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how do you polish pewter carbs and wiper motors
  • 54hudson
    Posts: 58Senior Contributor
    has anyone had any experience at this tips tricks sudjestions?

    thanks
  • Dave53-7C
    Posts: 2,523Platinum Member
    Pewter? Do you mean pot metal?
  • hudsonguyhudsonguy
    Posts: 754Platinum Member
    I believe they are more specifically made from Aluminum. When die-cast as new, they would be bright, but certainly not 'polished' or shiny. It's a tricky surface finish to restore. There are some products (Eastwood, for example) that are essentially paints that are supposed to reproduce this color and gloss, although I've never used them.



    I guess I've just used Hydro-Seal carburetor cleaner initially, but carefully. Then finish it up with a small brass bristle brush. They come out looking nice, although certainly not a 'concours' level of detail.
  • Jon BJon B
    Posts: 4,770Moderator
    Many of the carbs were originally plated in a sort of gold or bronze color. If you want to pay the money, you can have your carb rebuilt by Daytona Parts Co. in Florida, and get the original 'look'. They not only replace the seals and gaskets, but they completely disassemble and re-plate the carb, and replace a lot of the small parts that are not normally included in the typical overhaul. Expect to pay about $250 for all this, though!
  • topsgtsarg
    Posts: 20Greasemonkey
    Has anyone tried glass bead polishing?
    Similar to sand blast with no material removal by using a lower pressure.
  • Geoff C., N.Z.Geoff C., N.Z.
    Posts: 2,270Platinum Member
    For cleaning a carburettor or wiper motor of the accumulated years of gunk, try soaking in lacquer thinners, which will dissolve all the residues. Then apply a weak solution of phosphoric acid based rust treatment, and wash thoroughly with hot water. Finish off by polishing with steel wool. however, don't expect these parts to stay shiny for long - the nature of die-cast is to oxidise on contact with air. Good luck,

    Geoff.
    If you're stuck in a hole, stop digging.
  • tombia
    Posts: 305Gold Member
    Accually the are made out of a ZINC based alloy. Geoff has the best solution. !!!OLD GUYS KNOW!!!
  • dwardo99
    Posts: 253Gold Member
    As a motorcycle buff I can tell you that stuff like that polishes up very nicely with a buffing wheel, but as Geoff said, it won't stay polished. There is a clear coating in a spray can that is intended to be put on mag wheels to keep them from corroding -- I haven't tried it long term and it would probably wash off a carb promptly, but might work well on a wiper motor.
  • SuperDaveSuperDave
    Posts: 2,377Platinum Member
    Go to a hobby shop and buy some fuel proof silver spray paint. Model A Ford guys use the black fuel proof on cast iron carbs. A damn sight easier than trying to polish it. Good luck,

    Dave w
  • 54hudson
    Posts: 58Senior Contributor
    thats a darn good idea, i like it
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