Strange pattern on shifter brake levers

[Rezillo]

My three year old Ultegra-sl shifter brake levers have quite rapidly (last few weeks) developed an extensive patttern of what looks like the wanderings of small alloy-eating snails. GordonB informs me that this is some kind of alloy surface corrosion.

The problem is that I can't polish it off - it looks to be beneath the lacquer or whatever finish is applied to the lever. Is there any way of getting rid of this pattern or am I stuck with it?

Thanks

John

 

[Bobtoo]

It looks as if there was some contamination on the bare metal before the paint/lacquer was applied. I think it could only be fixed by stripping back and repainting.

 

[Rezillo]

Thanks - guess I'll have to stick with it as it is.

John

 

[accountantpete]

It's the horrific Ice finish that Shimano came up with.

Looks fantastic when new but something happens under the laquer and you can see the results.

The only thing I know is to get some very fine wire wool and clean the Ice finish away - this will destroy the lettering but leave a plain alloy surface.

 

[YahudaMoon]

Its Pollock ! keep it, Pollock is back in. Do you wear jewellery by any chance, maybe its a jewellery issue ?

 

[buggi]

i quite like it

 

[Rezillo]

i quite like it

Fair enough, but how do I get the other one to match it?

John

 

[zacklaws]

Are you wearing rings on fingers because there seems to be a bit of consistency of scratches in the middle of the lever where you would paddle it and also some of the scratches looks like your hand has moved as you have gone over bumps etc.

 

[jay clock]

a) agreed re rings as a possibility
b) after two years and several thousand (ring free) km my ice grey Ultegra still looks perfect

 

[Rezillo]

Are you wearing rings on fingers because there seems to be a bit of consistency of scratches in the middle of the lever where you would paddle it and also some of the scratches looks like your hand has moved as you have gone over bumps etc.

I've got one large smooth silver band wedding ring but this is usually beneath gloves. The very top of the lever has a side scratch but most of the markings are well away from that.

The middle of the lever looks rough but its just lots of the lines turned in on each other and pushing up the finish. I've just taken a look at the right hand lever (no rings at all) and its there as well although not as wide an area as the photo above. Where the lines are densest, I can scratch off the grey finish in flakes with a fingernail.

Another bike with Ultegra-sl is fine but I've also got it on a Tiagra shifter brake lever, except nowhere near as bad (just four wiggly lines radiating from one point) and the surface finish is still smooth and intact.

Perhaps my workshop is infested with metal-eating mites. Mites that don't like letters!

John

 

[zacklaws]

Now that you have posted a clearer picture, it is mysterious as quite rightly, it does not affect the lettering but goes around them.

 

[Globalti]

It is quite common with alloy that's got a protective lacquer covering. A bit of moisture under the lacquer is all it takes, it then bumbles around under the lacquer leaving white powder or aluminium oxide in a spidery pattern. You can often see it on alloy car wheels. The conditions are clearly perfect for this to happen on your levers but not quite perfect where there is lettering.

The only cure is to remove the lacquer (perhaps with paint stripper but go carefully in case it attacks the metal) then polish, de-grease, dry and apply new lacquer. The problem is that you will never get the same quality of finish with two or three coats from a rattle can as with a factory applied lacquer.

 

[mickle]

I had that all up the legs of my old Mag21 SLs. Unsightful.

 

[Rezillo]

Thanks - given that this has happened this summer, I wonder if salt moisture from my fingerless mitts getting onto my fingers have been the cause. I wasn't wearing gloves last summer and my bare hands were a lot drier exposed to the normal breeze from riding.

It still means that the lacquer must have some entry points, though.

John