S2r1000 Engine polish

[Alexaskmo]

Hey all!

So i bought an s2r1k a few months back. With winter coming I’m planning on picking it apart and polishing the engine as it has stains and is flaky at the heads. Can I sand+polish it to a shiny finish without worrying about future rust or do I need to do more than just the abrasive cleaning?

Hoping to reach this level of amazingness: http://www.desmosouthwest.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/1997_Monster_750_crop_1024.jpg

Thanks!
Alex

[RB]

Aluminum doesn’t rust(it will corrode however), and any polishing will take effort to keep that way once you start.

[Alexaskmo]

That sounds very promising!!

I’m ready for the effort

The engine is in cast aluminium? Not steel? (I have no idea which is why I posted )

And what exactly do you mean by effort? Cleaning once a week?

[Howie]

Cast aluminum.  Bare aluminum, unless anodized oxidizes.  It will get powdery and pitted. 

[chipripper]

Partway down this page you can see the covers I did.

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=642.315

That was days of work.  Cast aluminum is a major B to get all the casting marks out of (You can't see them hidden under the paint). The few small pieces are easy enough to keep shiny with a regular wipe down.

I definitely wouldn't attempt the heads. Too many surfaces and crevasses to polish. I'd do the side covers (engine cases?) and have the heads sent to a pro for a repaint. If I were  to do the engine side covers, I'd probably do the strip and polish myself (after buying some better power tools), and pay for anodizing. You don't want to become a full time polisher when you could be out riding.

[czen]

Hi All - I'm not looking to get mine polished quite that level of amazingness! 

I'm just looking for ideas on how to get rid of some burnt-on oil ... the previous owner let a small leak from the cam covers dribble down the fins, and it looks like crap.

I will link to some photos ... any ideas on how to get rid of this stuff? I've tried oven cleaner, etc. .... Nothing seems to work.

Here is where I posted some photos: https://www.ducati.ms/forums/241-tech-forum/522913-vertical-cylinder-oil-leak-source-photos.html