Turbine caps

[Rubikahn]

For anyone that’s had to restore these caps. How were you able to clean the chrome without damaging it? I watched a video online where a guy lightly scrubbed chrome motorcycle plastic trim pieces with an SOS pad. Is there anyone way to bring the black trim back? Maybe a cleaner or has anyone repainted them black. Did it last? This cap is the worst one, but they could all use some refreshing. 

[acfortier]

You know, I was looking for info on this as well. Planning on getting the turbines powder coated soon, but need the caps refinished as well.

[Rubikahn]

Just now, acfortier said:

You know, I was looking for info on this as well. Planning on getting the turbines powder coated soon, but need the caps refinished as well.

Yeah, I couldn’t find anything online. Only thing that kept coming up was refinishing the wheels. 

[eaglescout526]

I recommend the landau black SEM interior paint. I honestly have had nothing but good results on the paint being outdoors. The vent pieces and the plastics for my rear bumper were painted with such and have held up fantastically.

[big66440]

19 hours ago, eaglescout526 said:

I recommend the landau black SEM interior paint. I honestly have had nothing but good results on the paint being outdoors. The vent pieces and the plastics for my rear bumper were painted with such and have held up fantastically.

I agree SEM Landau Black is VERY good stuff, it looks fresh for a long time even under the elements.

[acfortier]

Has anyone tried reviving the chrome with the SOS pad?

[Rubikahn]

6 minutes ago, acfortier said:

Has anyone tried reviving the chrome with the SOS pad?

Lol, that was something I asked in the post. Video I watched made it look so easy. Just hesitant to sacrifice one to find out 🤣

[Rubikahn]

21 hours ago, eaglescout526 said:

I recommend the landau black SEM interior paint. I honestly have had nothing but good results on the paint being outdoors. The vent pieces and the plastics for my rear bumper were painted with such and have held up fantastically.

Sounds like a plan for the black rings. 

[Pete M]

for the shiny bits I would start with just toothpaste and a toothbrush and see what happens.  I wouldn't get more aggressive with the poish until that fails. 

[Rubikahn]

1 hour ago, Pete M said:

for the shiny bits I would start with just toothpaste and a toothbrush and see what happens.  I wouldn't get more aggressive with the poish until that fails. 

Ty, I’ll give that a shot. I tried a toothbrush and some dish soap which got the grime off them. It didn’t touch the corrosion though. 

[Rubikahn]

So here’s the worst cap which I posted pics of in the initial post. I tried Pete’s suggestion to use tooth paste and a tooth brush to clean it up. It definitely works. I might’ve gotten a little too aggressive with the tooth brush when I was cleaning. Areas that weren’t bad to begin with cleaned up nice and did not leave any scratches. Areas that were really bad are almost completely clean but left small scratches most likely because I should’ve scrubbed lighter for a longer period of time. I ran the cap under the faucet. Then rubbed the paste directly on the cap.  Then I used the tooth brush to scrub. I did wash it off multiple times just to get a look at what else needed to be cleaned. Still need some more elbow grease but looking much better than what I started with. 

[Pete M]

scratches can happen as the corrosion breaks free and then gets ground into the surface.   think of this as polishing rather than a cleaning.  gotta use a light touch.  

 

next up would probably be a soft cloth to try and buff the scratches out.  maybe done with a true polishing compound this go around. 

[Eagle]

19 hours ago, acfortier said:

Has anyone tried reviving the chrome with the SOS pad?

No. And I'll almost guarantee that using SOS on the plastic chrome-like (it's NOT chrome) finish will quickly destroy it.

[Rubikahn]

1 hour ago, Pete M said:

scratches can happen as the corrosion breaks free and then gets ground into the surface.   think of this as polishing rather than a cleaning.  gotta use a light touch.  

 

next up would probably be a soft cloth to try and buff the scratches out.  maybe done with a true polishing compound this go around. 
👍

[fiatslug87]

I've used chrome polish and a microfiber cloth with good results. I let the polish sit for a while before rubbing it.