Trim under windshield

[SidAbma]

I have been looking for a How To polish up the "chrome" strip that is under the windshield. Is there a product and a procedure someone has applied to bring the shine back?
Looking forward to a reply.

[ghostvet]

I saw this trick on American Restoration in the Discovery channel the other day- when trying to clean up old chrome, use a piece of crumpled aluminum foil and use that to scrub the chrome and bring it back to life.

I have not used this personally, and I don't know how long this process takes so I would practice first on another piece of chrome rather than risk something so bold and in your face as the fairing chrome trim.

Good luck, and post some before and after pics.

[cbx4evr]

I use Autosol Polish. When the sun hits it it's brighter than the headlight.

[WingAdmin]

I saw this trick on American Restoration in the Discovery channel the other day- when trying to clean up old chrome, use a piece of crumpled aluminum foil and use that to scrub the chrome and bring it back to life.

I have not used this personally, and I don't know how long this process takes so I would practice first on another piece of chrome rather than risk something so bold and in your face as the fairing chrome trim.

Good luck, and post some before and after pics.

The crumpled up aluminum foil is a very good way to remove tiny rust and oxidation spots from chrome, but it won't shine things up. For that you really need a polishing compound.

[jeffcosmo]

The piece you are trying t polish needs to be identified as to:
Is it chrome??
Is it polished aluminium??
For chrome (magnet will stick), simply warm up the elbow, and use your favourite chrome polish.
For aluminium (magnet will not stick), start with an assessment of how bad it is scratched. Use appropriate sanding paper (600 for light scratch, down to 320 for heavy), run up the grades evenly, as the next will have to eliminate the sanding scratches from the last, so 320 - 400 - 600 - 1000 - 1500. Then use a polishing compound and really get those elbows moving!! This will take a long time. You will consider the 'all black' trim crowd as quite prescient.

Cosmo

[SidAbma]

Hi Cosmo
The trim is not really scratched but blochey faded. There are a few shiny areas. I just did the magnet test and the magnet sort of told me it was chromed.
cbx4evr seems to really like the Auyosol Polish. I like his comment about how bright it can become.
I will let you know.

Has anybody tried cleaning up the aluminum engine pieces like the cylinder head covers. Can it be done in place?

Thanks for everyone's input.

[jeffcosmo]

Hi Cosmo
The trim is not really scratched but blochey faded. There are a few shiny areas.

Sounds just like the aluminium trim on mine, which was replaced with chromed steel.
Get out the 320 grit sandpaper, and run up the grits. Go to at least 1500 in stages, then the Autosol.

I just did the magnet test and the magnet sort of told me it was chromed.

Really not sure what you mean by "sort of". Either the magnet sticks (chromed steel), or slips off (polished aluminium). I do not believe that the OEM Honda trim was chromed. Looks like it was polished aluminium, even from the off. If it springs back strongly went bent even slightly, it's chromed steel, though that will rust if not kept up.

Cosmo

[SidAbma]

Hi Cosmo
I went into my grandkids toys and found one of their games with magnet pieces. I grabbed a few and went out to my bike. They didn't stick. Came inside and threw them at the fridge, they stuck.
Aluminum it is.