So I got my "slightly used" engine cover for $60 shipped. It has a few scratches, noticeable on more angles than others, but overall looks good. I've attached a few pictures. Tell me what you think. Worth it? I think a brand new one goes for around $130 at the dealer, and $100 or so on ebay.
(http://i56.tinypic.com/330eq1s.jpg)
(http://i54.tinypic.com/mk81vc.jpg)
(http://i54.tinypic.com/23tsbja.jpg)
(http://i54.tinypic.com/o0yxw6.jpg)
Just repaint it :dunno_black:
It would look good as new for a few dollars worth of paint.
Or you could polish it 8)
Quote from: redhenracing2 on November 13, 2010, 04:47:30 PM
Just repaint it :dunno_black:
It would look good as new for a few dollars worth of paint.
Or you could polish it 8)
The left side engine cover is brand new so I don't think I want to repaint it. Would polishing make it look any better?
The one I had to sell you looks 10 times better than that one.
Quote from: Jared on November 13, 2010, 06:09:02 PM
The one I had to sell you looks 10 times better than that one.
I bought this one before you sent me a message offering :laugh: I was in a paypal dispute and wasn't sure if I should let it go back to the sender or just get it. If it was returned I wouldn't have anything and be out of what I paid.
Polished always looks better :thumb:
That cover is made of cheapass pot metal ... you polish it and it will start looking like someone spit on it in a matter of hours. Besides, it will also break you arm to get it smooth enough to start with. Really you only polish high quality aluminum. The cheap sheite has so much random junk in it ... I'd use it as is. Yea I know someone will post a shiny ass pic and make me look stupid, but they prolly chromed it, which is an option, but I'd really not bother.
Cool.
Buddha.
Quote from: The Buddha on November 13, 2010, 08:48:02 PM
That cover is made of cheapass pot metal ... you polish it and it will start looking like someone spit on it in a matter of hours.
Never mind what I said. I didn't even think of what the cover was made of, It's just something I always wanted to do to mine.
Update: Look here for one for $69 and they state they ONLY ship with the post office.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/89-00-SUZUKI-GS500E-GS500-PARTS-ENGINE-CLUTCH-COVER-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2e9d6983dfQQitemZ200209433567QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
If you are patient, another one will show up. I see parts come and go daily. I'd suggest do what you can and if you really want a better one, just chill out for a while, wait, and one will turn up. I even found a brand new black one for about $45! Bought it and was going to put it on Junior until I noticed nearly all damage was just the stator cover so I traded it to someone else and bought Buggha's stator cover. (Painted black and put it on today. Looking good!)
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On Junior, which has black covers, today I filed down a couple minor dings then touched up the black with the correct paint.
All indications are that it is what I thought - an aluminum-magnesium alloy. My definition of pot metal always was a cheap steel alloy with a large grain structure.
Anyway, as for polishing, I think many of us mean to buff the scratches a little. The piece does have a silver paint and clear coat on it. You can buff that area a little to reduce the appearance of the scratches.
If you were to attempt to buff the entire piece, you'd first have to soak in paint remover to clean it off. It is painted silver. You're not looking at bare metal or bare metal with a clear coat. After that, you'd lightly sand the scratches then repaint. By the time you do that, buy a new one.
Just lightly buff the bad area to reduce the scratches. You might clear coat it. That would help fill in the stuff and since it is a silver alloy and the paint is silver, it would look acceptable.
Always weigh your time against the price of getting another one. Also weigh the appearance of that piece against what you have on your bike right now.