Fuel cap and surround

[Ruth Baxter]

Hi guys, has any body had there fuel cap or surround re plated, mine has some scratches on them from the Petrol pump nozzle I assume.
Thanks, Ian

 

[DaveL485]

Anyone know what they are made of? I assume stainless steel, if so, then you should be able to get it polished.

 

[SJ]

I thought it was aluminium, maybe not anodised but no doubt some coating, as Dave said either way should be able to polish out marks, i wouldnt bother putting a coating on if you get good finish on buffing wheel as should stay nice with occassional light polish.

 

[Ruth Baxter]

Thanks, I will remove it at the weekend and give it a buff up,
Ian

 

[Ben123]

Be careful buffing it. The surround is a matte effect (I’m quite sure aluminium). This would have been achieved during the anodisation process. If you buff it you’ll end up with smooth shiny finish which might be fine if you do it all, but won’t match the original finish.

You might also find that they are more prone to marking and corroding as the anodisation is only a very thin layer that can easily be buffer through.

 

[Ruth Baxter]

Hi, thanks for the info, re anodising might be the answer, Ian

 

[SJ]

It will dull down and unless you seriously neglect it it shouldn’t corrode, and you wont need to polish it, just wash as usual. On my bike the engine cover coating got rubbed away in places from my right boot. I buffed it off, and never polished it again in 16years and this is photo i took after 16years before sold it.

 

[SJ]

[album]20238[/album]

 

[Spike]

It is anodised aluminium, they do corrode when polished if used in the salt, keep it dry.

 

[rustedandrotten]

It is anodised aluminium, they do corrode when polished if used in the salt, keep it dry.

Once you remove the anodizing they will rot away in front of your eyes! Anodizing is a film of hard deposited, very dense aluminium oxide that is inert and protects the aluminium below, specialist application. You will notice that window extrusions do not break down except when scratched or where they are cut at the corners. Best thing is find a decent metal refinisher locally and get it re-anodized before it gets too pitted. :approve: