DOC HARLEY: GRIME TO SHINE

Doc Harley from the Service Clinic at Low Country Harley-Davidson to help you with the health of your motorcycle! This week he talks with detailer, Paul, about how to restore the shine to your forks.
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Doc Harley is a motorcycle technician at Low Country Harley-Davidson with over thirty years working on motorcycles. Over the years at the dealership he has worked on Harley-Davidson, Buell, and Triumph motorcycles with a few other brands here and there from trade-ins. There are thousands of how-to videos out on youtube and other websites across the world. Doc’s goal is to help solve problems that people run into when using their service manual, share insights only found as a certified Harley® technician, and some of the tips he’s picked up over the years.
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Looking to meet Doc and the other members of the LCHD team? Visit us at:
Low Country Harley-Davidson
4707 Dorchester Road
Charleston, SC 29405

[@Otis884]

Who knew there was so much work involved but it looks like it was worth it. Thanks Doc and Paul.

[@darknitethunder]

Hey Doc, I've been doing this for so long now (Polishing), that I have run out of the Elbow Grease. So I've turned it over to my Kid he love it, plus that's part of the deal, if he wants to ride Bikes.

[@johnnymcquinn6025]

i did this to 1971 forks, form another brand, and it came out amazing. did the brake hubs too. worked my way to 3000, alum cleans up good.

[@roberthammond6952]

SOS pads are my go to for initial cleaning anything chrome or aluminum. Then wet sand if needed and then good old Mother’s Mag and Aluminum Polish by hand or a machine. And if you don’t feel that you can see well enough to trim your noise hairs in the reflection, Then you use the Ultimate Finisher. Lucas Slick Mist. I’m a 30yr Veteran Professional truck driver with an obsessive cleanliness compulsive disorder for a need to shine👊🏻😎🇺🇸

[@billatchison9898]

I had mine painted to match the bike and clear coated really came out great and they still look awesome after 30 years

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

Right on!….Doc

[@61espo]

Thanks for the great informative videos Doc!

[@GoldtopDude]

Thanks Doc and Paul!

[@MrFrenno]

Another good one Doc just done mine on my sportster

[@charlieryan1736]

Amazing results 👍🏻

[@genegeneish]

Popped of the reflectors, took 4 hours (after i called out sick). The transformation is staggering. Spent the rest of the day struttin my stuff.

[@wolco003]

Josh from Shadetree Surgeon just did this to a wide glide front end he put on his xs650 build.

[@Mytwistedvoices]

Doing neck bearings soon, this is great information!

[@tomlaroche8148]

Paul: Good first video, maybe next time Doc Harley will give you your own video!

[@keystonedaytrip238]

This guy has the best instructional voice , I think he may have narrated a few high-school film strips

[@fredwilley5931]

Yes Sean he did venereal disease on your knees and the drip that wouldn't quit.

[@keystonedaytrip238]

@@fredwilley5931 LoL 😂

[@geraldwest3428]

Excellent video men, thanks big time! Just purchased a bike that needs this. Would this work on the silver powder coated motor case on my sportster? Thanks again!

[@Sicksporty72]

Thanks guys for the tip!!!

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

Our pleasure!

[@SmittybuiltHD]

Thanks for the tip Doc. Do you apply anything to protect the shine? Will it get beat up and dull over time and need the process all over again?

[@shawng7902]

I love what he said and didn't even realize it. If you spend almost all of your day in the garage, you can end up with ONE of these. You will have one that's mirror polished and looks like chrome. Your second one will never be as good since you will cuss every decision you made in life. Why did I pull this damn thing apart. Once I get this polished I still have another one to do. Hells fire, once I get this second done I still gotta put the whole front end back together. It's midnight, I need to get to bed. Just me?? I have polished a lot of bike parts, I don't know if I'm wasting time or saving it. But I go from about 600 all the way to 3500 then 5000 grit trizac paper. You can almost leave it like that. Put compound on your finger and rub it to a chrome shine. May save a lot of the more expensive stuff later on like rag wheels and rouge.

[@dmystify1381]

.......thats Why you pay someone else to do it.

[@alexivack3453]

First! Just make sure to clean and polish regularly and you won’t have to work so hard to clean it later.

[@jeffreyengle2762]

I find that an ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure. Meaning that if you simply clean the bike often these problems are diminished like you said

[@halroy9610]

I'm a fan of White Diamond. I use it on my weld race wheels and my bikes.

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

Thanks for sharing....Doc

[@Jockstrap716]

Can the same process be used on my Crome exhaust pipe’s especially the part coming from the engine?? Thank!

[@bxsouldier]

Paul is as exciting as a blown out birthday candle.

[@dmystify1381]

.............i cant even

[@williamjohnson6517]

You can use WD 40 and you won't get spidering on the fork legs. Ultimately clean your bike as clean as you can possibly get it and you can use chemical guys jet seal / F11 which are sealers. You apply it then shit just wiped off. You can re apply and it builds up a barrier . You practically don't have to ever wash your bike again!!!!!! Just wipe it down. Another type sealer is Maguire's ceramic spray coating. Spray on let sit approx 30/40 mins wipe off. Then next wash wet vehicle spray on wash off because the first coat put a base down in the paint. My forks on my 2014 Streetglide shrine were ok but I put chrome kuryakan lowers on! I've done this kind of polishing and it's frigen messy . Fork lowers for about 140 I think bucks bolt on in half an hour.

[@kelleenmurray1689]

May have to try it on my FXDWG, looks like my forks

[@BusterKitten]

Hey Doc, what are your thoughts of using a buffing wheel and jewelers rouge buffing compound after the sanding to really make it shine and then clear coating the legs?

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

Great suggestions, there are many paths to get to the final product. Would depend on the quality of the clear coat, at times it can lesson the shine.

[@hogwildbowhunter]

My body aches just thinking of that amount of effort to get those results, more Ibuprofen please. Since I ride a touring model how much more effort to just put on the Crome lower kit? Seems like it might be easier to keep up on and looks better. Doc it might just be another video in the making. Unless you been there done that.

[@adrian_thegamer9725]

I like this guy very nolchable and smart

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

Thank you for your kind words.....Doc

[@mattgillette9546]

use water based paint stripper to get original coating off, then wash off with water, then a polish called autosol, or any polish that will cut, to keep it polished any finishing polish will suffice

[@dougfresh1341]

Took sliders and cans to the local Powder Coat master. $125. Done.

[@jamespolucha8790]

I use mothers aluminum wheel polish after sanding and Brillo pads , or you can just powder coat them

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

Thanks for sharing your tech tip.....Doc

[@benlorenzo1966]

I feel like this is taking off the factory clear coat. Is that correct? How do we replace the clear coat afterwards? Wax?

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

Joe you are correct on both counts. Thanks ~ Doc

[@garyzanghi9272]

Use 0000 Steel wool and a lite oil Work's well, maybe not that shiny

[@josephandreuccetti7270]

I clean my bike every time I ride it!

[@Peter-976]

Paul just doesn`t have the "on air presence" that the Doc has.

[@BusterKitten]

he'd rather be working than talking, I'm like that myself.

[@dsquare7723]

Can you do this to mag wheels or are they clear coated?

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

They are clear coated. Thanks ~ Doc

[@dsquare7723]

@@LowCountryHarleyDavidsonThanks Doc, and thanks for the great videos.

[@conard5381]

A lot easier when it is off the bike

[@doug995.]

Yeh spend more time washing and polishing than riding sounds like fun.

[@martincvitkovich724]

it's all part of the scene

[@Deaddriftbum]

Actually need to degrease the surface first. If you just “clean” which means washing it will not remove any of the grease, grime, and traffic film. Then use a strip car wash soap followed by a pH neutral car soap. If you’re going to do it do it try. Also from a professional ANY metal polish on the market will work for half the price

[@richardschaffling9882]

That is nice but can anything be done to the bolts on the engine and trans that the dealer destroyed the finish took my 2022 tri glide to Wrecking Crew Harley for the 1000 mile check up and they used aluminum cleaner on the engine and it destroyed the finish on all the steel and then the service manager lies and says you probably rode behind a salt truck in June

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

We quit using that stuff cause mistakes can happen….Doc

[@richardschaffling9882]

@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson good but you would think dealerships would live up to there mistakes

[@BusterKitten]

do you realize you just talked me out of buying the Harley chrome replacement legs for my Heritage?.......Naw, I'm gonna buy them anyway, they're prettier!

[@mopar21]

Bead blast and plate old one's in off season.

[@gtx332]

Love this channel but honestly I’ve seen a better finish on polished forks. Looks like these were skimped on a bit. The detailer’s enthusiasm might match his work ethic 😂

[@fredwilley5931]

I'm not dismantling my bike to rub some bugs off. WTF? I've got to ride.

[@Blayze1017]

Paul be hi

[@andrewmedeiros1021]

Sounded like Doc was teaching a class to paul paul

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

Ha Ha...Doc

[@mopar21]

Warranty voided, green scratch pad and sandpaper wasn't Harley-Davidson brand. Lol, sorry, had to.

[@joegreer8760]

I detailed for years and there is noway in hell I am going to wet sand aluminum with 800 grit! Talk about over kill!

[@Wooley689]

@Ron PleakeThere is a clear coat on the legs, the 800 used wet cuts it right off quick, then you can move to the finer grits.

[@fyodor_ivanovich]

The energy of the dude on the left...oof

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

:)...Doc

[@fagen2222]

O come on you are taking to us as if we are simple

[@dc-wp8oc]

C'mon Doc Harley....this condition isn't caused by the "...road fighting you." It is caused by HD's cheap finish choice on a major component of the motorcycle. This condition will occur without putting a mile on the odometer. Video should walk through fork disassembly, since that is the starting point for this demonstration. Also they forgot to mention that the end result will not restore forks to "original" look since clear coat finish is being removed. The more things change, the more they remain the same.

[@daltonapache2967]

i cant even believe i watched this video of really bad information

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

We appreciate your endurance while suffering through our video….Doc

[@theone2be33]

Hmmmm.... Buy $20k bike. Then clean it? No thanx

[@elithegreat6463]

If you talk to this detail guy too long, till fall asleep 😴 🙄

[@pfranco3029]

Stop talking about it and show how its done...for fucks sake