Alternator covers

[The emperor has no clothes]

As many here I bought some a while back . Thanks to HayHauler and a certain Danish company. Anyway, I've got close to 27 k on one of them and it's starting to bubble already. I've got 2 more and them I'm done. I'm not paying what they want now  . Does anybody have ideas how to stop this. I was thinking of some of that heat blocking tape on the backside. Would it work ?

[Jess from VA]

I don't know if the heat insulator will work, but I do believe they shrivel from heat, not gas/solvents.

Can't hurt. 

Don't sit running in traffic in 100 degrees.  Turn the bike off until it's time to go.

I had a Harley wouldn't reliably restart when hot, the valk always starts up with a poke on the button.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I don't know if the heat insulator will work, but I do believe they shrivel from heat, not gas/solvents.

Can't hurt. 

Don't sit running in traffic in 100 degrees.  Turn the bike off until it's time to go.

I had a Harley wouldn't reliably restart when hot, the valk always starts up with a poke on the button.

not too much traffic here. 100*  I'd be watching soap operas everyday . 

[signart]

I agree that the insulator won't hurt, in fact may well be the ticket. I don't agree that gas/solvents won't wrinkle it, but it's not the chemicals, it's the cool liquid/H2o/fuel/whatever contacting the hot chrome on the plastic cover.
It is not a process over time as you found out.  
Don't believe it? Take a heat gun and heat the inside of the damaged cover somewhere the chrome is not lifted. Then apply cool liquid, and watch it wrinkle up before your eyes.
Now, over time the plastic will deteriorate and fail because of age and heat just as all plastic does.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I agree that the insulator won't hurt, in fact may well be the ticket. I don't agree that gas/solvents won't wrinkle it, but it's not the chemicals, it's the cool liquid/H2o/fuel/whatever contacting the hot chrome on the plastic cover.
It is not a process over time as you found out. 
Don't believe it? Take a heat gun and heat the inside of the damaged cover somewhere the chrome is not lifted. Then apply cool liquid, and watch it wrinkle up before you eyes.
Now, over time the plastic will deteriorate and fail because of age and heat just as all plastic does.

Hmmm... I hadn`t thought about that. I know I haven`t got ant gas on it. So I`ll make sure I don`t wash it till it`s fully cooled. 

[PAVALKER]

I agree that the insulator won't hurt, in fact may well be the ticket. I don't agree that gas/solvents won't wrinkle it, but it's not the chemicals, it's the cool liquid/H2o/fuel/whatever contacting the hot chrome on the plastic cover.
It is not a process over time as you found out.  
Don't believe it? Take a heat gun and heat the inside of the damaged cover somewhere the chrome is not lifted. Then apply cool liquid, and watch it wrinkle up before you eyes.
Now, over time the plastic will deteriorate and fail because of age and heat just as all plastic does.

I'm in agreement,.... kinda.  I had a warm engine and accidentally had a fuel overfill.  When the cool fuel reached that warm plastic chrome, I saw, and heard the chrome krinkle that cover....immediately like the snap crackle pop in Rice Krispies.  After I replaced that cover, I tested a spot when the cover was cool and dripped some fuel on it....nothing much at that point.  However, by the same token, I've had cold water spray on the warm engine and the cover held up fine.  

I have a cover on my black IS that has a coating on the back of that alternator cover, and I'm thinking its dynamat (black rubber with a reflective foil).  I'm not going to test the protective properties of that dynamat by tossing fuel on the hot cover, but believe the insulating properties are protesting it from heat.  Edit....I think the fuel might be or appear colder due to the highly evaporative properties of it??

[Momz]

If anyone has one or more of these wrinkled covers, I will pay for shipping to my address.

I also agree that heat is the main culprit when it comes to the finish deterioration. I have a few ideas and would like to try them.
If I can get enough of those covers donated, and my theory is correct, I may be able to offer and supply this club an "Improved Alternator Cover" with new plating.

I your interested in helping me, send me a PM with your e-mail address and for shipping info. use 48127 as the ZIP code.

Thanks
Momz

[signart]

I agree that the insulator won't hurt, in fact may well be the ticket. I don't agree that gas/solvents won't wrinkle it, but it's not the chemicals, it's the cool liquid/H2o/fuel/whatever contacting the hot chrome on the plastic cover.
It is not a process over time as you found out.  
Don't believe it? Take a heat gun and heat the inside of the damaged cover somewhere the chrome is not lifted. Then apply cool liquid, and watch it wrinkle up before you eyes.
Now, over time the plastic will deteriorate and fail because of age and heat just as all plastic does.

I'm in agreement,.... kinda.  I had a warm engine and accidentally had a fuel overfill.  When the cool fuel reached that warm plastic chrome, I saw, and heard the chrome krinkle that cover....immediately like the snap crackle pop in Rice Krispies.  After I replaced that cover, I tested a spot when the cover was cool and dripped some fuel on it....nothing much at that point.  However, by the same token, I've had cold water spray on the warm engine and the cover held up fine.  

I have a cover on my black IS that has a coating on the back of that alternator cover, and I'm thinking its dynamat (black rubber with a reflective foil).  I'm not going to test the protective properties of that dynamat by tossing fuel on the hot cover, but believe the insulating properties are protesting it from heat.  Edit....I think the fuel might be or appear colder due to the highly evaporative properties of it??

Almost exactly how I know of what I speak. I was doing a carb sync with fan on the radiator from a remote tank high above engine. When I was done, I immediately removed fuel line from remote tank and small amount of fuel with a good dose of Berrymans ran down the line onto a pristine alt cover. Just like that, it looked like H E double hockey sticks. The evaporation rate makes it super cold.
If I ever get another one I will insulate it, being careful not to insulate the alt.

I did experiment with heat gun on another damaged one, heating it probably beyond normal temp, and dowsing it with cool water, same result. Chrome & plastic have different expansion rates which are magnified in this situation, causing the separation.

[old2soon]

I've been VERY fortunate as far as the alt cover goes. Little over 110000 miles on her and cover is still a 9 out of 10. The first place I dealt with chromed plastic being outside ALL the time was the mirrors on a Freightliner I drove. The entire mirror housing was some sort of plastic-A B S? NOT sure-but within 6 months of getting that truck the "chrome" was peeling off the plastic mirror body. Got the truck just before winter and ran Mn. and Wi. in their oh so nice winter!  Also the glass mirror surface was electrically heated so THAT may have played into the peeling process. If the alt cover on my I/S should happen to peel and crinkle and wrinkle I intend to paint it a day glow green as the wheel openings are on my bike already. When my bike needs a bath I do it the day after the ride when the ENTIRE machine is cooled down. First time I saw chromed plastic was on the interior of a cab over Kenworth I drove in the 70s. Knew then chroming plastic was less than desirable.  RIDE SAFE.

[Robert]

Dynamat on the inside of the cover may help the the heavy duty high temp.

[signart]

Dynamat on the inside of the cover may help the the heavy duty high temp.

I think that might be just enough protection in most cases. If nothing else it might delay the natural deterioration of the plastic aggravated by the heat. The tabs are the first to go ever since they have been making plastic covers for motorcycles.