Hazy 99 Harley

[SeaJay's]

What tach? They didn't come with one. Add ons mounted in the center of the handlebars. Is the plaque mounted on the tach mount? Stranger and stranger.



You might try Brillo/SOS on the rust spots... gently! I use it on crummy chrome with good results. 0000 steel wool & metal polish also works well. I cut the wool into thin strips and wrap it around the spokes and back n forth 'em.

On the front wheel you can usually grab down low where the spokes mount into the wheel and tug the wheel around a few inches at a time with the wheel straight with the bike. Easiest if you have the front wheel sitting on a wet spot with a dab of soap. That's if you have a smooth garage floor to work on.

If you've got a floor jack and a piece of 2x4 you can jack slightly under the frame crossmember under the tranny just enough to relieve weight on the wheels. Makes everything easier if the bike is upright instead of on the sidestand too.



Just curious, are the bag latches chrome mounted on the outside lip of the lid or twisting pucks on top of the bag? I would hope the owner removed the bags if you don't know how to do it. Those Dzus fasters they've used for about 60 years are a real Rube Goldberg contraption. If you look at the bottoms of the bags they're probably already scratched up from people sitting them down on concrete. If they're still fairly nice set 'em on a towel or two.



Bikes are frequently neglected, especially those that do serious road trips. It isn't practical to try and clean 'em much on the road and between the bugs and some weather they get pretty cruddy. I try to get some protection where I can as once things go to hell you aren't going to be able to restore 'em.

FWIW, although Glare Pro Polish is widely regarded as snake oil it makes an excellent chrome polish and doesn't seem to burn off the pipes right away like wax or sealants. I certainly wouldn't pay what they're asking for it on their Web site but it's available with OEM labels... I picked up a bottle of Honda-labeled on eBay cheap. I don't believe most of the claims but it has a few very good uses.

Frankly, I don't know how anyone can make any money detailing bikes due to the combination of being labor-intensive and most won't owners won't pay what it's worth to get it done right and thoroughly.

TL

Alright I snapped some pics of the bike on my lunch. The tach is mounted between the handle bars which are 16" ape hangers and the plaque is mounted there.

I will try the wool trick on the wheels, sounds like it will be much easier that way.

I actually may take a swing by the Harley shop in the next town over and see what they have for polishes for metal and something for the heads (Flat black, which aren't really even black anymore but still). I know you said something like A1000 (I'll look back at the thread and see).

Here is a pic of the bike when it arrived

Thanks for all the info on the bike, you certainly know what your talking about!

 

[TLMitchell]

Alright I snapped some pics of the bike on my lunch.

Now we're gettin' somewhere...

The exposed hinges and pucks on top of the saddlebags and the blackout trim around the fork lock indicate it indeed started life as a police bike. Since the color looks original and tank emblem appears to be what was on the civilian OEM bikes I'm guessing whoever reflogged it may have sent the stuff back to H-D for paint. It's fairly cost effective, the work is top notch, you can't tell it from original. I suppose that'd indicate you should expect it to polish like OEM, which means the tank may be a PITA to finish out. (which we've already established) As I know the tanks get clear powdercoat and everything else is much easier to work with I'm guessing the rest gets traditional clearcoat. Dunno why the tanks get powder... only thing I can think of is it may be more fuel-resistant as far as discoloration due to spills. :shrug:

Those side covers pop right off, they've got three studs attached that push into rubber grommets. Get your fingertips under the edge and wiggle the cover back n forth and they pull straight out. Gonna be incredibly grimey underneath... I'd recommend nothing more than a wipe with a moist rag if you do anything at all under there. Lots of little connections and fuses you don't want to disturb.

While you're at the dealer look for a black tube of H-D branded Swirl & Scratch remover. I always thought it was probably relabeled Meg's Scratch X V1 which isn't made anymore. Very mild diminshing abrasive polish that really works nice by hand. You might try a test spot and see what you get. I find it handy on tanks where you're always getting rub marks from knees and jackets rubbing on 'em. Tried it on a DA with 3" pads and it worked real well.

S100 aerosol Engine Brightener is the stuff for wrinkle black surfaces. They may also have Pig Spit which is comparable, probably just rebranded as I can't tell 'em apart. I think "A1000" is for crabs, probably have to get that at the drug store.

Most of the S100 products are rebranded P21S products. If you use TAW, Total Cycle Wash appears to be the same stuff but about half the price. Dealer should also have some fiber polishing strips that may come in handy for those spokes. Yessir, nothing like polishing 80-spoke wheels

TL

 

[SeaJay's]

Now we're gettin' somewhere...

The exposed hinges and pucks on top of the saddlebags and the blackout trim around the fork lock indicate it indeed started life as a police bike. Since the color looks original and tank emblem appears to be what was on the civilian OEM bikes I'm guessing whoever reflogged it may have sent the stuff back to H-D for paint. It's fairly cost effective, the work is top notch, you can't tell it from original. I suppose that'd indicate you should expect it to polish like OEM, which means the tank may be a PITA to finish out. (which we've already established) As I know the tanks get clear powdercoat and everything else is much easier to work with I'm guessing the rest gets traditional clearcoat. Dunno why the tanks get powder... only thing I can think of is it may be more fuel-resistant as far as discoloration due to spills. :shrug:

Those side covers pop right off, they've got three studs attached that push into rubber grommets. Get your fingertips under the edge and wiggle the cover back n forth and they pull straight out. Gonna be incredibly grimey underneath... I'd recommend nothing more than a wipe with a moist rag if you do anything at all under there. Lots of little connections and fuses you don't want to disturb.

While you're at the dealer look for a black tube of H-D branded Swirl & Scratch remover. I always thought it was probably relabeled Meg's Scratch X V1 which isn't made anymore. Very mild diminshing abrasive polish that really works nice by hand. You might try a test spot and see what you get. I find it handy on tanks where you're always getting rub marks from knees and jackets rubbing on 'em. Tried it on a DA with 3" pads and it worked real well.

S100 aerosol Engine Brightener is the stuff for wrinkle black surfaces. They may also have Pig Spit which is comparable, probably just rebranded as I can't tell 'em apart. I think "A1000" is for crabs, probably have to get that at the drug store.

Most of the S100 products are rebranded P21S products. If you use TAW, Total Cycle Wash appears to be the same stuff but about half the price. Dealer should also have some fiber polishing strips that may come in handy for those spokes. Yessir, nothing like polishing 80-spoke wheels

TL

Thanks again TL! I did figure out that the side panels popped right off, of course after I taped everything up, but it made it much easier to polish them out.

I actually got the tank to finish down really well, minus the haze and a few deep RIDS.

I ended up using the combo of LC CCS yellow pad and Menz Power Gloss on my DA for initial compound. Then followed that up with white LC pad with #9 Megs Swirl Remover on the DA, then followed that up and jeweled the paint with my Flex PE14, White 4" edge pad and PO85rd. And you were right the paint was extremely hard on the tank and front fender. The rear fender didn't seem so bad, and the plastics corrected much easier and didn't have the haze that the tank and fenders have.

The bike is no where near perfect but the paint is clear and the gloss is most definitely back. As you said before it seems the bike has really been driven hard and enjoyed. It has 110k for miles on it.

I got all of the paint sealed last night and probably about 90% of the metal polished out. Minus the motor. I didn't have a chance to swing by HD yesterday, so I"m going to be going today after work. Thank you for clarifying what I should be getting (Not A1000...I don't have crabs! lol).

I have to tackle the wheels and the heads on the motor tonight. Oh and the wind shield...I'll be finished up tonight though.

Thanks for all your advice and knowledge! Very helpful and very much appreciated!

 

[TLMitchell]

have to tackle the wheels and the heads on the motor tonight. Oh and the wind shield...I'll be finished up tonight though.

Careful if you polish the shield, they have a supposedly hard, thin coating that if removed in spots results in distorted optics. I generally use Novus and keep it polished with Plexxus and things don't stick badly.

Thanks for all your advice and knowledge! Very helpful and very much appreciated!

Yer welcome. :xyxthumbs:

TL

 

[SeaJay's]

Careful if you polish the shield, they have a supposedly hard, thin coating that if removed in spots results in distorted optics. I generally use Novus and keep it polished with Plexxus and things don't stick badly.



Yer welcome. :xyxthumbs:

TL

You are just full of knowledge! I'll be sure to be careful with it and probably only use some light polish.

 

[TLMitchell]

You are just full of knowledge!

You ride and own a bunch of 'em for 35 years or so you tend to pick up a tidbit or two. Usually the hard way. :doh:

Glad to help.

TL

 

[richy]

You are just full of knowledge! I'll be sure to be careful with it and probably only use some light polish.

You won't find a better authority on Harley's! It's good to see you're following his advice.

 

[SeaJay's]

You won't find a better authority on Harley's! It's good to see you're following his advice.

Well this is why I came to the forum with my questions. Usually someone that has extensive knowledge on the topic. And TL has been a huge help.

 

[TLMitchell]

You won't find a better authority on Harley's!

Willie G. may take exception to that.

If you see Merlin pop up in a Harley thread, pay attention. He's where I steal my best stuff!

TL