cleaning old aluminum cranks?

Those cranks would be billet aluminum. I don't know what solvol is, but Simichrome works great.

I should have said Solvol Autosol (white paste), which actually appears to be a very similar product to Simichrome. Guess I'll give the autosol a try.

thanks alienator

I sometimes use Silvo or Brasso, but I recently got some Maguires All Metal Polish, which is pretty good. The guy at the auto shop said that it's what the Harley guys use on their chrome.

Other than that, you can go the whole hog, Ray Dobbins style, and remove the anodizing (assuming they're anodzed) with oven cleaner, then buff, then polish. I've done with a couple of sets of old Ultegra cranks, and it's a much bigger job that I thought. About Polishing Aluminum Parts that are coated/anodixed won't get the sheen of uber-buffed, uncoated alu

531Aussie said:

I sometimes use Silvo or Brasso, but I recently got some Maguires All Metal Polish, which is pretty good. The guy at the auto shop said that it's what the Harley guys use on their chrome.

Other than that, you can go the whole hog, Ray Dobbins style, and remove the anodizing (assuming they're anodzed) with oven cleaner, then buff, then polish. I've done with a couple of sets of old Ultegra cranks, and it's a much bigger job that I thought. About Polishing Aluminum Parts that are coated/anodixed won't get the sheen of uber-buffed, uncoated alu

That is gorgeous!! I couldn't ride it for fear of scratching it.

kdelong said:

That is gorgeous!!

In that case (and here i go pimping Ray Dobbins again 🙂), check out his other stuff:

Ray Dobbins Bike Photo Gallery

Very nice job Aussie 🙂. My cranks were the same finish as the outer rings (on that pic) from new (as far as i remember), though might well be 'anodised', If i can get them anywhere near that with the autosol, then i'll be happy. Just waiting for a warmer day.

Ha! 🙂 Nah, they're not mine, that picture is form Ray Dobbins' gallery