Modern Vespa

Hi guys

This part on my bike is pretty dull. Are there any household items that would help restore it to its former glory??

WD40, some fine wire wool and a tin of elbow grease.

try rubbing it with some real fine steel wool then seal it with some automotive wax. try just a little of the area first to make sure it will work, good luck.

Just buy a new one.

Bill x

It's not chrome; it's stainless steel. It'll never quite have the luster of good chrome plating, but any good stainless steel polish should get it to its full potential.

This is absolutely the wrong thing to do with stainless steel. It is much softer than chromium and will definitely scratch.

STAY away from steel wool. that stuff will scratch the heck out of it.

semichrome polish or jewlers rouge will do wonders.

Use Flitz Polish. Absolutely the best stuff I have ever used. Polishes steel, chrome, jewelry, and even clears up the fogged headlights on old cars!

Looks like he did, thats a primavera.

originally he said it was chrome plated, if it is stainless do not use steel wool, use a stainless polish or maybe a super fine rubbing compound.

OP, for stainless steel, look up Sotch Brite

That scooter looks gorgeous. I would wait for aftermarket chrome heat shields for the Primavera.

a good rub down with a nice 800grit paper and a coat of satin black rattle can ........ better than new

I have to agree with Bitza

First try Mothers Chrome Polish and if that does not work you can always re-chrome the piece or buy a new replacement part if you can not live with the part not looking new. I would not use anything that would scratch the chrome plating. I have a 1967 Triumph TR4 A IRS and I either re-chromed many parts or bought a new piece through a vintage British car supplier. It depends on the price and sometimes the metal quality on an older piece is better than new reproductions so re-chroming was a better option. The photo you are showing does not look like an expense part to replace new.

Nevr-Dull

I got a new one for $30 over here. Now i can play around with the spare. Haven't a clue what they go for over there. Good luck.

Please read the thread. The part in question is NOT chrome-plated.

I have seen many sites describe the part as the chrome plated exhaust shield. I will call a few dealers tomorrow to get their opinion on what the finish is of this part.

Here is one dealer advertising the part as Chrome heat shield. I will call my local dealer tomorrow to do more research to find out the finish of the part. I personally believe it to be chrome and not stainless steel.

Induction System Aspirated
Exhaust Description Black; Chrome heat shield
Engine Description 150
Cooling Forced Air
Maximum Power 9.5 kW
Maximum Power RPM 7,750
Carburettor EFI - Electronic Fuel Injection (Port Injection)
Engine Config Forward-Inclined
Exhaust Config 1 Into 1
Engine Capacity 151 cc
Maximum Torque 12.8 Nm
Maximum Torque RPM 6,250
Engine Type Piston
Engine Stroke 4
Bore 58 mm
Maximum Speed 100 km/h
Stroke 58.6 mm
Cam Type SOHC
Cylinders 1
Valves Per Cylinder 3
Lubrication Wet Sump

[quote="Bart4u" I personally believe it to be chrome and not stainless steel.
[/quote]use a magnet

A magnet is not always a true test. Stainless steel is an alloy that has different ratings. For example there is a big difference between 300 and 400 stainless steel one will stick to a magnet and the other will not. If you notice stainless steel kitchenware will stick to a magnet holding rack but the same magnet rack will not stick to a stainless steel kitchen sink. Stainless steel can also be chrome plated if the desire is to have a more shinny surface. I will do some more research to see if the part is chrome. The cost to re-chrome a part like that is about $50.00-70.00 so it might be cheaper to buy a new part.

It's polished stainless steel, likely passivated as well. Which alloy -- who knows?

Don't waste your time trying to prove yourself right.

If you are so sure of yourself, though, why don't you take some steel wool to your own heat shield and see if it scratches?

There seems to be a lot of confusion of what this part is made of. The manufacture calls the exhaust "Black, Chrome". Scooterwest originally told me it was chrome. Now they say it is stainless steel but they have always called the part a chrome exhaust shield. Sometimes you can polish out small scratches if the part is tripled chrome and not deep without discoloration as opposed to single chrome but I could be wrong about this part. The question is why does the manufacture specs call it chrome? Who knows.

Those are stainless. They've always been referred to as chrome by everyone, but the actual material is stainless.