The beauty of a motorcycle stands out when it shines. The shine also shows the owner's love for the bike. One such shining part is bolted. Various bolts are indispensable for assembling the bike and fastening parts together, and in a sense, the large number of UNIQLO-plated bolts, nuts, and parts can be said to be conspicuous parts.
Here, we will show you an example of a challenge to re-Uni-Chrome plating of Uni-Chrome plated parts that have lost their shine. You can find re-plating companies by searching the Internet.
Parts with the highest number of uses
Various types of plating are used as surface treatments for many motorcycle parts, but here we will focus on unichrome plating, which is often used for common bolts and nuts. Before plating, rust is always removed from the surface of bolts and parts by acid washing, but if the client himself polishes the surface with wire buffing, the finish will definitely be one or two classes higher. It is impossible to restore the shine to the surface without rusting it out. However, before requesting re-coating, it is advisable to clean the parts of oil and dirt, as well as polish the surface quickly.
Brilliance changes depending on the setup and polish.
Please understand that this report is for the deepest DIY enthusiasts, Sanmecha who likes to DIY. If you simply clean and degrease rusted parts and request work to be done to the rusted parts, you will never achieve such a beautiful shine & or finish. Taking a little time and effort and polishing to some extent makes a big difference in the finish. A wire brush with a shaft is chucked onto a drilling machine, and a bolt is pressed against the spinning brush to polish dirt and rust from the surface. Polishing should be done to the extent that the surface of the metal is exposed. Be sure to wear protective equipment such as safety glasses and gloves when polishing. Attaching a wire buff to a bench-type twin-head grinder will greatly improve work efficiency. The process of UNICHROME plating differs depending on the supplier, but there are also companies that provide black chromate treatment or yellow chromate treatment in addition to white UNIQLORIDE plating. A disassembled spoke nipple polished with a wire buff and treated with yellow chromate is shown on the right. Since small parts are dangerous to be blown off when polishing, it is easier to polish them by setting them on the spokes. Be sure to wear protective gear when working!
Axle shafts are taped and protected
For shafts that directly touch the bearing, such as axle shafts, wrap the shaft part tightly with vinyl tape (three times around) to prevent the plating from getting on the shaft. If the plating gets on the exposed metal surface, the outer diameter will be too large to insert into the bearing.
It's the parts that stand out that get a new UNICHROME shine.
Drive chain adjusters and tension adjustment bolts are surprisingly conspicuous parts, so re-plating can produce beautiful results. In the case of disc rotor tightening bolts, a thread locking agent applied to the threads often remains on the threads, so be sure to remove it when polishing. Wire buffs and rotary brushes are easy to use in such situations.
POINT
Point 1 - Rust removal and polishing with wire buffing after stain removal and cleaning
Point 2 - Masking precision shafts, etc. with vinyl tape
Point 3 - Plating contractors can be found through an Internet search.
It is unfortunate that bolts that tighten and fasten parts together are dirty or have lost their luster due to rust. Unichrome plating is used on a greater number of bolts, nuts, brackets, and other parts than one might imagine.
Unlike chrome plating, which gives a mirror-like reflection, UNICHROME plating is applied to bolts, screws, and brackets to prevent rust, which would otherwise cause rusting if left on the metal surface.
Strictly speaking, colored chromate treatment is used to color zinc-plated items, which are collectively referred to as unichromate plating. In fact, if the zinc-plated surface is left as it is, it is prone to discoloration reactions caused by various factors. In other words, it is inferior in corrosion resistance. Therefore, colored chromate treatment is applied as an additional treatment after zinc plating. The finish with a silvery luster with a slight bluish tinge, which is common on parts of old cars, is generally called a "unichromate (white) finish. Black chromate is used for the shiny black bolts that are common on early 1980s models, and green chromate is used for the olive-colored bolts that are common on Yamaha vehicles. The yellow finish often used on brackets for electrical parts is called yellow chromate.
As with decorative chrome plating, which shines like a mirror, it is possible to restore the shine of unichrome plating through reprocessing. Although there were many suppliers before the 1990s, many have gone out of business in recent years, and the hurdle for re-Uni-chrome plating has been getting higher every year. Nevertheless, with the spread of the Internet, there are some companies that are willing to take on even small volume requests like ours, so we Sun-Mecha who enjoys private restoration will continue to actively pursue our favorite finish in the future.