Alternator Cover Chrome

[Gideon]

How can I remove the chrome that is beginning to wrinkle on my alternator cover (other just saying carefully). I would like to paint it rather than buy a new one.

[Gavin_Sons]

Acetone maybe? I bought 2 new ones last year for less than 40 bucks. Think that source has dried up or caught on to what we were doing. Brake fluid might also eat the chrome away.

[Gideon]

Acetone maybe? I bought 2 new ones last year for less than 40 bucks. Think that source has dried up or caught on to what we were doing. Brake fluid might also eat the chrome away.

WOW that's cheap!
What was the source?

[The emperor has no clothes]

Acetone maybe? I bought 2 new ones last year for less than 40 bucks. Think that source has dried up or caught on to what we were doing. Brake fluid might also eat the chrome away.

WOW that's cheap!
What was the source?

Unfortunately they are long gone. A member from the Florida panhandle (who has since passed on) discovered they hadn't upped the price in Europe and many of us were able to get some before they did. RIP Xtracho  There are some members who have done as you are planning.
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,67488.msg658165.html#msg658165
Here is one example.

[Bighead]

Acetone maybe? I bought 2 new ones last year for less than 40 bucks. Think that source has dried up or caught on to what we were doing. Brake fluid might also eat the chrome away.

I bought 6 of them 

[Gavin_Sons]

Acetone maybe? I bought 2 new ones last year for less than 40 bucks. Think that source has dried up or caught on to what we were doing. Brake fluid might also eat the chrome away.

I bought 6 of them 

Hoarder 

[Gideon]

If I ask real nice could get one of you to part with one? 

[Gavin_Sons]

If I ask real nice could get one of you to part with one? 

my 2nd one went on my brothers bike.

[gordonv]

I have 2, one from each of my IS's. The latest one was so badly wrinkled, I just cracked it open in one spot, and spent 3 minutes peeling the chrome off the front. Has the broken tab, so will try the washer trick.

A lot of searching, and I found removing chrome from plastic models. I think it was oven cleaner. I bought the spray foam type, didn't work. Need liquid. Will try again.

Would be nice to leave the chrome on the Honda logo, but wasn't too selective, and I'm sure the dipping liquid wont be any better.

[Gideon]

Thank you for the replies.
The local Honda Dealer is asking for $225 for a new one.

I wonder how it would be if I never bothered to put it back on.
The bike doesn't look bad without it.
Would it hurt anything?

[hubcapsc]

There's one from a parted out bike on ebay, it looks dirty, but
unbubbled... and it still has the alternator attached to it... $99...

-Mike

[gordonv]

Mine is currently off, think of leaving it that way.

I think I'll paint the alt gloss black when I take it out for a cleaning and checking the brushes. Want to do that before any long rides.

[vanagon40]

How can I remove the chrome that is beginning to wrinkle on my alternator cover (other just saying carefully). I would like to paint it rather than buy a new one.

I'm thinking sand blasting. I have not tried it. I did get a small sandblaster for Christmas that I have not used. I have a couple of valve covers for my SilverWing and a chrome wrinkled Valkyrie alternator cover on my TODO list. The sandblaster is sitting next to my 45 Colt reloader (another Christmas present) that is also unused.

If you are on the southside, maybe we could check out my sandblaster sometime this summer.

[Lyonardo]

I got one last year on ebay for $22.
Keep checking, they show up there from time to time.
L

[pancho]

I wouldn't try the sandblaster on the alternator cover vanagon,, it will destroy the item. Remember, it is made of plastic, the chrome plating, while very hard, is just a film on the plastic. The plastic is first blasted with copper dust to make it conductive, then plated with the chromium, it is probably best to peel  it off. I like gordonvs' idea of painting the alternator.

[big poppa pump]

I wouldn't try the sandblaster on the alternator cover vanagon,, it will destroy the item. Remember, it is made of plastic, the chrome plating, while very hard, is just a film on the plastic. The plastic is first blasted with copper dust to make it conductive, then plated with the chromium, it is probably best to peel  it off. I like gordonvs' idea of painting the alternator.

I disagree. I had my alternator cover sandblasted to remove the chrome and had it painted black.

[pancho]

Well, the sandblasters I have used would certainly destroy a piece of plastic, at least leave the surface in such a rough shape that you might as well put crinkle paint on it.

[Bighead]

Gideon I sent you a PM.

[Gideon]

Thanks for the replies. However, as you may have seen from my additional post, I now have developed an electrical problem. Some seem to think it’s my alternator. I hope not! 
I need to resolve this issue before doing anything about the chrome cover.

[jdp]

I talked to a guy that said he copied one and made it out of fiberglass and painted it, I never saw it but sounds like a good idea, or maybe even plastic chrome it

[Jruby38]

I don't think its a heat problem. Both my alt. cover and now the rear brake cover are wrinkled. The problem is cheep Honda plastic chrome.  These parts should have been made our of steel and plated like HD.

[pancho]

It's really not "cheep Honda plastic chrome.", it is the same plastic all motorcycle and auto companies use to make exterior and trim pieces from these days. As far as the chrome,, it is real chromium plate,, the problem comes from the expansion characteristics of the chromium/nickel/copper layer vs. the plastic....  they are different and over many cycles can cause what we see..  industry wide problem and can be seen in many places.  

[Gideon]

I peeled all the chrome off my Alternator Cover.
A good friend volunteered to paint it in "Fast" black to match my trike.
I will try to post a photo when it is finished.
I hope to have the alternator problem resolved soon.

[98 VALK]

GOOGLE  /  CHEAP CYCLE PARTS AND PUNCH IN HONDA VALKYRIE AND YOU CAN GET ANYTHING ON THAT VALK THAT YOU WANT. I WAS AT MC DONALD'S A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND SOMEONE HIT MY VALK WHILE IT WAS PARKED. I NEEDED SEVERAL ITEM'S AND THEY HAD EVERYTHING I NEEDED AND SHIPPED IT FAST. I JUST CHECKED THE ALTERNATOR COVER AND IT WAS $174.00

[vanagon40]

GOOGLE  /  CHEAP CYCLE PARTS AND PUNCH IN HONDA VALKYRIE AND YOU CAN GET ANYTHING ON THAT VALK THAT YOU WANT. I WAS AT MC DONALD'S A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND SOMEONE HIT MY VALK WHILE IT WAS PARKED. I NEEDED SEVERAL ITEM'S AND THEY HAD EVERYTHING I NEEDED AND SHIPPED IT FAST. I JUST CHECKED THE ALTERNATOR COVER AND IT WAS $174.00

If Cheap Cycle Parts want $174 for an alternator cover . . . .

"This is the most blatant case of false advertising since my suit against the movie The Neverending Story." Lionel Hutz, The Simpsons: New Kid on the Block [#4.8] (1992)

As an aside, ALL CAPS is not necessary and kind of annoying.

[98 VALK]

Vanagon40 you sound like your a very unhappy person and like to fault people. I'am 63 and have some fault's of my own and one of them is vision. Blind in one eye so using the cap's helps me. Very sorry if it bothered you. I rejoined the forum just recently for friendship & help on my valk. I'am coming off a motorcycle accident from being hit from behind at a traffic light. I have a 98 valk and bought about $2000.00 worth of parts from cheap cycle parts when i got in the wreck. So i can absolutely tell you that they are stand up people & delivered my parts promply & the price was great.

[indybobm]

Procalibers price is $148.76. Still a lot of money.

[indybobm]

I'm thinking sand blasting. I have not tried it. I did get a small sandblaster for Christmas that I have not used. I have a couple of valve covers for my SilverWing and a chrome wrinkled Valkyrie alternator cover on my TODO list. The sandblaster is sitting next to my 45 Colt reloader (another Christmas present) that is also unused.

My experience with sandblaster cabinets is that dust and particles get on everything in the vicinity. I do not think I would want to reload ammunition next to one. Just a thought.

[gordonv]

Vanagon40 you sound like your a very unhappy person and like to fault people. I'am 63 and have some fault's of my own and one of them is vision. Blind in one eye so using the cap's helps me. Very sorry if it bothered you.

I also was going to say something about the post too. All capitals is equivalent to shouting. It does also make it harder to read. Since we saw only 8 posts under your name, we reasoned that you are a new user, and was only trying to let you know of some on-line etiquette.

In your case, Sorry for bringing it up. No offense meant.

However, there is another person who when he posts, uses a larger font. I take it he does it also for ease of reading. I know on your computer, you can increase the words on your computer. I do this for my mother.

Press and hold down the "ctrl" key, and using a wheel mouse or a touch pad, scroll up. I'm not too sure how to do this on a regular keyboard, and would hope someone else can help, as I use a lap top for portability. This increases your font size, making it easier to read.

[Cracker Jack]

GOOGLE  /  CHEAP CYCLE PARTS AND PUNCH IN HONDA VALKYRIE AND YOU CAN GET ANYTHING ON THAT VALK THAT YOU WANT. I WAS AT MC DONALD'S A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND SOMEONE HIT MY VALK WHILE IT WAS PARKED. I NEEDED SEVERAL ITEM'S AND THEY HAD EVERYTHING I NEEDED AND SHIPPED IT FAST. I JUST CHECKED THE ALTERNATOR COVER AND IT WAS $174.00

If Cheap Cycle Parts want $174 for an alternator cover . . . .

"This is the most blatant case of false advertising since my suit against the movie The Neverending Story." Lionel Hutz, The Simpsons: New Kid on the Block [#4.8] (1992)

As an aside, ALL CAPS is not necessary and kind of annoying.

It's seems that a few people that just love to chastise others for using ALL CAPS. I, for one, am not offended or annoyed by people using all caps and don't have any trouble reading it. I can't discern any difference in the volume of all cap posts either. Necessary or not, I say type any way you like!

I do get a little annoyed with people that complain about ALL CAPS.

[Roidfingers]

Vanagon40 you sound like your a very unhappy person and like to fault people. I'am 63 and have some fault's of my own and one of them is vision. Blind in one eye so using the cap's helps me. Very sorry if it bothered you.

I also was going to say something about the post too. All capitals is equivalent to shouting. It does also make it harder to read. Since we saw only 8 posts under your name, we reasoned that you are a new user, and was only trying to let you know of some on-line etiquette.

In your case, Sorry for bringing it up. No offense meant.

However, there is another person who when he posts, uses a larger font. I take it he does it also for ease of reading. I know on your computer, you can increase the words on your computer. I do this for my mother.

Press and hold down the "ctrl" key, and using a wheel mouse or a touch pad, scroll up. I'm not too sure how to do this on a regular keyboard, and would hope someone else can help, as I use a lap top for portability. This increases your font size, making it easier to read.

You can increase the size of your screen by simply holding down the CNTRL key and hitting the + (plus) button on your keypad. To reduce hold and hit minus.

[larue]

From general board these are back on eBay more than 10, no affiliation here
http://www.ebay.com/itm/21333-MZ0-A00-Honda-Valkyrie-Alternator-Cover-/331848733018?fits=Make%3AHonda&hash=item4d43b9d15a:g:atUAAOSwrXdXK0Ro&vxp=mtr
Good luck

[Gideon]

GOOGLE  /  CHEAP CYCLE PARTS AND PUNCH IN HONDA VALKYRIE AND YOU CAN GET ANYTHING ON THAT VALK THAT YOU WANT. I WAS AT MC DONALD'S A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND SOMEONE HIT MY VALK WHILE IT WAS PARKED. I NEEDED SEVERAL ITEM'S AND THEY HAD EVERYTHING I NEEDED AND SHIPPED IT FAST. I JUST CHECKED THE ALTERNATOR COVER AND IT WAS $174.00

Cap's or No Cap's - Welcome back to this GREAT FORM!  

[98 VALK]

Very sorry for using caps guys. My vision is bad but i will not use them again and thanks to everyone for being so nice. I just came off a wreck two years ago and this is the first time i've been on my bike in over two years. Was hit from behind at a traffic light. It really shook me up so i put the bike away for several years over two to be exact. I was just to scared to ride i lost ny nerve i guess. I'am 63 this year and said to myself i was not going to give up riding. I got back on it and i'am as great of rider as i ever was and have one of the best machines that Honda ever made a 1998 Honda Valkyrie CT Tourer. Jade green / blk / & silver. I have never been in a wreck my whole life & it had to happen while i was on my motorcycle. Why couldn't it of happened while i was in the truck least i would of had a little protection. It felt good getting back on it today my wife was peeking out the front window as i took off into the street.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Very sorry for using caps guys. My vision is bad but i will not use them again and thanks to everyone for being so nice. I just came off a wreck two years ago and this is the first time i've been on my bike in over two years. Was hit from behind at a traffic light. It really shook me up so i put the bike away for several years over two to be exact. I was just to scared to ride i lost ny nerve i guess. I'am 63 this year and said to myself i was not going to give up riding. I got back on it and i'am as great of rider as i ever was and have one of the best machines that Honda ever made a 1998 Honda Valkyrie CT Tourer. Jade green / blk / & silver. I have never been in a wreck my whole life & it had to happen while i was on my motorcycle. Why couldn't it of happened while i was in the truck least i would of had a little protection. It felt good getting back on it today my wife was peeking out the front window as i took off into the street.

Congratulations !!! Don't worry about the caps. I'm sure your riding skills are just as good as they used to be. But don't get too overconfident, we are all getting older and our cat like reflexes aren't what they used to be. Happy Riding