really good and polish once in a while.i think polished aluminum looks better than chrome,just takes a little more work is all!

There's been a few discussions on this. It's my contention Kawasaki did not clearcoat or otherwise seal aluminum at least on the 70s KZs. Not sure on a 99, but on a 70s model you'll never hurt anything by polishing. Other guys claim their engine pieces were clearcoated, but no Kawasaki KZ out of all the ones I've ever owned had any sealer of any kind on the aluminum engine that I could tell, and I agree, there's nothing better than polished aluminum. The reason I say no sealer was used is the undeniable fact that if you polish aluminum, your polish tool or rag will always come out black. If you polish a clearcoat, like an aluminum motorcycle or car/truck wheel, guess what color your rag will be? Clear and clean. Same idea as polishing paint, if you polish a painted surface that has no clearcoat, you'll always get some color of the paint transfered to your rag unlike clearcoat where you never will. So there you have it, get a little polish on a rag and rub on your engine a little and see what you have.

Polished aluminum is higher maintenance than a beautiful woman.

Ron

Post edited by: Ron G, at: 2006/11/07 22:17

Can't add picture, oh well.

Post edited by: Ron G, at: 2006/11/07 22:21

Then just paint all your parts black and marry a fat woman and your life will be simple!!!

I never do anything the easy way.

Ron

Ron thats better than a beatifull woman.I could ride that for a lot longer:laugh: I'll be redoing my cases this winter.I had them sandblasted, or glassed, cant remember and painted 22 years ago and the paint didnt stick.How did you do those?

Yes - Please tell us Ron - are those cases and jugs silver painted or just glass beaded? Incredible look, gorgeous

Yes - Please tell us Ron - are those cases and jugs silver painted or just glass beaded? Incredible look, gorgeous

Ron G wrote:

I never do anything the easy way.

Ron

I'm simultaneously in love and depressed. That is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I can't believe an engine can be THAT clean... and I know mine never will be. At least not if I plan to start it.

Mike

WOW..... that's an awesome job Ron!!! How about some more details?