I'm restoring a 2009 Thruxton that looks like it's been in someone's garage for a while. The engine is FILTHY! Most useful video, nearly three years later.
Thank you Stu. This is priceless advice. My brother's 2012 400 mile 'Steve McQueen' T100 lives in my heated conservatory, undercover and thanks to the previous owner having this bike as a 'Living room queen', the engine cooling fins are still in great condition. Your 'Double TT' maintenance recommendation will ensure it remains this way, until next summer when he starts riding this beautiful machine 😎
It took me 45 minutes to clean the fins on a 12 year old Thruxton. If anything, the engine looks too clean for the rest of the bike, but I'll get round to that. Thank you for posting this video, the approach works very well.
Thanks for your walk-through. My Harley Sportster required a bit more cutting, but I finished with 1000 grit. I'm pleased with the end result. Much appreciation.
Hey Stuart, another great video sharing some well needed tips & skills. You are absolutely right - My T120 fins (even after the punishment of commuting through winter) have stood up well due to the Double T / GT85 regime. Hope you feel better soon sir and thanks again.
Now, once again, another great video. Was looking at the fins on the bike as it was being put away for the winter and pondering if using a block of wood and some emery cloth would do the trick to freshen up the look. Well you Sir have confirmed the path. Thanks again.
Hi Stuart, having just yesterday bought an 11 plate T100 ( in black ) enthusiasm has led me to scouring the web for reviews and info, so what a joy to find your videos ! In watchability you're somewhere in between the next series of Killing Eve and the old Peaky Blinders... and this video does address one of my first concerns, how to keep the bike looking fresh. Reading one review of the model warned how polished casings leave the factory unprotected and are prone to damage from salt and grime. Thank you so much for your sensible , no nonsense approach; I'm hooked! One upgrade that might well be made soon is to upgrade the shocks, but other than that everything looks very well put together. she does have the slightly louder peashooters, and a very loud pair came with the package, but those will probably not be fitted. Am currently going thro your back catalogue of videos, and look forward to future releases. Ah, bliss and bless....
Looks good. I've done this on large Harley engine covers and you pretty soon realise that you can sand aluminium like you're sanding wood. It just takes longer. I took the rough-cast, textured finish down to smooth aluminium, then over many hours brought them up to a nice shine (not chrome-like - didn't want that). Unfortunately, the fins on modern Harley cylinders have a factory-cut texture to them so if you try to sand-out any pitting / marks you lose the texture too.
I agree. I’ve done this and it works. I would suggest starting with the finest grade paper(1200). starting with a finer grade paper will allow you take off just enough metal without going to far. I would stop at 400. If the damage is to the cooling fins requires a more aggressive grade paper than 400 it mite be time to replace the head. Good luck
Thanks for this Stu. I've just bought a new T100 and have seen these fins on many bikes (some relatively new) neglected and allowed to go off. I've also seen the worse examples of these where the corrosion has eaten into the upper and lower surfaces causing the coating to flake off. Fortunately Triumph have machined these with a plain finish. On some of the Victory models they finish them with a fairly deep cross hatch finish. These look great but it negates entirely the method you employ. I intend to look after mine and keep on top of it but it's good to know all isn't lost if they get away from me a little bit. Drying properly after washing with an air blower is a good idea followed by a maintenance spray as you suggest. Thanks for the vid 👍
JJJ i think its more likely they have become oxidised at some stage and someone has had a go at sorting them out. They can be re polished not a big job bit can be messy
I’ve recently bought a mag wheel Bonneville that’s very clean, but does have slight oxidation on the cooling fins. I was wondering how to tackle the problem and was going to try using scotch bright pads, but now I’ve seen your method I’ll be going straight to the wet & dry. Thanks for saving me some time 👍
Hi Stuart Very nice job on the fins , never had to do a job like this on a bike .never had polished fins before . My Bonneville t 100 has polished cooling fins ,looks like I will be using gt 85 on them . Get well soon Stuart Regards Paul
living on the coast, the salt air will accelerate this oxidation on aluminum surfaces. I have to clean the cylinder fins on my Harley a couple times a year, after using the fine wet sandpaper paper, I finish it off with an old Tee shirt and some aluminum polish to bring the shine back to the metal
Exceptional video Stuart. Always a pleasure . This is the exact method I used when I rebuilt my BMW (check my Facebook album), but I also found scotchbright pads and water for clean up and touch up after worked well too. Cheers mate.
I have had a look sir, very good. i find it best to use wet or dry on the finer/thin fins as scotchbrite has a slightly spongy texture and can press over the edges on to the painted parts. no such problems on those thicker BMW ribs though i see!
I tried 1000 grit and it worked great. Still left some small scratches even with light pressure but not noticeable unless you’re up close to the engine.
Many thanks for the excellent tips. Do you also have a recommendation for my corroded Motor housing? Since it’s not a flat surface I guess the trick with the wooden block will not work. Use just my hands with the sand paper? I treated my T120 with ACF50 at the beginning of the winter and only rode it a few times. I didn’t clean it up after each ride which was the big mistake I guess. So, after washing it now to get of all the mud I had to notice that ACF50 alone did not do its job very well. Many of the screws are completely corroded, as well as some parts of the brushed aluminum parts of the engine. I tried also a rotating machine with some polishing paste but it only worked to a certain extent. The brushed aluminum surface is polished now instead of brushed :-/ So it tried to slightly use 1200 sand paper even before I saw your video. But I used it in a dry condition and maybe not firm enough. So, the result is not quite satisfying. And there are still many spots of corroded aluminum ....... replacing all of the damaged parts might cost some money..... So, may i ask for your advice? Also regarding the ACF50, should I have retreated my bike after every ride? Or wash it and than retreat it? How do you do it with Double TT? Just once before the winter? Would you recommend it over ACF50? And if yes, do you have a suggestion where to buy it online from Germany? Bavarian salt seems to be the most aggressive stuff in the world :-(
best thingto bring the engine casings back is to use a coarse scotch brite pad and just rub in one direction. takes a bit of prctice but quite easy. doesnt matter that you have polished it up. the scotch brite will some scratch it back up!
Great tipps thank you 👍🏻 i just bought myself a triumph bobber and i would like to keep it in tip top shape so your cleaning tips are on point for me 😁 one question: do you know if wd40 is the same as what you use, the gt85? Keep it coming 👍🏻
Great video, I struggled years ago with my Harley Davidson. Now have a t100. What protective spray would you recommend in a dusty environment please? Cheers
Hi Stuart, I enjoy your videos very much, have a 2002 Bonneville 100 it has about 7,000 miles on it at the moment, I like the bike but the alloy cases on mine are very badly finished they seem to have been polished with a wire brush from new are yours the same, John.
im not familiar with what might be available in India sir. the muc off products MO94 and bike spray are very good, other than that any oil based maintenance will do just re apply weekly or after riding in the rain
Hey Stuart. Thanks for the good advice as always. Question: My EFI fake carbs on the T100 look a bit dull too. What would you recommend for cleaning those? or would you just use GT85 and a scouring pad?
Hi Stuart, Great instructional video and looking forward to cleaning up my cylinder fins with your method. Question: I have T-9 spray on my shelf I use to coat boat electrical wires, is this similar to Double TT? Safe to use on cylinders? Had any experience? It seems like a very similar if not the same as Double TT. Appreciate your experience and thoughts.
Hi Stuart, just bought a year old 2018 Speedmaster, which was previously a Triumph press bike. That being the case, some of the chrome on the wire spokes are showing some slight signs of rust. How would you recommend I go about restoring it? Many thanks!
Hi mark just rub it with a wad of standard aluminium baking foil lubricated with water. It will remove the rust without scratching the chrome. Then give them a coat or two of a non abrasive wax polish, or an oil based maintenance spray, but keep it off your brakes!
Thanks Stuart - You’re the man! As I prepare the Speedmaster for Winter using your invaluable guide, I’ll come back to you with my idea for how you can build your email list :)
Hi Stewart I have Been watching your channel for a while now and learned a lot from you so thank you. I Also brought The T120 in black as you also have and your vids have really helped. Keep up the great work. Just a question, do you have any tips on cleaning microfibre Towel burns off chrome exhausts.? Thank you.
Thanks Stuart - great video. I have a new T100 bought late last year. Rust has already started to appear in the holes in the brake disc which I did not spray with rust protectant for safety reasons. Do you have any tips for getting rid of this and preventing a recurrence or should I just leave it.
The problem with cleaning my fins is that they all have a black coating on them :( and they have a bit of corrosion up close :( do you have any suggestions on how to clean them up, please? Or you could of course come and show me what to do lol. I live in Jersey CI :) I always get upset when I look at my pretty bike and see this! I said pretty because I think it is haha. Although I was told only mental people ride these Stuart! Benelli TNT 11.30cc. Thanks for posting
Hi Maleka, im afraid if the fins are painted, short of having them refinished theres not a lot you can do. and theres nothing wrong with Benelli I have many fond memories of them in my youth!
I have some oil deposits between the fins on my T140. I’ve tried steam and degreasers but never sandpaper. The casting is rough and also somewhat narrow for sandpaper to get in there. Any recommendations?
You painted a piece of rusted metal using a red colored primer and a uv lmap.. Tried to find the video, buit could not remember its name. Can you please point me in th eright direction. Thank you
Probably you are the only person on earth that I’d willingly buy a motorcycle from, and actually paying double the actual value.. love your style 😊
🤔
I'm restoring a 2009 Thruxton that looks like it's been in someone's garage for a while. The engine is FILTHY! Most useful video, nearly three years later.
Thank you Stu. This is priceless advice. My brother's 2012 400 mile 'Steve McQueen' T100 lives in my heated conservatory, undercover and thanks to the previous owner having this bike as a 'Living room queen', the engine cooling fins are still in great condition. Your 'Double TT' maintenance recommendation will ensure it remains this way, until next summer when he starts riding this beautiful machine 😎
Thaks Richard.
It took me 45 minutes to clean the fins on a 12 year old Thruxton. If anything, the engine looks too clean for the rest of the bike, but I'll get round to that. Thank you for posting this video, the approach works very well.
Thanks for your walk-through. My Harley Sportster required a bit more cutting, but I finished with 1000 grit. I'm pleased with the end result. Much appreciation.
Hey Stuart, another great video sharing some well needed tips & skills. You are absolutely right - My T120 fins (even after the punishment of commuting through winter) have stood up well due to the Double T / GT85 regime. Hope you feel better soon sir and thanks again.
nice to hear from you paul, In deed I have seen the evidence myself sir. a little maintenance goes a long way! thanks for watching!
good old fashioned cleaning, can’t beat it !!!! get well soon Stuart
I agree sir, a quick fix is rarely a good fix!
Now, once again, another great video.
Was looking at the fins on the bike as it was being put away for the winter and pondering if using a block of wood and some emery cloth would do the trick to freshen up the look. Well you Sir have confirmed the path. Thanks again.
Hi Stuart, having just yesterday bought an 11 plate T100 ( in black ) enthusiasm has led me to scouring the web for reviews and info, so what a joy to find your videos ! In watchability you're somewhere in between the next series of Killing Eve and the old Peaky Blinders... and this video does address one of my first concerns, how to keep the bike looking fresh. Reading one review of the model warned how polished casings leave the factory unprotected and are prone to damage from salt and grime. Thank you so much for your sensible , no nonsense approach; I'm hooked! One upgrade that might well be made soon is to upgrade the shocks, but other than that everything looks very well put together. she does have the slightly louder peashooters, and a very loud pair came with the package, but those will probably not be fitted. Am currently going thro your back catalogue of videos, and look forward to future releases. Ah, bliss and bless....
Great tip Stuart, I've used Scotch Bright in the passed and even used Brasso and rag.
Hi Paul ive used scotchbrite my self in the past but i prefer the cleaner edges you get with paper!
Looks good. I've done this on large Harley engine covers and you pretty soon realise that you can sand aluminium like you're sanding wood. It just takes longer. I took the rough-cast, textured finish down to smooth aluminium, then over many hours brought them up to a nice shine (not chrome-like - didn't want that). Unfortunately, the fins on modern Harley cylinders have a factory-cut texture to them so if you try to sand-out any pitting / marks you lose the texture too.
Stuart , 99.5 % is an understatement! It's 100 % .
I agree. I’ve done this and it works. I would suggest starting with the finest grade paper(1200). starting with a finer grade paper will allow you take off just enough metal without going to far. I would stop at 400. If the damage is to the cooling fins requires a more aggressive grade paper than 400 it mite be time to replace the head. Good luck
Thanks for this Stu. I've just bought a new T100 and have seen these fins on many bikes (some relatively new) neglected and allowed to go off. I've also seen the worse examples of these where the corrosion has eaten into the upper and lower surfaces causing the coating to flake off. Fortunately Triumph have machined these with a plain finish. On some of the Victory models they finish them with a fairly deep cross hatch finish. These look great but it negates entirely the method you employ. I intend to look after mine and keep on top of it but it's good to know all isn't lost if they get away from me a little bit. Drying properly after washing with an air blower is a good idea followed by a maintenance spray as you suggest. Thanks for the vid 👍
There is something about bread and butter Yorkshire logic that I find mesmerising..!.. top vid, keep them coming....
Its the only logic sir, in fact Vulcan logic is based on Yorkshire values! thank you for watching!
Hi Stuart, Thank you for your reply, my cases are the early supposed to be highly polished one’s, they forgot to polish out the scratches,
JJJ i think its more likely they have become oxidised at some stage and someone has had a go at sorting them out. They can be re polished not a big job bit can be messy
I’ve recently bought a mag wheel Bonneville that’s very clean, but does have slight oxidation on the cooling fins. I was wondering how to tackle the problem and was going to try using scotch bright pads, but now I’ve seen your method I’ll be going straight to the wet & dry.
Thanks for saving me some time 👍
Now I know just how much I dont know about cleaning my bike! Very interesting videos thanks for sharing them.
Wow thanks for the nice tips. Liked & subscribed.
About to sell my 22,000km T100 and go for a brand new T120.
Greetings from Nantes, western France.
Thank you sir! glad your enjoying the channel. enjoy your new bike!
Hi Stuart
Very nice job on the fins , never had to do a job like this on a bike .never had polished fins before .
My Bonneville t 100 has polished cooling fins ,looks like I will be using gt 85 on them .
Get well soon Stuart
Regards Paul
Im a lot better than i was Paul Thank you! yes its best to keep them protected! thanks for watching.
A very nice result! I hope you feel better soon, we've had a rough flu season here too.
Thank you very much sir!
Your quality is always top notch, get well soon.
living on the coast, the salt air will accelerate this oxidation on aluminum surfaces. I have to clean the cylinder fins on my Harley a couple times a year, after using the fine wet sandpaper paper, I finish it off with an old Tee shirt and some aluminum polish to bring the shine back to the metal
Good little vid, got some residual corrosion in my T100 fins so might give this a blast to stop it getting any worse!
I used a sanding sponge. This slightly flexible. Come in many grades. Really easy to clean fins.
The man flu thing thriving over here in Richmond too, Stuart! Good helpful vid as ever🙂
Hi Stewart, Richmond North Yorkshire? Thank you for watching Sir!
stuart fillingham Yes indeed Stuart, the original and best Richmond!
Have enjoyed your camping and touring vlogs of the Dales👌
Thank you sir! i know Richmond well spent many asummer holiday in that area when i was a kid, not been there for a few years now though.
I've been riding bike for over 35 years and I have never known a bike to corrode like a Triumph.
Amazing job! One of the best youtube channels for motorcycle enthusiasts
Exceptional video Stuart. Always a pleasure . This is the exact method I used when I rebuilt my BMW (check my Facebook album), but I also found scotchbright pads and water for clean up and touch up after worked well too. Cheers mate.
I have had a look sir, very good. i find it best to use wet or dry on the finer/thin fins as scotchbrite has a slightly spongy texture and can press over the edges on to the painted parts. no such problems on those thicker BMW ribs though i see!
Hi Stuart, I think you must be right, I will have to flat them down and repolish.
Get well soon Stuart. Thanks for the vid.
your welcome, thank you!
I tried 1000 grit and it worked great. Still left some small scratches even with light pressure but not noticeable unless you’re up close to the engine.
Try a 2000 grit then even 3000 if your going for a polished finish.
Many thanks for the excellent tips.
Do you also have a recommendation for my corroded Motor housing? Since it’s not a flat surface I guess the trick with the wooden block will not work. Use just my hands with the sand paper?
I treated my T120 with ACF50 at the beginning of the winter and only rode it a few times. I didn’t clean it up after each ride which was the big mistake I guess. So, after washing it now to get of all the mud I had to notice that ACF50 alone did not do its job very well. Many of the screws are completely corroded, as well as some parts of the brushed aluminum parts of the engine. I tried also a rotating machine with some polishing paste but it only worked to a certain extent. The brushed aluminum surface is polished now instead of brushed :-/ So it tried to slightly use 1200 sand paper even before I saw your video. But I used it in a dry condition and maybe not firm enough. So, the result is not quite satisfying. And there are still many spots of corroded aluminum ....... replacing all of the damaged parts might cost some money..... So, may i ask for your advice?
Also regarding the ACF50, should I have retreated my bike after every ride? Or wash it and than retreat it? How do you do it with Double TT? Just once before the winter? Would you recommend it over ACF50? And if yes, do you have a suggestion where to buy it online from Germany? Bavarian salt seems to be the most aggressive stuff in the world :-(
best thingto bring the engine casings back is to use a coarse scotch brite pad and just rub in one direction. takes a bit of prctice but quite easy. doesnt matter that you have polished it up. the scotch brite will some scratch it back up!
Tack Stuart för en mycket pedagogisk instruktion! Tycker mycket om ditt sätt att förmedla dina enastående vids. Hoppas på en god fortsättning 2018!!!
Good tip mate hope you feel better soon.
Thanks Martin.
Excellent - sensible advice. My Thunderbird Storm’s gonna get some of this.
Nice work Mr F with some great advice. Thank you and hopefully by now you're over your man flu.
Thank you sir, i am much better now!
Another excellent vid mate... hope you're feeling on top of the world soon.
Thank you mark
Great video! I thought about using some 1200 grit but thought I'd check the ol' youtube first. Great idea and great tips! Thanks for posting.
Great tipps thank you 👍🏻 i just bought myself a triumph bobber and i would like to keep it in tip top shape so your cleaning tips are on point for me 😁 one question: do you know if wd40 is the same as what you use, the gt85?
Keep it coming 👍🏻
Hi Brimar, I dont recommend wd 40 as it contains very little oil. any other oil based maintenance should work fine!
Great video, I struggled years ago with my Harley Davidson. Now have a t100. What protective spray would you recommend in a dusty environment please? Cheers
Excellent tips and just what I was looking for. Thanks Stuart. Look after yourself too.
Thank you Mark!
Hi Stuart, I enjoy your videos very much, have a 2002 Bonneville 100 it has about 7,000 miles on it at the moment, I like the bike but the alloy cases on mine are very badly finished they seem to have been polished with a wire brush from new are yours the same, John.
Yes sir, its called a brushed alloy finish very common with most bike manufacturers, an easy to look after!
Hope you’re feeling better already!
thanks Scott im not too bad now!
Thank You. Been looking for the right way to do this and this video is what I see as the right way to do it. Thanks again
Very nice! Hope you feel better soon.
Thank you Rob
Brilliant! How did you know my fin edges have driven me crazy! I tried scotchbrite but without good results
Its a common problem sir I hope this helps!
Sir excellent video with precise explanation..which maintainanace spray to use instead of double TT spray as it's not available here in India..
im not familiar with what might be available in India sir. the muc off products MO94 and bike spray are very good, other than that any oil based maintenance will do just re apply weekly or after riding in the rain
stuart fillingham sir thanks for the prompt replu. can I apply wd40 spray. .
kumara prasad unfortunately not wd40 doesnt work very well
What about using 3-In-1 general purpose lubricant oil? Both of of your recommendations (Double TT and GT85) are not sold in Chile where I live.
Holy! Looks so much better! Awesome result
Spot on Stuart! Thanks for another informative video!
Your a legend my friend.. il be doing mine tomorrow evening
Hey Stuart. Thanks for the good advice as always. Question: My EFI fake carbs on the T100 look a bit dull too. What would you recommend for cleaning those? or would you just use GT85 and a scouring pad?
Hi Stuart, Great instructional video and looking forward to cleaning up my cylinder fins with your method. Question: I have T-9 spray on my shelf I use to coat boat electrical wires, is this similar to Double TT? Safe to use on cylinders? Had any experience? It seems like a very similar if not the same as Double TT. Appreciate your experience and thoughts.
Great video. How do you get them casings so shiny. I thought mine was shiny until I saw yours 👍
Excellent video once again Stu, thanks mate.
Thank you sir!
Beauty ..
I have scratched my aluminium finish clutch casing.. how can i fix that..
Hi Stuart, just bought a year old 2018 Speedmaster, which was previously a Triumph press bike. That being the case, some of the chrome on the wire spokes are showing some slight signs of rust. How would you recommend I go about restoring it? Many thanks!
Hi mark just rub it with a wad of standard aluminium baking foil lubricated with water. It will remove the rust without scratching the chrome. Then give them a coat or two of a non abrasive wax polish, or an oil based maintenance spray, but keep it off your brakes!
Thanks Stuart - You’re the man! As I prepare the Speedmaster for Winter using your invaluable guide, I’ll come back to you with my idea for how you can build your email list :)
ah yes sorry! I forgot all about that!
Hi Stuart, just emailed you so let me know if you don’t get it.
Great info there Stuart. On a side note what make of boots are you wearing?
They are just ordinary boots from next that ive had for years sir, not bike boots!
nice little tip there Stuart.
thanks!
Hi Stewart
I have Been watching your channel for a while now and learned a lot from you so thank you. I Also brought The T120 in black as you also have and your vids have really helped.
Keep up the great work.
Just a question, do you have any tips on cleaning microfibre Towel burns off chrome exhausts.?
Thank you.
Excellent job & get well soon!
Thank you sir!
A little bit of OCD can be a good thing, but I did say a little bit! Thankfully neither of mine have highlighted fins.
Well said Chris! thanks for watching!
Thanks Stuart - great video. I have a new T100 bought late last year. Rust has already started to appear in the holes in the brake disc which I did not spray with rust protectant for safety reasons. Do you have any tips for getting rid of this and preventing a recurrence or should I just leave it.
I would just live with it! its quite normal.
Many thanks!
The problem with cleaning my fins is that they all have a black coating on them :( and they have a bit of corrosion up close :( do you have any suggestions on how to clean them up, please? Or you could of course come and show me what to do lol. I live in Jersey CI :) I always get upset when I look at my pretty bike and see this! I said pretty because I think it is haha. Although I was told only mental people ride these Stuart! Benelli TNT 11.30cc. Thanks for posting
Hi Maleka, im afraid if the fins are painted, short of having them refinished theres not a lot you can do. and theres nothing wrong with Benelli I have many fond memories of them in my youth!
Great tip, mate. Will give it a go
I have some oil deposits between the fins on my T140. I’ve tried steam and degreasers but never sandpaper. The casting is rough and also somewhat narrow for sandpaper to get in there.
Any recommendations?
Nice tip, thank you. I hope you are feeling better!
Thanks Wayne, yes I'm feeling a lot better thanks, and thanks for watching!
I just acquired a 865 america and the corrosion on the fins has crept onto the black powder coating. Do you have a suggestion as ow to tackle this.
Hi, can you do a video how to remove scratches on the tank. thanks.
Thats my job for tommorow while the rain is here,thanks just the info i needed.
What is double TT?
You cant use a Dremel polishing bit and some white rouge to lightly buff the fin ends clean? Have you tried this?
It will deform the fins
@@stuartfillingham Thankyou, so much to learn :)
Good, informative idea. 🙏
Great work
Hi Sir，the Double TT similar to WD40? In my city, there is no way to buy Double TT.
thanks for sharing this
Your welcome, thanks for watching!
Can you use WD40 in place of Double TT/GT85?
Poloshomg it ? Good advice however thanks
Awsome work.
Great video
What was it again that he said to use as a protestant after he got it all clean up? GT85?
yup!
OMG Yorkshire Man Flu, that's rare!!!
Thanks! Gonna clean up my Harley now! Great video!
You painted a piece of rusted metal using a red colored primer and a uv lmap.. Tried to find the video, buit could not remember its name. Can you please point me in th eright direction. Thank you
I believe that was payday projects part 2 Walt! or maybe part 3!
@@stuartfillingham Thank you. I found it, Payday Project Part 3.
What is the difference between WD40 and DoubleTT?
wd40 is a water dispersant, double TT is a light oil.
👋🇬🇧🇺🇸 thank you.
my 2010 bonny has never been ridden in the rain
Oh Good!
Nice work. 👍