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Polishing the frame??

Started by thunder1295, June 22, 2013, 11:18:49 AM

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thunder1295

I was wondering what is coating the aluminum frame and swing arm, just can't seem to polish it up to a shine and is there
something that takes off that coating?

Jim
Wind in your face and the sun on your back.
88 FJ1200
88 FZR1000
94 ZX11R
95ZX9R

FJmonkey

Quote from: thunder1295 on June 22, 2013, 11:18:49 AM
I was wondering what is coating the aluminum frame and swing arm, just can't seem to polish it up to a shine and is there
something that takes off that coating?

Jim
The frame is steel, so paint... The swing arm was aluminum then changed to steel but I don't know when it went to steel. I know the 84 to 87 was aluminum. Hope that helps...
The glass is not half full, it was engineered with a 2X safety factor.

'86 Ambulance - Bent frame, cracked case, due for an overhaul
'89 Stormy Blue - Suits my Dark Side

thunder1295

Yep that helps lot, saves my arm from wearing out.

Thxs
Jim
Wind in your face and the sun on your back.
88 FJ1200
88 FZR1000
94 ZX11R
95ZX9R

FJmonkey

Quote from: thunder1295 on June 22, 2013, 11:29:12 AM
Yep that helps lot, saves my arm from wearing out.

Thxs
Jim
Don't fret, there is much to polish on our FJ's, just ask Father Pat, the Polish King of FJ's....
The glass is not half full, it was engineered with a 2X safety factor.

'86 Ambulance - Bent frame, cracked case, due for an overhaul
'89 Stormy Blue - Suits my Dark Side

movenon

Quote from: thunder1295 on June 22, 2013, 11:29:12 AM
Yep that helps lot, saves my arm from wearing out.

Thxs
Jim
My 1990 has an AL swing arm. The kicker is it has a special anti corrosion coating that is a real pain to strip off. The general advice I got was clean it and leave it alone. You might be able to get it powder coated. IF I had the bike "totally" apart I would powder coat the frame rather than paint  but that's just me. And yes, father Pat is the king of polish..... :rofl:
George
Life isn't about having the best, but about making the best of what you have...

1990 FJ 1200

1tinindian

The swing arms went to steel in 1991.
I took a used 1989 Aluminum swing arm, and polished it...because I had too!
It was a direct bolt-in swap for my stock, steel swing arm.

Now I have more to polish! Waa-hoo!!

And like has been said, the frame is steel, but so little of it is  visible, it's not to worry, but you can polish the foot peg mounting brackets!

Leon
The Polish Apprentice



"I want to be free to ride my machine without being hassled by the "man"!
91 FJ1200

Derek Young

Well if Pat is the Polish King, then you are the Duke of Polish at the very least Leon. Dark glasses must be worn when near either of your bikes in direct sunlight!

Derek
1986 FJ1200 (R.I.P.)
1991 FJ1200
Nanaimo, British Columbia

Pat Conlon

Leon is overly modest when he calls himself an apprentice, after all, he taught me how to polish my SS header tubes...

I reciprocated, and now Leon is a master at Mikuni CV36 carb syncing.... see how that works?

Here's a poilshing tip: Buy stock in Happich.
1) Free Owners Manual download: https://tinyurl.com/fmsz7hk9
2) Don't store your FJ with E10 fuel https://tinyurl.com/3cjrfct5
3) Replace your old stock rubber brake lines.
4) Important items for the '84-87 FJ's:
Safety wire: https://tinyurl.com/99zp8ufh
Fuel line: https://tinyurl.com/bdff9bf3

movenon

Pat and Leons belong on a show room floor!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know for a fact that they actually ride them.....
George
Life isn't about having the best, but about making the best of what you have...

1990 FJ 1200

1tinindian

Quote from: Pat Conlon on June 22, 2013, 03:04:40 PM
Leon is overly modest when he calls himself an apprentice, after all, he taught me how to polish my SS header tubes...

I reciprocated, and now Leon is a master at Mikuni CV36 carb syncing.... see how that works?

Here's a poilshing tip: Buy stock in Happich.
I respect you Pat, and realize you are the polishing master, long before I ever graced these pages.
I'm just so happy that there are others out there with the same disease as I.
We really need to form a group of recovering polisholics!
"My name is Leon, and I enjoy rubbing one out, from time to time!"
Oh wait a minute, that didn't come out right, LOL!

Never the less, I'm not here to steal your thunder Pat, as you have shown even me, that I still have more polishing to do to get to your standards. (front wheel)


You were a great instructor when showing me the details of syncing my carbs, you covered it completely and made it very easy for me to understand, and I thank you for your willingness to help me.

Cheers,
Leon
"I want to be free to ride my machine without being hassled by the "man"!
91 FJ1200

rktmanfj


I'll never catch up to you guys on polishing, but Leon, where did you get those trick valve stems?


Randy T
Indy

Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight.
Psalms 144:1

'89 FJ1200
'90 FJ1200
'78 XT500
'88 XT350


1tinindian

Quote from: not a lib on June 22, 2013, 07:14:52 PM

I'll never catch up to you guys on polishing, but Leon, where did you get those trick valve stems?




Thanks randy!

Ebay search for 90 degree aluminum valve stems.

Leon
"I want to be free to ride my machine without being hassled by the "man"!
91 FJ1200

racerrad8

Quote from: 1tinindian on June 22, 2013, 07:41:26 PM
Thanks randy!

Ebay search for 90 degree aluminum valve stems.

Leon

Leon, why did you go to eBay...

My feeling are hurt now.

90* Aluminum valve stem

Randy - RPM
Randy - RPM

rktmanfj

Quote from: racerrad8 on June 22, 2013, 08:15:08 PM
Quote from: 1tinindian on June 22, 2013, 07:41:26 PM
Thanks randy!

Ebay search for 90 degree aluminum valve stems.

Leon

Leon, why did you go to eBay...

My feeling are hurt now.

90* Aluminum valve stem

Randy - RPM

Even better!

Thanks, guys...       :good:

Randy, is that one, or a pair?

I'm gonna need several.   :yes:



Randy T
Indy

Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight.
Psalms 144:1

'89 FJ1200
'90 FJ1200
'78 XT500
'88 XT350


racerrad8

Quote from: not a lib on June 22, 2013, 08:42:42 PM
Even better!

Thanks, guys...       :good:

Randy, is that one, or a pair?

I'm gonna need several.   :yes:

Individual, I just took the photo as well since I guess I never posted one.

Randy - RPM
Randy - RPM