Cleaning TT Zegas

[Scrotie]

Ok, so after my trip, I am left with cleaning all my gear. Unfortunately, I am having trouble cleaning my TouraTech Zegas. I did a search on this forum and couldn’t find anything. I tried to polish the black marks out with this, but to no avail.



Here are some of the blemishes








Has anyone had similar problems, or any useful tips on how to get rid of them? Btw, those are marks from my dry bags and locks rubbing against the panniers.

Thanks

[Boojum]

Try some sort of Tooth Brush. Nothing very stiff, as not to scatch the alum.
but something other than a cloth and polish. Try a brush and polish, or that Purple Power. My lids did the same thing, and I believe that's what I did. I ended up Painting the Lids with Krylon Hammered Paint. A touch up here and there, and you always look pretty good. My .02 cents.

Boojum!

[JimVonBaden]

Sand them with 200 grit paper and bedliner paint them. Any color you like, and durable as hell, plus the clean right up!

Jim

[DockingPilot]

why clean them ? This bike and it's components are not to be cleaned.....ever. They only thing needing to be clean on a GS is the oil and filters. An RT or a Harley, now that needs to be cleaned.

[Scrotie]

Thanks guys. Well, I like the bare aluminum look, so I’ll try again with a battery of toothbrushes.

DockingPilot – I hear ya, and I normally agree (the pig is still dirty and happy), but these blemishes bug me for some reason…

Thanks again

[dozer]

Try some aluminum Wash and Brightener, comes in a spray bottle for cleaning aluminum wheels, avalibale at most Auto parts stores. One brand is by Eagle One

[impi]

I used Autosol to remove similar marks from my bags (lemme guess, you had something strapped to the top of the lid)



It worked ok. Thicker buildup/marks may require some vigorous rubbing and possibly the use of a scotchbrite spunge (be carefull with this)

I's available online from Eastwood.

Regards

[DockingPilot]

try calling TT and ask them, they just might know a way. Or google something like " cleaning aluminum"
u might get lucky.

[@-Venture]

And please... if you ask TT put their answer here. I've the same problem of my Ortlieb Rackpack rubbin over the lids. I treid Alu polish and some stuff from Innotec. The polish needed a firm hand and it's difficult to get rid of the black spots created by using the polish.

[Scrotie]

Thanks guys. I sent an email to TT and just got an answer. Here it is:

Hello Andy,
We know these black scuff marks really well. Non finished aluminum does that and there is not really a good way to clean them. Touratech advises to clean panniers by rubbing them with desert sand!
Greetings,
Kimmo
Touratech-USA/CycoActive, Inc.




Hmmm, if I empty my tent bag, I should still have some desert sand left. lol

[charleshmosesii]

Originally Posted by JimVonBaden

Sand them with 200 grit paper and bedliner paint them. Any color you like, and durable as hell, plus the clean right up!

Jim

For real?

[G-Force Junkie]

Meduim scotch brite pad. Probaly have to do the whole thing to make the gran match, but it should work finre on raw aluminum. Go with the grain in straight strokes.

[darrell]

Cleaning - I have used a soft cotton hand towel to rub WD40 liquid (I buy a gallon at Fleet Farm for $9.99) over the bags and mine are perfectly clean after 3 years of use. I do it monthly.

Coating - I used underbody clear rocker panel spray from 3M to coat the inside. Most auto parts stores carry this. I first cleaned the inside 2 or 3 times with mineral spirits to remove the surface oil. Nothing has gotten black the past 3 years.

[JimVonBaden]

Originally Posted by charleshmosesii

For real?

Sure, it works just fine.

I did a whole bike that way.



Jim

PS Not the tank or Top Case.

[ojaichris]

Boiling water?