Clearcoated metal- Harleys

[shotime]

What would I use to polish the clearcoated metal on Harley`s? (Located on the heads/tranny cover/etc.) I`ve been doing a lot of bikes and haven`t found a product and/or technique that gets the scraches out. The bikes come out looking absolutly gorgious but that cleared metal just takes away from it. I haven`t had one complaint, but to me, it drives me crazy knowing I can`t make it look like the rest of the bike.

[Fatboy2]

Shotime,
Any luck with S100 Total Cycle Finish Restorer? I may have some here...

Don`t mean to Hi jack your thread but I would be interested in your regimen that you use when detailing the Harleys.

[shotime]

I`ve never tried, that. They have the whole S100/P21S line at the local dealership so I`ll have to pick up some next time I`m there.

My process is-
Wash/Dry with waffle weave/air blower
Machine polish tank and all fender parts that I can reach
Hand polish all parts not reached by polisher
Clean and condition leather
Degrease engine w/ brake cleaner
Hand polish all chrome
Final hand polish
Wax
QD any splatter/smudges/etc.

I use pretty much what ever I feel like for paint, usually either Poorboys or Meguiars. On chrome I use Poorboy`s Pro Polish, wind screens- PlastX, Woolite/Lexol on leather.

I`m doing an 83 FLH on Tuesday and I`ll make sure I get some pics do document my process. I really haven`t started doing bikes until this year, now I`m doing 3-4 a week. I`m also considering buying some 4in spot pads to get more of the fenders by machine.

I also have another question- on the mag wheels, do I treat those as car mags? That`s another part I`m unhappy with my results on. The back wheels always seem hammered and I`m hesitant to use harsh products on them.

[Fatboy2]

If I had a small container I could squeeze some out of the tube and send it to you to try before you went out and bought some.

I have the same question on the wheels. I had posted a question on what to use to clean the grooved solid wheel...

[maximv1]

before my fatboy i had a 2001 sportster with a lot of polish aluminum. i found the scratches were pretty much impossible to get out for some reason. i used a light polish then a glaze and that seemed to hide them like you said for a while, i think that is harley`s way of saying buy chrome to replace the aluminum. i haven`t tried many of the s100 line, only the engine brightner. i would like to here your opinon on them. then engine brighter works really well and doesn`t burn off with engine heat. keep me posted.

[tguil]

The polished aluminum on Harleys is not clear-coated. Use any good aluminum polish ---Meguiar`s , Mother`s , S100, Simichrome, etc. They all work. You really need to keep at the aluminum. My 1995 Sportster has polished aluminum engine and wheels. I polish the aluminum at least three or four times during the riding season. I apply wax after the polish. My 2002 Super Glide is all chrome. All it takes is a liitle wax every now and then. Life is good.

Tom :cool