Gunk and Polished Aluminum

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Dan1950

Dan1950

1974 MK II Roadster
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Years ago I used to Gunk down my Hog periodically. It not only made the bike look better, it kept my hands a lot cleaner when I had to "wrench" on it.

My Panhead had lots of chrome and very little polished aluminum so I have no experience in how my now nice and shiny polished covers will react to Gunk.

IMO, while chrome looks good on a generator/tin primary Harley, chrome on a Norton would "tart" up an already beautiful girl. The English aluminum is much better than the sand cast American anyway.

The area around the oil filter and center stand is pretty grimy. Will Gunking it down require re-polishing the covers and other shiny bits?

I'm almost out of Simichrome.
 
You're talking about Gunk without pumice? I can't imagine that does much other than as you said clean the surface. I use a mix of Mothers and paint clay lube (as Mothers by itself is a bit aggressive and dries out to quickly for me).
 
I use an aerosol gunk engine cleaner as step one on any deep clean I do on my Commandos.
I try to keep it away from the wheel bearings.
I don't let it get near any paint or the seat.
When I use it on the back wheel to remove chain spray it usually ends up on the rear tire, but to no evil effect as far as I can tell.
It works particularly well around the center stand area. Use an engine parts cleaning brush on this area to break up the hardened greasy sandy bits.
It gets thoroughly rinsed off with lots of water before I move on to using the bucket of warm soapy water on the rest of the bike.
It doesn't tarnish or etch any of the aluminum polished cases, or chrome.
Don't use it on an asphalt driveway: it will eat the asphalt.
I do the job on a concrete driveway, and it plays hell with the worms living in the soil in the spaces around the concrete pad.
 
Stephen Hill said:
I use an aerosol gunk engine cleaner as step one on any deep clean I do on my Commandos.
I try to keep it away from the wheel bearings.
I don't let it get near any paint or the seat.
When I use it on the back wheel to remove chain spray it usually ends up on the rear tire, but to no evil effect as far as I can tell.
It works particularly well around the center stand area. Use an engine parts cleaning brush on this area to break up the hardened greasy sandy bits.
It gets thoroughly rinsed off with lots of water before I move on to using the bucket of warm soapy water on the rest of the bike.
It doesn't tarnish or etch any of the aluminum polished cases, or chrome.
Don't use it on an asphalt driveway: it will eat the asphalt.
I do the job on a concrete driveway, and it plays hell with the worms living in the soil in the spaces around the concrete pad.
Click to expand...
I have always tried to keep the gunk away from parts I don't want degreased, like wheel bearings, side stand/pedal pivot points, etc. Kept it away from seats and paint too. Warm soapy wash after and yes my driveway is concrete.
 
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The spray on hose off S-100 gives fast easy results , only use once a year though as repeated use without polish tends to cloud the shine on aluminum ….
 
Dido is a great degreaser and doesn't tarnish polished aluminium.
 
My experience is Gunk will take some of the luster off the polish.
 
I used gunk in the seventies on a big Honda four to good results but only on the engine and frame. My brother in law brought me a small can from G.B. not long ago but if I got caught using it here there would be a right smacker of a fine as it either seeps into the ground water or destroys the bacteria in the sewage works.
Not a very green product to be using.
 
cash said:
Dido is a great degreaser and doesn't tarnish polished aluminium.
Click to expand...
This stuff? I used to use it on my BMW. Pretty expensive….$11 for 4.5 oz can.

S100 Engine Brightener​

Gunk and Polished Aluminum


S100 Engine Brightener​

Our Price: $10.99
Item ID: S100-19200A
 
I forgot to mention I use a few drops of concentrated window cleaner in a bucket of warm water on a wet bike, sponge it on with a big car sponge and spray it of with a water pipe, then dry the bike with Lots of towels and the chrome shines like new.
 
I can tell you what not to use, any cleaner with citrus base! It will definitely screw up your polished parts
 
Stephen Hill said:
I use an aerosol gunk engine cleaner as step one on any deep clean I do on my Commandos.
I try to keep it away from the wheel bearings.
I don't let it get near any paint or the seat.
When I use it on the back wheel to remove chain spray it usually ends up on the rear tire, but to no evil effect as far as I can tell.
It works particularly well around the center stand area. Use an engine parts cleaning brush on this area to break up the hardened greasy sandy bits.
It gets thoroughly rinsed off with lots of water before I move on to using the bucket of warm soapy water on the rest of the bike.
It doesn't tarnish or etch any of the aluminum polished cases, or chrome.
Don't use it on an asphalt driveway: it will eat the asphalt.
I do the job on a concrete driveway, and it plays hell with the worms living in the soil in the spaces around the concrete pad.
Click to expand...
Ever got Gunk in your eyes?
That's what it does to worms also - even if they have no eyes.
 
mean gene said:
I can tell you what not to use, any cleaner with citrus base! It will definitely screw up your polished parts
Click to expand...
I'm glad you mentioned that. I had bought some thinking it would be easier on the rubber parts.
 
Brake cleaner works for me. I put cardboard underneath to catch the run-off and within 5 minutes it's all evaporated. A very quick polish removes any residue
 
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