Minging swingarm - What will get it clean?

[hoodlum]

The swingarm on my SV is looking tatty - it appears to be water stained with a sort of discolouration effect from the top of the swing arm to the bottom, it having had something run down it (rain water?). The discolouration is white. I tried a light polishing on it the other day but it didn't do anything to it at all. It looks quite tatty on an otherwise good looking bike.

What should I use to at least make the arm all one colour? (preferably silver, and I won't mind polishing it....)

Thanks in advance

Hoodlum

[chazzyb]

This has happened to mine too. I'm convinced it was done by something I put on the chain, possibly to clean it, though I really don't know what it was or when it happened. Polishing will be hard work as it's painted - hence the reason for the 'stains' - a solvent has attacked the paint.

[northwind]

I'd been told it's anodised- don't know if that's true or not, it's either anodised or very thin paint though looking at the marks on mine (which are actual damage and not stains at all :oops: )

[hoodlum]

Chazzyb - That's exactly what it looks like has happened; some sort of solvent causing the damage to the arm.

Shouldn't it polish out?

[Cloggsy]

Scotchbright & Autosol :?:

[Tim in Belgium]

Got white swing arm rash too, will give a go at getting it off some time this week, again it lets down the rest of the bike. If anyone has success let me know the magic ingredient.

[kciN]

Scotchbright & Autosol :?:

Will Scotchbright not scratch it?

I remember using it when I worked in a machine shop, to polish bare metal and metal that had been on a surface grinder.
Does the swingarm have a 'coating' (for want of a better word) on it?

[weegaz22]

wd40, or brake cleaner

[CB1ROCKET]

Haven't owned an SV yet, but i'm told the battery fluid can boil over and run down the swingarm casuing corrsion, if the electric is faulty and frying the battery!

[Warren]

this white stain happens to alot of bikes,
not sure what it is though.

[Cloggsy]

Scotchbright & Autosol :?:

Will Scotchbright not scratch it?

I remember using it when I worked in a machine shop, to polish bare metal and metal that had been on a surface grinder.
Does the swingarm have a 'coating' (for want of a better word) on it?

It won't 'scratch it,' but it will 'remove' anything that is on the swingarm (i.e. paint, laquer etc :!:) It should polish up lovely ;)

[Iansv]

A combo of Paraffin and wd40 got mine coming up nice but I have a 2nd swingarm i'm going to get powdercoated eventually

[northwind]

Ooh, tip for you IanSV... Halfords sell a peg spanner for a fiver that very nearly fits on the castellated nut on the swingarm axle, couple of minutes with a grinder'll have it fitting a charm.

[bobit69]

Does anyone know where ( in london) you can take you parts in and get them p coated and walk out the same day? Sorry for sp, am drunk and twisted, must get some sleep soon or riding the bike will b a challenge! (@ 7am)