protecting chrome

[alantf]

After the smash I had, a coupla months ago, one of the new parts fitted by the insurers was an engine guard. Due to the high rainfall last winter, I noticed that the chrome was coming off (badly!) on the front of the bars, where the spray hits them (on the old bars).
I'd like to prevent this happening to the new one. Any tips as to what I could coat it with to help prevent the chrome lifting?

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by alantf

Any tips as to what I could coat it with to help prevent the chrome lifting?

That just does NOT happen with a proper plating job. Your old bars were just defective.
Chorme is one of the hardest metals there is; it is used to protect other stuff.
Keeping it well polished/waxed is about all you can do.....but if it isn't stuck to the underlaying metal properly, you're pretty much screwed.

[alantf]

Originally Posted by Easy Rider

That just does NOT happen with a proper plating job. Your old bars were just defective.
Chorme is one of the hardest metals there is; it is used to protect other stuff.
Keeping it well polished/waxed is about all you can do.....but if it isn't stuck to the underlaying metal properly, you're pretty much screwed.

Weeeeell ..........I remember that in England, 40 to 50 years ago, when most cars had a lot of chrome, we had a lot of problems due to the climate. The problem seemed to be that the chrome WAS porous, & this caused the underlying steel to rust. This is exactly the problem I am seeing on the bars, with the same climate (over winter) that we had in England. They never seemed able to cure the problem in those days, so I just wondered if anybody else (perhaps the Canadian climate!) had experienced this, & knew of any product to seal the porosity of the chrome.

[Water Warrior 2]

Originally Posted by alantf

Weeeeell ..........I remember that in England, 40 to 50 years ago, when most cars had a lot of chrome, we had a lot of problems due to the climate. The problem seemed to be that the chrome WAS porous, & this caused the underlying steel to rust. This is exactly the problem I am seeing on the bars, with the same climate (over winter) that we had in England. They never seemed able to cure the problem in those days, so I just wondered if anybody else (perhaps the Canadian climate!) had experienced this, & knew of any product to seal the porosity of the chrome.

There are 3 stages to chroming metal. If the first 2 stages are not done correctly or with proper preparation then the 3rd coat(the chrome coat)will not last for long. All bets are off in a salty air climate or where salt is used on the roads in winter. Road salt is by far the worst and should washed off regularly.