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> cleaning the inside of the turn signals and tail lights, how do I get the chrome clean?
914 RZ-1
post Dec 9 2017, 01:24 PM
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Before I do anything that might damage them, how do I clean the chrome on the inside of the front turn signals and also the rear tail lights?

I was going to use dish soap and water, but thought I might ask if there was a better way. They are dirty and there are a few spots where the chrome is bubbling/chipping, but it's not bad.

Can I polish them with anything?
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JFG
post Dec 9 2017, 01:50 PM
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For the front buckets i had to do a lot of work.

1 thoroughly cleaned.
2 medium to fine sanding
3 i used a coarse paste on a small (dremmel) polushing pad.
4 i finished them with a fine paste and a large domed polishing pad on a slow speed drill.

They came up very nice. M

My rears were so worn and previously painted that i had to use a chrome reflective vynil to recover the inside reflector wells.
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Dave_Darling
post Dec 9 2017, 02:56 PM
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I used Brasso. Wasn't great, but it seemed to make what was there a bit shinier. I may wind up putting some of the aluminum flue tape in so the shiny back of it serves as a reflector.

--DD
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Front yard mechanic
post Dec 9 2017, 04:48 PM
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chrome spray paint worked for me I bought a small can years ago and it has lasted many a tail light housing
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GeorgeRud
post Dec 9 2017, 04:52 PM
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Has anyone ever had them rechromed? I imagine that would be the best way to restore them, but $$$.
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76-914
post Dec 10 2017, 09:46 AM
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QUOTE(Front yard mechanic @ Dec 9 2017, 02:48 PM) *

chrome spray paint worked for me I bought a small can years ago and it has lasted many a tail light housing

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) Even a fresh coat of a bright silver paint makes an amazing difference. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
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mgphoto
post Dec 12 2017, 09:52 AM
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I was thinking of chrome powder coating for the front turn signal buckets.
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mepstein
post Dec 12 2017, 09:54 AM
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QUOTE(mgphoto @ Dec 12 2017, 10:52 AM) *

I was thinking of chrome powder coating for the front turn signal buckets.

I would do chrome cerakote
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Costa05
post Dec 12 2017, 11:42 AM
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Bright aluminum colored spray paint looks very good and reflective.
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Specracer
post Dec 12 2017, 05:39 PM
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+1, my chrome was gone in the tail lights. I used the "chrome" rattle can. I sprayed every area (even where some of the chrome still was) so the amount of reflectivity is the same across the entire area of the tail light
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Spoke
post Dec 13 2017, 04:36 PM
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On the Triumph Experience website, a TR6 owner found a good way to cost effectively "re-chrome" the reflectors. In his words:

I used the Avery chrome vinyl film on the exterior light reflectors to enhance the brightness of the bulbs.

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Krieger
post Dec 13 2017, 08:30 PM
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QUOTE(Spoke @ Dec 13 2017, 02:36 PM) *

On the Triumph Experience website, a TR6 owner found a good way to cost effectively "re-chrome" the reflectors. In his words:

I used the Avery chrome vinyl film on the exterior light reflectors to enhance the brightness of the bulbs.

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Wow! The best results I've seen. I did the aluminum reflective had tape and it turned out pretty good.
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914 RZ-1
post Dec 13 2017, 10:13 PM
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Thanks for all the replies! So it appears I can use some sort of chrome tape or paint.

What about cleaning it beforehand? Is dish soap and water okay?
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forrestkhaag
post Dec 17 2017, 11:47 AM
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In my case, I used Harbor Freight Tools chrome "HVAC" duct tape. Front and back buckets / The same product is available at Home Depot etc. and has returned the interior of each fixture to a very bright reflective surface and is Windex-wipe-cleanable, desert heat doable, and down right seeable.

At the time, I replaced the seals with 914 Rubber seals and have never opened them up again in three years of almost daily driving.

Sidebar: As I was driving home at dusk yesterday along PCH a blue 914-4 passed me up on the #3 lane in Newport Beach headed south then up Newport Coast road. By the time he was 500 feet ahead of me, his rear panel was but a squint-inkling of candle power light. That car needs a bucket-job and thy right soon!

Peace to all in the Christmas Season





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mepstein
post Dec 17 2017, 12:28 PM
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Buy some of Spoke’s LED lights. Much brighter than stock and run cooler so they are better for wires and lens
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forrestkhaag
post Dec 18 2017, 11:46 AM
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Good suggestion: Do you have a prefered source and are the LED versions plug-n-play? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
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clapeza
post Dec 18 2017, 12:22 PM
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Spoke's boards are "plug and play" inasmuch as they plug right into the existing bulb sockets, but they are boards of an array of high-intensity LEDs. They far out perform any simple bulb-replacement LED. They take the reflector out of the equation - they fill the entire lens area with LEDs.

They are here: https://www.spokeworksled.com/914-led-solutions

...and he's running a sale right now!

I have them in my 914 and in my 911, and they are brilliant, in every sense of the word.
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mepstein
post Dec 18 2017, 12:57 PM
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QUOTE(clapeza @ Dec 18 2017, 01:22 PM) *

Spoke's boards are "plug and play" inasmuch as they plug right into the existing bulb sockets, but they are boards of an array of high-intensity LEDs. They far out perform any simple bulb-replacement LED. They take the reflector out of the equation - they fill the entire lens area with LEDs.

They are here: https://www.spokeworksled.com/914-led-solutions

...and he's running a sale right now!

I have them in my 914 and in my 911, and they are brilliant, in every sense of the word.

Outstanding product and customer service and you are supporting a vendor that supports 914’s.
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BillC
post Dec 18 2017, 05:24 PM
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QUOTE(mepstein @ Dec 18 2017, 01:57 PM) *

QUOTE(clapeza @ Dec 18 2017, 01:22 PM) *

Spoke's boards are "plug and play" inasmuch as they plug right into the existing bulb sockets, but they are boards of an array of high-intensity LEDs. They far out perform any simple bulb-replacement LED. They take the reflector out of the equation - they fill the entire lens area with LEDs.

They are here: https://www.spokeworksled.com/914-led-solutions

...and he's running a sale right now!

I have them in my 914 and in my 911, and they are brilliant, in every sense of the word.

Outstanding product and customer service and you are supporting a vendor that supports 914’s.

+1 I have a full set of Spoke's lights on my car.
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aharder
post Dec 18 2017, 06:11 PM
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QUOTE(BillC @ Dec 18 2017, 05:24 PM) *

QUOTE(mepstein @ Dec 18 2017, 01:57 PM) *

QUOTE(clapeza @ Dec 18 2017, 01:22 PM) *

Spoke's boards are "plug and play" inasmuch as they plug right into the existing bulb sockets, but they are boards of an array of high-intensity LEDs. They far out perform any simple bulb-replacement LED. They take the reflector out of the equation - they fill the entire lens area with LEDs.

They are here: https://www.spokeworksled.com/914-led-solutions

...and he's running a sale right now!

I have them in my 914 and in my 911, and they are brilliant, in every sense of the word.

Outstanding product and customer service and you are supporting a vendor that supports 914’s.

+1 I have a full set of Spoke's lights on my car.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) I have front and rear and I think they are great !!
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