coating on intakes

[jboughto70]

I am in the process of polishing up all the metal on my gl1200a and the intake manifolds? (between the carbs and the valves) have a yellowish tint that seems to be a coating that is supposed to be there. Is there any reason I can't wire wheel this coating off and polish the metal? I don't think this is oxidation, I'm pretty sure its a coating to keep it from rusting.

[joecoolsuncle]

it is a clear to keep the aluminum from oxidizing and having to be polished on a regular basis. if you are able and willing to polish at a pro level, you will only have to renew polishing a couple times a year. or, have them soda blasted, or other medium fit for the job, and re-clear. i would do the latter.

[WingAdmin]

Agreed - if you're going to removed the yellowed clear-coat, then once you've polished them shiny, I would re-apply a clearcoat. Otherwise, you're going to find them pitted and oxidized in a fairly short amount of time. Make sure any clearcoat you use can take the heat it will see in that application.

[dingdong]

I rebuilt my 76 17 years and 50k miles ago. one of the rebuilding steps was to polish the carb intakes, valve covers, timing covers and front forks. I don't remember why but the intakes I clear coated all the rest I only polished. Now after 17 years the valve covers etc. look great. While the intakes are yellowing and the clear coat is flaking. I do however repolish using only Turtle Wax a coup!e of times a gear. Probably doesn't take 30 minutes. No clear coat for me. No runs, no drips no errors. JMHO.

[jboughto70]

I am in Indiana and it is quite humid here all the time, everything rusts and even wood on houses falls apart, so I willl probably need to clear coat like those others were saying. Some of the coating on the intakes and the side covers have chinks/scratches in them, thats why I was polishing down to the metal. Thanks for the replies everyone.