Valve Cover Chroming Advice

George · Post by **George** » Tue May 06, 2003 3:09 pm

If anyone has used one of the following places to chrome their valve cover please share your opinion of the work done and how it has stood up.

Metal Man Restoration, Pelham, NY

Metro Plating, Kensington, MD

UHC, Kenilworth, NJ

Please add any others that have done good work.

banjobill · Post by **banjobill** » Wed May 07, 2003 4:41 am

Ive had my rocker cover chromed before over here in the uk, and was done very well, however if the bike is for show then no problem, but if you intend to use it regular then don't chrome it as it wont last. It is as simple as this, aluminium expands at a certain rate while chromium expands at a different rate so it will crack and flake off.

I ended up blasting it off and painting it black.

Sorry for the bad news.

broook · Post by **broook** » Wed May 07, 2003 6:56 am

Must have been poor chrome in the above post.

I bought my 80x 12 years ago with a chrome valve cover already installed with 28000 on it. Right now it has 85000 on it and the chrome is still as good as it was when I bought it.

I don`t know where it was done but James Elliot in Toronto has a good name for chrome. He does it on an exchange basis. Just send him your cover and he will send you back one already done so you don`t have to wait long. :)

RIPPER · Post by **RIPPER** » Wed May 07, 2003 10:16 am

Thats ridiculous,If it flaked the chromer ripped you off big time.Can you imagine what Harley riders would do to the chromer if the chrome flaked off? :>)

Bruce Kastel · Post by **Bruce Kastel** » Wed May 07, 2003 10:37 am

I had my valve cover and carb body tops and float bowls chromed by James Elliot in Canada 3 years ago - the quality is absolutely perfect

Land_Shark · Post by **Land_Shark** » Thu May 08, 2003 2:28 am

I've actually gone ahead and had all my (brand-new) engine covers polished to a show-quality finish. Let me tell you they are truly things of beauty. My guy is just finishing off my valve cover and a few other pieces and if they look anything like the clutch and alternator cover I'll be more than pleased. I like the look of polished aluminum over chrome as it seems more natural. And I don't mean the 'factory' polish that came on the part, I mean an actual mirror-finish...

I do plan to get more than a few pieces chromed and the guy I'm using guarantees his work - if it start to peel it gets redone. You think he's gonna want to keep plating it over and over? No he's going to do it right the first time. Anybody who won't guarantee their work is a hack and should be avoided.

EMS · Post by **EMS** » Thu May 08, 2003 8:31 am

I am with Land-Shark. Prefer to polish. Both valve covers on my Xes are polished. It is a fact, that aluminum is more difficult to chrome than iron. A lot of chromers refuse to guarantee chroming aluminum and other light alloys. Most of the Harley parts are chromed iron, not aluminum. That's why they don't complain.

Here again, we all forego function for style. Two thirds of an engine's heat dissipation goes through the cylinder head, a good part of that through the valve cover. Black would be a much better color for heat dissipation. Anything silver or shiny keeps the heat in. For the sake of good thermal balance, cylinder head and rocker cover should be matte black.

E Lee · Post by **E Lee** » Thu May 08, 2003 8:40 am

I've had a lot of chrome parts done. Hey looks good on black engine. My Chrome shop would not do Alt and Counter Sprocket cover "Magnesium", said would cause problems with how the process works in the tanks. He polished, but oxidation set in real quick! So now I take them off every so often and buff up myself with Dremel, ruge and small wheel.

Any comment?

The thing I like about the chrome vs polish is it cleans up after the road grime and water splash, real quick.

Later,

Ed

RIPPER · Post by **RIPPER** » Thu May 08, 2003 9:21 am

I don't think alt cover is magnesium,J Elliot does em in chrome.Sprocket cover is.

EMS · Post by **EMS** » Thu May 08, 2003 9:36 am

Alternator and clutch cover are magnesium on some early models.

George · Post by **George** » Thu May 08, 2003 3:41 pm

I like the easy cleanup of chrome. Would a few layers of clear coat help on a polished cover? Anyone have any opinions on the plating companies listed in this thread? Any place else in the NJ area that plates/polishes bike parts?

Land_Shark · Post by **Land_Shark** » Thu May 08, 2003 3:51 pm

My polisher recommended not clear-coating my parts simply for the reason that it may 'yellow' due to heat and exposure to the elements. I'm going to anyway but I'm going to use Yamaha's Clear Top Coat which is available at $50/quart but apparently the best one out there.

EMS · Post by **EMS** » Thu May 08, 2003 4:21 pm

I agree with not clear coating. Besides "yellowing", oxydation WILL occur under the clear coat and you will have these ugly spider-webs on your part. A good polish coat with a special product like Mequiars or Mother's will prevent aluminum to get ugly too quick. My valve covers are polished for 5 years now and still look excellent.

sr71cbx · Post by **sr71cbx** » Thu May 08, 2003 7:47 pm

Hello all,

My valve cover on my turbo X is coated with wrinkle-finish black powdercoating,it dissipates heat much better than chrome and is pretty stout for a coating,plus matches the black late model engne I use real nicely.

Each to his own,a polished cover looks sharp,too!

Dave Hansen · Post by **Dave Hansen** » Fri May 09, 2003 6:30 am

Will powder coating hold up on a cylinder head around the exhaust area? How much heat can it take? Has anyone done an engine in powdercoat? Thanks Dave

The International CBX Owners Association

Valve Cover Chroming Advice

Valve Cover Chroming Advice

valve cover

Chrome Flaking

Valve Cover Chroming

Chroming Aluminum

Chrome

Magnesium

Clear Coat

valve cover finish........

powder coating