Finish Options for Valve & TB Covers?

[rockyhayes]

Hi All,

I am wondering what others have found works best as a finish for the Timing Belt & Valve Covers. I'm working on a 75 GL1000. The finish options I'm considering are:
1. Glass Bead blasting and leaving them raw.
2. Glass Bead blasting and powder coating them with clear. (https://www.eastwood.com/hotcoat-powder ... clear.html)
3. Glass Bead blasting and powder coating them with a polished aluminum color. (https://www.eastwood.com/hotcoat-powder ... hrome.html)
4. Polish them at buffing wheel and leaving them raw.
5. Polish them at buffing wheel and powder coating them clear.

I use real glass beads, not crushed glass, and it leaves a very attractive satin finish - but not anything approaching a shiny/chrome-like appearance. And, I'm not sure what maintenance would be like as the raw aluminum is exposed to the elements and oxidizes.

Anyways, I'm curious to learn what others have done - with pictures if possible...

Thanks!

[Jonesz]

These are the ones on my 78. removed the oem clearcoat with aerosol paint stripper and polished them with with a buffing wheel and reddish brown compound. Left them "raw" and keep them clean. might need a bit of mothers aluminum polish from time to time but not yet. No clear coat to yellow etc.

Tiningcovers.JPG (84.94 KiB) Viewed 229 times

valve covers.JPG (111.72 KiB) Viewed 229 times

[5speed]

m,y 82 is going to get them polished and waxed.
My 76 is going to get black crinkle paint
My 78..polished and waxed.

[pidjones]

I much prefer polished. Clear coat is always a problem (even original) so I recommend lacquer if you do - it will come off easily with acetone. So far, I've just polished mine (Scotchbrite, elbow grease and acetone to strip the clear coat). I find wool wheels cut and polish much faster than cotton, but stink pretty bad. I just mount wheels on my drill press at its highest speed. Keeping clean and about annual polishing keeps them sharp looking. But I seldom ride my 1000s in bad weather like I ride my 1800.

[robin1731]

Another option. Vapor blasting. Pics show some carbs I did complete. And then some junk GL carb parts that did just half to show the finish. Leaves a very smooth finish that you could leave as is or possibly use clear powder coat on.