cool show and tell.  I'm getting started on a this kind of project.  Ya its in the restore page.  doing more than metal polish. 

Ill show off the finished metal parts here as well.
 

How many bikes you twisting up?

Glad I found this thread. I've never been much on cleaning and polishing bikes, I just knock the big stuff off to work on them. I found this countershaft cover online, mine had a big crack repaired with JB Weld. I also mistakenly ordered the clutch cover but it was so nice and shiny I kept it, (that's reflection under the "Yamaha". The countershaft cover has been blasted, or something. I went to Harbor Freight and got an aluminum polishing kit and tried all sorts of polishes, balms, and cremes, but  I was only making it worse, I finally got it back about the way it was, with 0000 steel wool. I think I just didn't have the nerve to get after it with sand paper, so should I just get all those grits of sandpaper mentioned above and start sanding?



 

This buffing wheel on an 1800 RPM bench grinder/buffer works well at getting the aluminum case covers and wheel hubs close to what the factory did.

www.tptools.com/4-Ply-8-Buff-and-Blend-W...321.html?sku=8455-87

Most bench grinders run at 3600 rpm. This one will run at both speeds. The slower speed gives better results from my experience.

www.tptools.com/BALDOR-3and4HP-2-Speed-B...,6136.html?b=d*12983

Those looks fantastic! i did my first polish job last fall and i used a cheap kit that works with a drill. I wet sanded with i think 400 grit, then used the polishing compound that came with the kit. Turned out better then what it used to look like but not as good as yours. I bought a buffing wheel that should help but this post really takes the cake!
Also i didnt know the horn was shiny i guess i better get on that lol