cleaning lower aluminum forks?

[dman10]

I have the front end on my '83 185s apart and figured I'd do some cleaning/touch up while I'm there.
Anyways, I went to clean the aluminum lower forks, and used a Eagle 1 aluminum cleaner, but it didn't work?:wondering
So, how do I go about cleaning them? making them shine?

[oldskool83]

different grade of steel wool. the works are clear coated from the factory.

[effort=results]

Well u can try using liguid lightning drain opener to clean and eat the aluminum. Use rubber glooves and eye protection. Then i would use steel wool and mothers magnesium and aluminum polish and some elbow grease. I would do this to my rc cars all the time.

[Mr. Clean]

Google or your search engine of choice has lots of information.

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+polish+aluminum&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=np&source=hp

[jb2wheels]

I either glass bead last them or hit them with a wire wheel in the end of my drill or angle grinder.

For me, the glass bead gives them a dull finish and the wire wheel leaves a shinier finish.

[90guy]

Ive had good luck with Marvel Mystery Oil oxidized aluminum parts with a little elbow grease and it seemed to clean it up but no where near new. Just makes it look better.

[emmie357]

As oldskool mentioned, they are clear coated from the factory. Over the years the clear yellows. That clear coat must be removed before the aluminum can be polished up nice.
That's just like removing any other paint.

[El Camexican]

Paint remover will take care of the factory clear-coat in most cases. After that your buffing will yield rewards. If you have some stains sand them with #2000 then polish. You can then leave it as a natural finish and re-polish it every once in a while or shoot it with a clear-coat spray bomb and it will last till it gets scratched off. When it gets scratched enough you can easily wipe it off with lacquer thinner and a rag and re shoot it.