chrome alt. cover

[turtle254]

Anybody found a replacement cover for the plastic chromed alternator cover,
maybe steel?

[Bagger John - #3785]

If the peeling chrome can be completely removed, you might contact a shop which specializes in vacuum flash plating and have them redo it.

I've got one that's bubbling a bit. It's going to get stripped and painted gloss black, methinks.

[Houdini]

I've got one that's bubbling a bit. It's going to get stripped and painted gloss black, methinks.

How do you strip chrome off of plastic?  I tried on a peeling cover once and ended up ruining it.

[bentwrench]

I found a couple for sale two years ago at this placehttps://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/
It's in the UK but shipping was pretty reasonable.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I found a couple for sale two years ago at this placehttps://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/
It's in the UK but shipping was pretty reasonable.

The Euro connection dried up. They caught on to us Yanks.

[Jonesz]

Wondering why an aftermarket supplier hasn't picked up on this. A buddy just ordered and installed a kuryakyn transmission cover. His alt cover looked like a "flame" chrome cover (due to heat bubbles on the old one) but he would really like to install a new chrome cover for the alternator to match the new tranny covers. Maybe Honda should have been encouraged to meet quality standards. Too bad they dropped the ball.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Wondering why an aftermarket supplier hasn't picked up on this. A buddy just ordered and installed a kuryakyn transmission cover. His alt cover looked like a "flame" chrome cover (due to heat bubbles on the old one) but he would really like to install a new chrome cover for the alternator to match the new tranny covers. Maybe Honda should have been encouraged to meet quality standards. Too bad they dropped the ball.

Just not a big enough market I suspect. I don't think the quality of the chromed plastic is the issue. I think it just absorbs too much heat and then cools off. Expand and contract finally gets them.

[Bighead]

I found a couple for sale two years ago at this placehttps://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/
It's in the UK but shipping was pretty reasonable.

Yeah I bought 8 of them For $17.50 when that deal was in place and sold one and paid for the other seven. And sold one more but still have three new ones  you can get them from. Honda at around $250 a piece

[Steel cowboy]

eBay has new in package for sale $139.95 free shipping.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-Valkyrie-1500-Alternator-Cover-FREE-SHIPPING-/162702679316?epid=1423210031&hash=item25e1d5dd14:g:ntwAAOxyuR5TYVl7&vxp=mtr

[Hooter]

I've got one that's bubbling a bit. It's going to get stripped and painted gloss black, methinks.

How do you strip chrome off of plastic?  I tried on a peeling cover once and ended up ruining it.

A while back someone here had a formula for stripping chrome off of plastic.

[Jruby38]

Cheep Honda plastic chrome. Not only the alt cover, but the rear brake cover , and the turn signals will wrinkle.  If it was made right they would be chrome plated steel like the valve covers. I have some HD chrome on for 18 years and it still looks like new.

[mark81]

I've got one that's bubbling a bit. It's going to get stripped and painted gloss black, methinks.

How do you strip chrome off of plastic?  I tried on a peeling cover once and ended up ruining it.

A while back someone here had a formula for stripping chrome off of plastic.

Heat gun then ice water

[The emperor has no clothes]

Cheep Honda plastic chrome. Not only the alt cover, but the rear brake cover , and the turn signals will wrinkle.  If it was made right they would be chrome plated steel like the valve covers. I have some HD chrome on for 18 years and it still looks like new.

Chrome nice and shiny on a Harley that died 15 years ago ? I'll go ahead and stick with my cheap Honda plastic on a bike that just keeps going. 

[Gideon]

Cheep Honda plastic chrome. Not only the alt cover, but the rear brake cover , and the turn signals will wrinkle.  If it was made right they would be chrome plated steel like the valve covers. I have some HD chrome on for 18 years and it still looks like new.

Chrome nice and shiny on a Harley that died 15 years ago ? I'll go ahead and stick with my cheap Honda plastic on a bike that just keeps going. 

Good answer
My buddy just paid $400 dollars for his first oil change at the HD Dealer where purchased his new "Fat Boy". I guess they didn't use Rotella T6 

[Hooter]

Most dealers want the bike back for first service, not just Harley.  It isn't necessary.  My dealer told me to document my first 2 services with all information and it would not void the warranty.  That was on new Yamaha's and a couple of ""HARLEY'S"".

[Gideon]

Most dealers want the bike back for first service, not just Harley.  It isn't necessary.  My dealer told me to document my first 2 services with all information and it would not void the warranty.  That was on new Yamaha's and a couple of ""HARLEY'S"".

$400 seems a little excessive to me for your first oil change.

[MarkT]

Wondering why an aftermarket supplier hasn't picked up on this. A buddy just ordered and installed a kuryakyn transmission cover. His alt cover looked like a "flame" chrome cover (due to heat bubbles on the old one) but he would really like to install a new chrome cover for the alternator to match the new tranny covers. Maybe Honda should have been encouraged to meet quality standards. Too bad they dropped the ball.

Just not a big enough market I suspect. I don't think the quality of the chromed plastic is the issue. I think it just absorbs too much heat and then cools off. Expand and contract finally gets them.

Yeah it's just too hot right there.  It's better for the alternator to get more cooling air anyway so I removed the (wrinkled) cover on Jade.  Doesn't look too bad I think.  On Deerslayer I have a Compufire which is too big for the cover anyway. And same thing, more air circulating on it is a good thing.  Take the cover off and clean the alternator if it needs it and go ride.

[Firefighter]

My alternator cover wrinkled and I purchased a new one years ago when they were cheaper. Went to the hardware store and found a shinny insulation in a roll. Cut a piece and glued inside the cover and it has never wrinkled so far.

[pocket aces]

Anyone try that heat gun and ice water trick that mark81 suggested?

[The emperor has no clothes]

My alternator cover wrinkled and I purchased a new one years ago when they were cheaper. Went to the hardware store and found a shinny insulation in a roll. Cut a piece and glued inside the cover and it has never wrinkled so far.

I got some kind of heat wrap at Autozone a couple years back for my next one. Glad to hear yours is working. How many miles do you have on it ?

[The emperor has no clothes]

Anyone try that heat gun and ice water trick that mark81 suggested?

I haven't. But I'm sure going to give it a try on the next one. 

[Firefighter]

About 60,000 miles so far.

[signart]

Anyone try that heat gun and ice water trick that mark81 suggested?

I have experimented with it. Some areas released the chrome easily. Other areas took several applications of the  hot/cold treatment to release the chrome. Then, some areas of the cover where the expansion and contraction did not take place, the chrome would not release at all. I experimented by applying more and more heat and emersion on these areas, especially corners, until I distorted the cover and the chrome stubbornly would not release at all. Worked great on the biggest part of the cover.

[bill-jr]

Gig was or is making alt covers on a 3d printer
then i think you just paint them or what ever you like

[Chrisj CMA]

Anyone try that heat gun and ice water trick that mark81 suggested?

I have experimented with it. Some areas released the chrome easily. Other areas took several applications of the  hot/cold treatment to release the chrome. Then, some areas of the cover where the expansion and contraction did not take place, the chrome would not release at all. I experimented by applying more and more heat and emersion on these areas, especially corners, until I distorted the cover and the chrome stubbornly would not release at all. Worked great on the biggest part of the cover.

I have heard that bleach works to get the chrome off plastic

[turtle254]

Gig was or is making alt covers on a 3d printer
then i think you just paint them or what ever you like

If Gig is still making them, I'll take one !
Any one know?