Info needed on RD350

[Riverlander]

HI. i have been restoring a Yamaha RD 350. All pulled to bits now and starting on the wheels. The hubs front and back and the rear brake drum are aluminium. All the info I can find say they are polished finish but mine seem to have a surface finish on them. Anyone know if they may be chrome/anodised or perhaps a clear coat over the polished aluminium. Cheers John

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[supersparky]

John, the one I owned back in the 80's had a polished finish on the hubs and rims. Not a high polished 'see yourself in the reflection' type finish. The same type of finish as the timing case etc.
I used to polish the rims with mag wheel polish, but I do recall doing the hubs.
Unfortunately I don't have any photos.

[Riverlander]

Spent about 3 hours on the front hub today with different grades of sandpaper and got it to a dull shine. Been looking on Google and there are sealers available that are used by the trucks to help keep a shine. Look like I am sort of doing the right thing but it is going to take a lot of time with the sandpaper and polish. Cheers

[supersparky]

John, could you not try a polishing mop. I've done the bull bar on the Winny a few times. Super cheap auto has them, and various grades of polish.

[T1 Terry]

Spent about 3 hours on the front hub today with different grades of sandpaper and got it to a dull shine. Been looking on Google and there are sealers available that are used by the trucks to help keep a shine. Look like I am sort of doing the right thing but it is going to take a lot of time with the sandpaper and polish. Cheers

I bought packs of half sheet wet and dry on Temu, to do my headlights.
https://www.temu.com/au/new-10pcs-extra ... ryg9agtl8b
They would be good for getting past the clear enamel and corroded alloy till you get to the point you can use number 2 cut and polish, then
https://www.temu.com/au/all-metal-polis ... luiphxfrtb
or Autoglym metal polish is what we used back in the Norton and Triumph days to maintain the shine

A coat of 2 pk Ultra clear coat, often used by model builders, but available in larger amounts, will seal the finish and not yellow and crack like the old lacquer enamel clear coats did

T1 Terry