Polishing block and head cover? - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

dondomman · 10-11-2012, 10:39 AM

Hey, so I have an old xcr and all the aluminum on it has been polished to a mirror finish. I blew her up last year and am in the process or rebuilding it. Before I rebuild it id kind of like to polish the outside of the jugs, the cases and head cover. Im not too worried about doing the head cover but I was wondering if there would be any side affects to attempting to polish the block, I know that since its not aluminum it wont come out as nice as the tunnel, but I was wondering if it wouldnt disapate heat as well or if it would weaken the integrity of the block. Thanks for any info, and if anyone has already done it pics would be a bonus.

Thanks,
Don

77zman · 10-11-2012, 10:53 AM

I have polished cat blocks before it isnt going to weaking the block any way. Are you donig this assembled or the block split cuz i did mine all apart. Not an easy job and very little pay off if you dont sand it. My recommendation is to leave it.
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dondomman · 10-11-2012, 11:11 AM

Yes it would be all apart and yes I would be wet sanding, from 100 grit up to 2200, I think I may as well just try a small unnoticible area and see how it looks.

77zman · 10-11-2012, 11:16 AM

Whoa theres no need to go up to 2200 grit u can stop at 1000. It will look like chrome at a 1000. 2200 is just wasting time trust me its not meant to cut metal. And you can save a lot of time by starting at 320 u dont want to put to harsh of scratchs in the aluminum takes more time to sand out

My ZR is faster then your ZR

dondomman · 10-11-2012, 11:20 AM

Holy frig that looks pretty good. Thanks for the info, and i'd only start as low as 100 on the painted areas and as far as I know the block is cast iron, I could be mistaken though.

77zman · 10-11-2012, 11:27 AM

No its aluminum (or i could be wrong but im not usually) and still start with 320 may take a bit longer striping paint but will save u a ton of time on polishing. And maybe look in to chemical strippers wont hurt the metal and will take almost anything off.(save a bit of time)

My ZR is faster then your ZR

Polaris650freak · 10-11-2012, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 77zman

No its aluminum (or i could be wrong but im not usually) and still start with 320 may take a bit longer striping paint but will save u a ton of time on polishing. And made look in to chemical strippers wont hurt the metal and will take almost anything off.(save a bit of time)

My ZR is faster then your ZR

It is aluminum, your correct, not cast iron,

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**RJ Gleason** · 10-11-2012, 04:02 PM

You really want to save some time cleaning?
Use Katsup on there to remove grime and it will leave it fairly shiny too.

86PolarisIndy · 10-15-2012, 08:37 PM

id like to see some pics of this when you are done. i was thinking about this when i took my motor out on my 86 indy

joshkidner · 11-23-2012, 05:01 PM

anyone think it would be bad idea to take motor and components out and powerwash inside of bellypan? and the block? was thinking about spiffy-ing up my sled by doing that, then using more thorough products to clean deeper

RXL · 11-23-2012, 06:58 PM

I was going down this road while putting a new crank and pistons in mine a week or so ago.. I found the casting to be pretty rough after sand blasting and sanding and ended up only polishing the head cover and using high temp engine enamel on the rest.
I suppose it could be done but I also don't think it would be worth the time to clean up the castings well enough to polish.

**BC_Dan** · 11-23-2012, 10:54 PM

That turned out pretty sweet, RXL.

KC, you can use ketchup on the copper bottoms of your pans, too. Does the same thing. Makes the bottoms all nice and shiny. Helps the wife forget you used her collander to sort parts from the parts washer, too

Polaris650freak · 11-24-2012, 10:19 AM

I wet sanded using paint thinner, 500, 1000, 2000 and than some 2500 than polished with a powerball and mothers aluminum polish than cleaned it than i went over it by hand with mothers billet twice. Took me 1 week working on it almost 12 hours everyday. I stripped the sled and also polished suspension.

Polishing block and head cover?-imageuploadedbysm-free1353773915.990454.jpg

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**BC_Dan** · 11-24-2012, 10:55 AM

You're not going to want to put it on the snow! Very nice.

SonofnIrishman · 11-24-2012, 07:34 PM

Polaris650Freak-

AWESOME looking sled you got there. I wouldn't have the patience to do that, nor would I know what to do with a sled that shiny. I don't think I've seen one that shiny at a dealership. Nice.

Polaris650freak · 11-25-2012, 08:39 PM

Ya that was my 600 pro x. I didn't ride it too much. I have my 800 pro x polished like that too but I didn't do the suspension rails as those get nasty right away and haven't found anything that deals them to keep them shiny.

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