I took the bus thru a Blue Beacon truck wash last week and the next day the aluminum siding was chalky looking.
I started buffing it out and decided there had to be an easier way to do this.
I ended up using Mothers Aluminum Wheel Cleaner. I sprayed it on one door at a time, wiped it down good while still wet and then wiped it with a dry rag, turned out great!
Directions say spray it on, hose it off after a few minutes and wipe dry, I could not do it that way because I have a crazy dog that hates water when sprayed from a hose but that's another story.
I used 1 bottle of cleaner and it took a little over an hour to do the whole bus.
This worked for me so I thought I would share.
Wes
UPDATE;
It rained here early this am, I went to fire the bus up for a short drive and the siding is just as chalky as it was before.
Guess there is no easy fix, back to the buffer! :(
Wes
Some say that the big commercial truck washes use acidic cleaners and that's where the chalkiness comes from.
Dave
Truck washes can be acidic, especially if "tank brightener" is used. It does not work well will anodized siding. Buffing with any polishing compound will ruin the thin anodized layer and require you to rebuff continually. A short term fix to make it look good is to wipe on Sheila Shine stainless steel cleaner, but it won't last long if it rains. The search for a good way to improve old Eagle siding continues.
Well I had read on here that you could use brake fluid so I tried that, looked good when I left to go for a ride, looked like crap when I got back.
I am going to wash it real good and try again!
Wes
Found some alum wheel cleaner at a truck stop called Zephyr Pro 40 that has really worked well for me .Don't know if it will do that much for your siding or not .Almost sounds like they steam cleaned it .If that is the case ,that gunk is hard to get off.I have used this on my Alum wheels after that MCGUIRES wheel cleaner messed up my wheels and it did a remarkable job on them .Tried it on my stainless siding and it worked well there also!!
Call the truck wash they have insurance your siding is gone now,that happen to me and I even asked if they used acid the guy said no so I let them do the wash and got all new siding out of a $40 wash.It will start streaking now too fwiw I found out later the truck washes recycle the water and have no idea what is in it.
Here in AZ washes are not allowed to use any type acid or recycled water only soap and water and dummy here thought all washes were the same across the US
Well DAMN! I went to the rally at Palmetto Cove a little while back with a dirty bus, decided to clean it up a bit and now I'm off on another adventure, shoulda' left it dirty! ;D
Wes
My experience with Blue Beacon truck washes (with trucks) is that if you request it, you get special spraying of your fuel tanks with acid cleaner. Of course, if the wash water is all recycled, you can get the diluted acid on your vehicle from all the previous customers. I remember a horror story that was posted years ago about an Eagle that had new siding in the mirror finish, and had been through a truck wash, and then had streaks on the brand new siding. If your siding is original, it might be more difficult to claim that the truck wash did the streaking. If you wash it yourself, avoid using the stronger cleaners like Purple Power; at the right concentration, they will streak as well, in my experience.
Now that you mention it I did see them cover the fuel tanks with plastic on a truck that was ahead of me.
Don't know how much good it will do but I am going to talk to the folks at the truck wash today.
Wes
If it was a Blue Beacon truck wash, remind they have cameras in each bay! If you file a claim, you will talk with a very nice man in the mid west that's job is to deny all claims. Don't back down! In my opinion, they should know to not put acid on an anodized bus!
DON'T BACK DOWN!
Stand your ground they will replace it,a siding job on a Eagle will cost from 10 to 15 grand and B&B in Vegas are the best at doing it
They know what happened, because they have had to pay before. Also file a claim with your insurance co and they will help you with your claim.
Jack
I called Blue Beacon headquaters this morning and the lady I talked with asked me to take it to the Blue Beacon that washed it so they could look at it and take pictures.
I drove over in my truck and talked to the manager and he came to my house and looked at the bus and admitted that they should not have used the brightener on the aluminum.
He wants to send someone to buff it out, I told him I didn't think that would work but he was welcome to try.
He did try to put some of the blame on me saying someone had probably buffed the anodizing off before I got the bus but when I showed him a door that I had replaced the siding on and it looked like the rest of the bus he backed down.
At least he has admitted they screwed up, I'll just have to see how this plays out!
Thanks to all of you for the advice.
Wes
Sonny Gray mentioned this product to me, he had used it on the anodized aluminum siding on his Eagle, Wipe New. I bought two bottles at WM and applied it almost 2 years ago and it worked great! It will hide the hazing and brighten the appearance a great deal. It covered my ghost lettering so good I can't even see it. The water beads up great and dirt and dust has a hard time sticking to it. It leaves a real slick finish. I might redo it later this summer to freshen it up. It's the only product I've been able to find that brings back life to old Eagle siding. Several Eagle friends have used this and are very happy with the result.
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi363.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Foo78%2FDreamscape_Eagle%2FWipe%2520New%2520Kit%2520c_zpsezth2xzs.jpg&hash=53643c4b26e51ff1b557fc57ad44d66001cc62b1) (http://s363.photobucket.com/user/Dreamscape_Eagle/media/Wipe%20New%20Kit%20c_zpsezth2xzs.jpg.html)
That stuff works ok on the satin siding to hide it for awhile, but I tried on the mirror siding it was a waste of time and money.
That is correct Clifford, it will only work on anodized aluminum which I've always said. It will not work on anything polished, it needs something to grab on to.
LOL Wes is probably going to get all new mirror siding out of this deal anyways
Quote from: luvrbus on June 06, 2016, 08:37:56 PM
LOL Wes is probably going to get all new mirror siding out of this deal anyways
That will be like putting lip stick on a pig for sure! ;D
Wes
Quote from: goldgiter on June 07, 2016, 03:03:03 AM
That will be like putting lip stick on a pig for sure! ;D
Wes
Lip stick on a pig is not all bad ;D
Wes,
I used the wipe new with great results especially considering how hazy mine was to begin with. Whatever you do
don't do anything else while you are negotiating a possible claim. That seems to always change everything. When it's all said & done
& if you aren't successful you can always try the wipe new. By the way where is that truck wash? We might as well get a 2 for 1 deal... ::)
If Blue Beacon management was smart, they would post a picture of an Eagle with a red line through it. Their insurance can't be very bright either, if they have paid more than one claim.
Quote from: DoubleEagle on June 07, 2016, 11:33:10 AM
If Blue Beacon management was smart, they would post a picture of an Eagle with a red line through it. Their insurance can't be very bright either, if they have paid more than one claim.
They have paid for a few GM buses siding jobs too and some locations will not wash a bus
Thanks John, it was the Beacon at the TV road exit! ;)
The manager called a few minutes ago and said they were coming Saturday to buff it out.
After the comments from you guys I decided to talk to a metalergist(sp) and I talked to Steve at IBP and they confirmed what has been said here.
Steve also told me the siding alone to redo the bus would cost 5600.00!
I am wondering if they are able to buff it out and make it look good how long it will last before starting to look like crap again. I don't want or need something else that is going to take a lot of time and effort on my part or cost me 100's of dollars a year to maintain!
Wes
Quote from: goldgiter on June 07, 2016, 01:49:01 PM
Thanks John, it was the Beacon at the TV road exit! ;)
The manager called a few minutes ago and said they were coming Saturday to buff it out.
After the comments from you guys I decided to talk to a metalergist(sp) and I talked to Steve at IBP and they confirmed what has been said here.
Steve also told me the siding alone to redo the bus would cost 5600.00!
I am wondering if they are able to buff it out and make it look good how long it will last before starting to look like crap again. I don't want or need something else that is going to take a lot of time and effort on my part or cost me 100's of dollars a year to maintain!
Wes
got any before pictures ? current pictures ? ... any after post buffing after pictures ?
Plus over 6000 rivets to remove and replace,tell them no deal replace the siding the acid has gotten behind the rivets and in a few weeks or months it will start streaking at each rivet head.
BTDT just tell them to replace the siding they have already admitted guilt it took me 6 weeks to get that far along, they will replace it.
Call Gary at B&B and get the price for the total job he is good at replacing it.Steve is good to deal with he sent me several I do mean several extra pieces of siding he had run because some of pieces looked worse than what I was removing
Quote from: luvrbus on June 07, 2016, 03:14:20 PMPlus over 6000 rivets to remove and replace,tell them no deal replace the siding the acid has gotten behind the rivets and in a few weeks or months it will start streaking at each rivet head. ...
Right, and if they're going to buff it enough to get the chemicals and their damage off of it, they're going to wear through your "protective layer" (aluminum alloy - and SS -- corrodes but it does so in a way that the molecules form a layer to protect what's underneath it). They're also going to damage the anodizing. All of this is permanent damage -- the more you damage it, the more you'll have to keep buffing it ... and the more damage you cause. It's damaged; it was solid, safe, good-looking metal when they damaged it so the need to replace it. It's not up to you to take care of their damage.
I have some pretty good before pics, I have some real good now pics and when it gets buffed I will post all at once!
Wes
Quote from: goldgiter on June 07, 2016, 04:51:03 PM
I have some pretty good before pics, I have some real good now pics and when it gets buffed I will post all at once!
Wes
1985 model...i wonder what the tubing looks like... sometimes removing the skin shows time related deterioration or previous damage that sometimes is best left covered ...
keeping my fingers crossed ??? :o ???
Stand firm, buffing with a polishing compound will ruin the anodized finish. It will look good briefly, and then turn dull like virgin aluminum, and the areas around the rivets will not look even. They are looking for the cheap way out. Tell them no; consider referring the matter to a lawyer (or give the impression you are). The cost to make your siding right is not chump change.
Wes,
I've been gone a few days but wanted to catch up this post. Give me a call tomorrow (Saturday) if you can. I've got some helpful info for your consideration
here. Hope you guys have been well...
I decided to contact the Blue Beacon Hqtrs again to make this situation formal and let them know what I expected from them.
After talking to the nice lady at customer service I was contacted by my "buddy" Randy, the manager, He was upset that I had contacted the main office, since we were such good friends, and assured me that my bus would be better than new when he finished.
I explained to him that I was indeed his buddy and wanted to remain so and that I did not want a little thing like money to come between us and destroy our friendship! ;D
They were suppose to come buff it today ( Sat ), I got a call late yesterday and Randy said they would be coming Sunday instead of Saturday and that they were going to polish part of the siding so I can see how good it looks and then wait a few weeks to do the rest to make sure the streaking does not come back and the new finish will hold up!
We shall see.
Wes
Tell him to google Anodizing, then he will know as soon as you try and polish it is gone and the aluminum protection is gone. It may look great for a few days but will not last. Anodizing is done just like silver or gold plating. Anodizing puts a service on the aluminum that will not conduct electric current and also protects the metal.
Jack
They have insurance ,the adjuster started beating on me about the deprecation part that went no where so he paid me and left.
They will buff with a acid compound and coat it with silicone like they do on wheels is that what they wanted to do for mine. Pay close attention to the rivet heads that is where the problems comes from just explain to your friend Randy what you expect if he gets pissed he will get over it if he is a friend
It is a lot of work and a very expensive ordeal to replace the siding, shaving the rivet heads gets old in a hurry
"Randy" is not your buddy. I would not let them touch my bus, hopefully, you will do the same.
Back when I first got my coach ,I started to run it through a truck wash .The guy at the wash said "You are crazy as H--- if you run that bus through this truck wash"!! I did not need to be told twice !!
Randy showed up around 12 with a guy that works for a polishing company@ wheels, fuel tanks, air streams etc.
He used a 7 in grinder with a buffing pad, he applied some type of compound to the edge of the pad and buffed 3 spots that I chose, about 1ft x 1ft.
He wants to wait a few days so I can see how it holds up!
Actually it looks real good so far.
Wes
Any piece of aluminum can be polished to a good shine with the right polishing compounds. You can even polish the aluminum corrugated flooring in the baggage bays, but they are not anodized, and will have to be polished every so often to keep that shine. Once your anodized layer is polished off you are doomed to time consuming polishing on a recurring basis. How long does the polishing of aluminum wheels last?
Quote from: DoubleEagle on June 12, 2016, 07:27:13 PM
Any piece of aluminum can be polished to a good shine with the right polishing compounds. You can even polish the aluminum corrugated flooring in the baggage bays, but they are not anodized, and will have to be polished every so often to keep that shine. Once your anodized layer is polished off you are doomed to time consuming polishing on a recurring basis. How long does the polishing of aluminum wheels last?
how much anodize can be left on a 31 year old coach...?
Quote from: eagle19952 on June 12, 2016, 07:37:29 PM
how much anodize can be left on a 31 year old coach...?
On my 1975 & 1984 there is still enough to remain a satin finish (with imperfections) that will not turn dull like unpolished aluminum would. There are even older GMC's that still look reasonably good.
So the real question is this...is an MCI better than an eagle because it has stainless?
Something about having a "tougher skin" keeps popping into my mind
😉
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Quote from: Scott Bennett on June 12, 2016, 08:41:17 PM
So the real question is this...is an MCI better than an eagle because it has stainless?
Something about having a "tougher skin" keeps popping into my mind
😉
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
You could get Stainless siding on a Eagle but it looks tacky on a nice Eagle
Quote from: DoubleEagle on June 12, 2016, 07:49:30 PM
On my 1975 & 1984 there is still enough to remain a satin finish (with imperfections) that will not turn dull like unpolished aluminum would. There are even older GMC's that still look reasonably good.
i have read some about degradation of architectural anodized ALUMINIUM and 9 years reduces the anodize thicknesses significantly. and these are surfaces that are not subject to road grit aka pitting... pitting being the most degrading factor.
just wondering.
Figured I would update this post those interested.
I washed the siding down with baking soda and water before the guy started buffing it to hopefully neutralize any acid left.
When the guy came to buff it we agreed he would only buff enough to remove the staining from the acid.
It took him a little over 8 hrs to buff all the siding and it turned out real good.
We have had rain several times and the streaking has not returned.
I have also been told of a product called EVERBRITE that is used on the aluminum frame work around windows in commercial buildings, have not tried it yet.
Wes
My wife uses Everbrite on her S/S cooking pans and for her cooper do dads ,I tried it on my wheels it was way to much work for me.Good luck on polish job but me I would not sign off for at least 90 days
That is the agreement I have with them Clifford.
Wes
I've used Never dull and it works well for a limited time, but is easy to reapply. Comes in a chrome like can. Contains wadding. Just take a small piece and wipe over panel.Probably same or similar to what you mentioned. Auto parts stores, Pep Boys, or Walmart have it.