Engine finish

[kwallace21]

Hello all. I have a 04 1150 GSA with black engine and gearbox. Came back from a long run today and the black finish on the gearbox has gone a bit light coloured. Have rubbed it with a cloth and the grey ish sheen on it sort of rubs off and it looks blacker underneath. Might be some sort of residue from the soap when I washed it. Does anyone have any tips for keeping it clean and black without having to resort to Back To Black or other such things.
Oh, another thing, the gearbox was quite hot when I stopped. Is this normal or am I a numpty?
All sounds and works well.

ta
Kev

 

[ahutcheon]

Gearbox is made of metal and bolted to engine, which should get kinda hot if ridden properly for a long time. So I'd assume that hot-ish gearbox is normal in normal use. No idea on the black finish, mine's an 03 GS, silver engine/gearbox, and I only clean it when the correct planets align.

Sorry, that doesn't read too helpful. Six years of "keep riding while it sounds OK (for a clattery aircooled twin)" has worked fine for me.

 

[kwallace21]

Mmmm,
yes metal thing that has lots of small metal things going round at great speed inside, bolted to big hot metal thing. Thought as much.
Greyish sheen might be the Hein Gericke bike cleaner stuff thats reacted to the heat.
Will try some of that elbow grease stuff!

k

 

[roddy]

Kev I founf the Scotoil F385 ? (the stuff used as corrosion inhibiter) is good for turning the black on the engine/gearbox back to it's original colour without too much elbox grease

I found if you use a degreaser like Gunk it turns the paint a slight grey

HTH

 

[kwallace21]

got some of that somewhere. Will give it a go.
cheers

 

[JoeC]

Use Mer to wash bike as it helps restore black to black.