Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) REFURBISHING OXIDIZED ALUMINIUM

Hi guys, I know this is a bit out of left field, but maybe someone on the forum has experience of this> I have just bought a 2001 Triumph Thunderbird, the one with the lovely 900 triple, it has been stood for quite a while and I am in the process of rebuilding it, the aluminium front fork sleeves have some oxidation which I want to remove and bring back to original condition. Can anyone advide what products I should use?

Do you know anybody with a vapour blaster? Often engineering machinist will have one. Take a look at YouTube and see if it’s the finish you require.

Scotchbrite pads and WD40

Start off with the coarsest (grey), then medium (green) and finish off with fine (ruby)

Brings alloy up a treat.

Arwyn

Aluminium is treated generally with an anodised coating that is applied through an electrolytic process to protect aluminium surfaces. You can get it in clear as well as a multitude of colours.

A firm specialising in anodising will have generally the equipment to remove any oxidisation but beware. Any surface damage will be removed leaving the surface uneven so you may want to prepare the items yourself leaving the firm to do the final clean before anodinsing.

One note of caution it to ensure that the insides of the fork sleeves are not anodised as this may well prevent the fork stanchions from sliding into the sleeves.

Top question Grissly

I've often wondered myself as I've struggled with cleaning and polishing heavily oxidised ally

I've used an oven cleaner spray and fine wire wool.. All depends how deep into the ally it's got.

Lots of elbow grease needed.. This is either a pain in the bum or a labour of love, depending on your mindset, but these two fork legs were transformed by using a bench mounted buffing wheel & three grades of compound. It leaves you looking like a miner, so wear something old or disposable, but you can't help but feel proud when you've finished..!!

Elbow grease and polishing to get the desired finish.
The hard part is keeping it shiny!
Anodising is ok and you can get it dyed to any colour. The dye penetrates the anodised layer.
Frost sell anodising kits for diy.

Fork lowers can be clear lacquer coated at manufacture so a lot of polishing is required. Stones pit the lacquer and corrosion gets underneath.
A polishing wheel mop & compound is certainly the way fwd.

Nice job Steve

Thanks for the replies guys, it has confirmed what I guessed, and it will be a labour of love, the pitting is pretty much as seen on your pics Steve, when you were going through the process did you use any proprietary cleaving/buffing agent< I see Mcguires do have a product for cleaning up ally oxidation, has anyone tried it?