coating?

karl sparks · Post by **karl sparks** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:40 pm

As I move along on my resto.. I have reached the to carbs. Have Mikes carb book. All apears to be well. Except the covers on top. Have turned kind of yellowish. Did Honda clear coat these things? If so with what? Dont want to use any thing to harsh to clean them up.

EMS · Post by **EMS** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:10 pm

I polished all of mine. Use fine grid sandpaper to clean them up and then use steel wool (AAA) to polish them. Finish with a metal polish. They stay shiny.

daves79x · Post by **daves79x** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:20 pm

If the tops are still very nice with the clearcoat intact (very unlikely), just wash them with soapy water. More likely is that they are etched and pitted and some of the clearcoat is missing. In that case strip the remaining clearcoat off with a good paint stripper then do as EMS said to polish them up. I just use fine steel wool with mild rubbing compound. I finish them off with coarse rouge on a buffer wheel to give a factory brushed finish. I don't re-clear them.

Dave

karl sparks · Post by **karl sparks** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 10:50 pm

Thanks for the replies.
The clear coat is intact. But turning yellow. Mostly on the center carbs and less so on the outer ones? Like they got hotter?

Mike Nixon · Post by **Mike Nixon** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:48 am

Any kind of chemical degreaser will remove the coating. For sure a Home Depot sourced paint remover. Then you can either polish or leave as is.

karl sparks · Post by **karl sparks** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:09 am

will check it out tomorrow. thanks

spencer · Post by **spencer** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:13 am

If your carb tops are not damaged, don't sand them.

One carb top:

Plus

Aircraft finish stripper. Spray it on, let it sit 1/2 hour, wash off with water and a soft brush.

Plus a little polishing, equals:

If you want to recoat it, use this:

Comparison of before and after:

karl sparks · Post by **karl sparks** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:18 am

learn somthing new on this site every day. Thanks

steve murdoch icoa #5322 · Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:42 am

Nice post, Spencer.
The package at your front door will be 18 carb tops in need of attention.
Return address included.

Don #6141 · Post by **Don #6141** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:15 am

I wouldn't use steel wool

Steel wool can leave you with microscopic bits of steel imbedded in the aluminum which can later make a non-rusting metal like aluminum or even stainless steel actually appear to rust

If you don't like fine wet or dry sandpaper (which is what I use) then go to a marine chandlery and buy yourself some bronze wool which is sold just to solve this predicament - It won't cause rust

Mothers Mag Wheel polish will make well cleaned aluminum look like chrome in short order - Repeat a couple times per year (everytime you have your gas tank off) and your carb tops will stay looking beautiful

Don