how to remove pitting from motorcycle forks

Small imperfections in the chrome can be carefully removed with very fine emery paper and some WD-40, but if the damage is too bad they’ll have to be re-chromed or replaced. Pitting was pretty bad (on 3 sides) and I'm not sure how the repair will hold up, haven't been able to do more than ~200km since. Water with a little salt added works best as the salts and electrolytes in the water can help to speed up the chemical reaction. ABE (AllBikeEngineering) do replacement stanchions. Bust rust fast with any of these four methods. Dip aluminum foil into clean water. 2.8 Remove the external brake operating arm and push the brake shoe cam through from the outside. stainless teel brillo pad with in built soap works a treat and will remove all rust spots on chrome surfaces only. I highly recommend doing this if you have ugly forks and don't want to shell out the cash for chrome. can turn the forks around if you don't want the pitting/rust showing. Unfortunately capitan, there is no remedy to chrome pitting. Fill a bucket with clean water and stir in a cap-full or two of dish-washing soap. This is the reason 90% of fork seals leak in the first place. As in without nasty little scratches everywhere. The metal polish followed up … The fork seals may be leaking because they are old and hard but they may also be leaking due to pitting or grooves worn in the chrome surface of the inner tubes. suprize , … If your rust is really bad you may have to get the part sandblasted and re-chromed. But, don't get carried away worrying about every little possible defect. The eco-friendly and non-toxic cleaner contains both a cleaning agent and efficient polish. I used glass bead blast to clean the pits, soldered up the big holes, filed & sanded, plated over it with copper & used copper plate to fill the small holes, sanded that (1000-2000 grit) then nickle plate over that. There really is no easy or safe way to remove old chrome in your home workshop. The main issue you're gonna encounter with painted fork legs is chipping and eventual erosion on the front side of the legs. This would be using a 1992 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6D with two front 4-piston calipers. Remove the stem and bars, and attach them to the bike’s top tube with an old toe strap. Slide the forks out from the bottom of the triple clamp. 7. In a nutshell, the best formulation for motorcycle engine oils means striking the perfect balance between clutch performance, engine, and transmission protection. Bikes can suffer from pitting, especially in forks. 4. Remove Allen bolt at bottom of fork with impact wrench, it usually will not come loose, if you are trying it by hand unless you stick the special tool down into the top of fork tubes. I don't want to drop $300 on chrome replacements if I don't have to. Clean the tube up real good, then polish it I went from 800 grit gently working the rough area away up to 1500 grit. For this job you’ll … The first step is to remove the forks. Tear small strips of foil to use on rusted chrome areas. When I put the rolling chassis together for the 1984 250WR, I took the tubes out of those forks because of pitting and rust and replaced with a set from a set of 1985 250 XC forks I had gotten off this forum about 3 years ago.I am left with those removed tubes that are not that bad, but that is another I intend to sell this year. Dry Your Motorcycle. looks like corrosion is coming through the clear coat, only way to fix properly is rub back the whole lot with 400 wet and dry (or sandblast) then graduate to 600 then 1200, then use an aluminium buffing compound and a buffing wheel. Set the forks on a clean work area. Motorcycle oil is usually made thinner to lubricate the smaller engine components better and more easily. Hey all. 05-18-2019, 09:19 AM. You also want to be on watch for dings in the fork tubes from rocks. When drying off your … Drop the fork by removing the brake, and the mudguard if … Use a chrome polish (Autosol do one) to bring the surface up to a high shine and protect it from further pitting. Well the forks definitely have a backwards bend to them, and the stanchions have quite a lot of rust. I sent the primary cover, cam cover, and valve covers to a plating … Most of your rust spots are not in the working area of the fork so it's just cosmetic really. Chrome is susceptible to pitting, especially in areas where there has been rust. Remove the front wheel. A coarse sand blast job will make our job harder and could possibly cause pitting in the final finish. 2.9 Remove the oil seal and bearings, if required. Remove Allen bolt at bottom of fork with impact wrench, it usually will not come loose, if you are trying it by hand unless you stick the special tool down into the top of fork tubes. It can remove even the oldest rust very fast. I just acquired this 2003 V on a trade. You could also try wipe on clear coat like I have which works unbeleivably well. Made the forks look shiny and like new. You will need to prop up the front of the bike while you have the bottom forks removed. Hugh's method of fork tube pit repair generally follows these simple steps: 5) Preheat the pit area a bit and then using a simple cigarette lighter torch melt a very small amount of the Cronabraze solder/braze wire into the pitted area. To separate the fork, you will need to remove the bolt that is located inside the outer tube. Then push the pistons back inward and reassemble. It protects moving parts from scratches and scuffs, and is found on some engine parts and the tubes in front forks, for example. These forks had a fair bit, but it was all above where the oil seal slides. In this short video we’ll learn how to remove surface rust. I used the coke and aluminum foil on my 75 RD200's fenders. But...you can sure make 'em look a lot better....pretty decent in most cases. Remove the front brake pipe junction. We offer a ride-in motorcycle set up service to adjust the suspension of your bike to suit you and your riding style. after the rust is removed, there will be pitted areas. there is one option not mentioned here. The Quick Glo Chrome Cleaner & Rust Remover is a versatile and highly effective solution, designed to remove any types of complex stains on metal parts of your motorcycle. getting the rust off. Thanks greatly, William N [last name deleted for privacy by Editor] - Bronx, New York Anyway looked at the slight pitting on the forks and couldn't ignore it. Have some fork oil, spray silicone lube, axle grease and cleaning solvent on hand, too. (Most forks wear in a bent fashion as a result of heavy braking and flexing ) Pre-chrome grind on a centreless grinder, the amount ground off depends on the wall thickness of the tube and severity of the pitting/damage. This will save new for seals from nicks when getting put back together. I would do as the rest of the members recommend. You can remove rust and smooth these areas with an aluminum foil wad. But what worked ok for me was to pull the forks off the bike. EVERY time you go down the road in traffic, sand, gravel, and other flotsam and jetsam from the road surface is kicked up by cars and trucks in front of you. Not sure about the pitted areas, but I generally remove light rust by putting oil on the part and gently rubbing with very fine steel wool, taking care … 2001. Most of it stays within a couple feet of the road surface. Support the steering stem (under bracket) and remove the bottom fitting nut (ring nut). Then applied paint stripper to get rid of the clear coat. Highly recommend. I use a bit of WD40 and a soft toothbrush to clean around the o-ring. One of the simplest, most beginner-friendly ways to remove chrome is via simple mechanical action - i.e., scrubbing with an abrasive. You'll still have the pitting that the rust has come through from but keep looking after the fork with cleaning and wiping down with CRC or similar and you'll have less issue. Place the motorcycle on a stand or lift. Remove the brake calipers and front wheel from the forks. Using a socket wrench, loosen the pinch bolts on the upper and lower triple clamps. Slide the forks out from the bottom of the triple clamp. In order for us to restore the reflector you will need to remove it completely from it's housing, and remove the lens cover (see below). with any solder, the fork has to be hot enough to melt the solder. I'll use 1500 wet/dry soaked with WD40, To remove any surface crap above the Fork Wipers before I disassemble the forks. Chemically stripped parts are okay. Cleaning wheels first will prevent brake dust and dirty water from splashing onto a clean car. To remove the cap, you push it down (against the spring inside the fork), and pick out the retaining ring. Before you say it, I don't want to spend $$$ on new chrome ones. For this bike, removal of the front forks was required, which involves removing the front wheel, fender, brakes, and hand controls. Invert the fork … Remove fork cap Next, you can remove the fork cap. As a motorcycle suspension specialist, Brook Suspension is the #1 pitted forks repair company and as well as offering fork refurbishment if you would rather have us … 6. Front End and Forks. Get free shipping, 4% cashback and 10% off select brands with a Gold Club membership when you get a Cycle Care Formula M Motorcycle Metal Polish (part number 55008) from J&P Cycles. Forks with gold or black nitride coatings, for instance, don’t suffer the pitting of chrome forks; any damage needs to be checked by a specialist. Plating is applied in microns, which is extremely thin as an application. Could you please advise me on how to polish aluminum motorcycle frames and rims and tools needed and what type of sandpaper to use to get chrome-like finish, and stripper to strip lacquer coating. The front lower forks are pitted/oxidized/ugly. 00:16 - Bronze or brass wool works the best. It is bad if the pitting is near the fork seal because when the forks compress the sharp edges on the pits can damage the seals, and can let oil through. Use 400-grit wet sandpaper over the most corroded spots on the aluminum parts by dipping the sandpaper in the bucket and applying circular motions over the metal. After that, keeping a light coat of WD-40 on it would be about all you could do. For me a pitted fork tube is different from a scratched or gouged fork tube, my first course of action would be to remove the fork tubes and chuck them up in my lathe for a little touch of 2000 grit emery paper and some close visual inspection to help discover any problem areas before deciding to use or not use a fork tube. Pitting is the damaging of a metal surface that takes the form of a pit or crater. Used a medium wet or dry pad wet in soapy water the same water I used to remove the paint stripper residue - rubbed in the direction of the polish lines - around the forks. Personally I would replace with new or 2nd hand shocks in better condition, rather than go through the trouble of hard-chroming them. An accepted repair on aircraft struts (similiar to fork tubes) is to repair nicks ect. Most bikes of this age have well pitted stanchions, if they weren’t too bad then putting a gaiter over the top would do, but the bend does force the issue. After washing, use old rags to dry off your motorcycle. It provides speed, easy-to-use, and low maintenance advantages. New Carb. Sprung a left fork leak and noticed severe pitting and rusting along sliding area of the inner forks. As long as you are going to disassemble the forks I would recommend replacing the springs with a set from progressive suspension. Worth every penny. ... what is the next step to remove the corrosion while leaving your chrome in the best condition. I have 36mm forks from a 2D, beecause it is (mostly) a 2D. A motorcycle lift stand makes jobs like this much easier, but you can use a floor jack under the frame. Replace the front brake pads as well. 2.11 Remove the 4 bolts attaching the wheel to the hub and remove the hub. Occasionally I remove the caliper, take out the brake pads, use the brake handle - very carefully - to push the pistons out and inspect the outer surface for any pitting. Some of those pits, like Harold says, cannot be removed as they are too deep. When I take off the rubber caps at the top of the forks, I find an allen bolt. D.J. The other set looks better but has small pits throughout but … Rinse, clean, and repeat the foil stage on any stubborn bits of pitting. Rinse aluminum wheels to remove … The pitting and corrosion seen on these old Sportster parts is typical for a 50 year-old unrestored motorcycle. Conversion coatings convert the top layer of steel to an inert compound that doesn't corrode. it worked to get the rust off but it didnt help the pitting. Loosen the steering stem (upper bracket) pinch bolt. Cb400f front forks.... One set has nice lowers but the tubes definitely peeled a bit of chrome 1 inch above the fork seal to show the nickel.. this has worked effectively in the short term, I haven't seen long term effects on the seals etc as I tend not to see the bikes again. Remove oxidation from aluminum pots by filling them with a mixture of 1 liter of water and 2 tablespoons of cream of tarter and boiling the solution for about 10 minutes before rinsing the pot clean. I know its been posted before - but I had such great results shining up my pitted slider tubes with sandpaper and polish I had to share my results. How Does Pitting Occur? 2. I mark the two output shift forks on the tall shaft next to the output shaft “T” for top and “B” for bottom so I will not get them confused when I reassemble the gear box. Work in the sandpaper until you have smoothed out the deepest pits. 13 years of pitting and buildup under the clearcoat. To do this, put the upper portion of the fork in a soft-jawed vice vertically, and secure it, paying close attention to not damage the plating. My SOP when doing a fork service,or upgrade. A discussion started in 2001 but continuing through 2018. The second type is called decorative or show chrome. do not use any oil. Step by Step. Local time Today, 06:15 Joined Mar 11, 2017 Messages 846 Points 97 Age 71 Location Charlottetown First Name Brooke My Ride 16 thruxton r. 2011 tiger 800 with copper by brush plating. (Most forks wear in a bent fashion as a result of heavy braking and flexing ) Pre-chrome grind on a centreless grinder, the amount ground off depends on the wall thickness of the tube and severity of the pitting/damage. You might want to dab it a little with oil to prevent rust, just don't forget to re-apply at some point. Dismantling your reflectors. Then clear coat again or polish every now and then. Used with the 3M Scothbrite pads as suggested in the video I watched. 4. Frequent cleaning is the only way to keep your wheels safe from pitting and corrosion. Using Vinegar on Stubborn Rust Pour white vinegar into a spray bottle. Wash aluminum exterior siding with a pressure washer set to low pressure. There's a huge allen bolt in the top - use the head of a bolt instead - jam two nuts on the bolt and use it's head to remove … Remove the stem bolt and steering crown. Avoid letting someone else sand blast your parts, we have it down to a fine art and gently remove the paint from your parts. I also put a mark on the top of the shaft so I put it in the same way it comes out. good luck! it worked, but a lot of work. Next is a close-up of the forks. It can't be permanently fixed without replacing the entire fork stanchion which are pretty expensive. Place the motorcycle on a stand or lift. 1. We recommend cleaning the wheels before washing your vehicle. Remove the front wheel, front forks and handlebars. Once the cap is off, you can remove the internal spring and drain oil. VIDEO: Remove Input Shaft and Output Shaft Shift Fork Assembly. As requested by YamahaFan, Ive done the calipers myself, and documented it. Crumple it into a loose ball. I've tried "Mothers" Aluminum Cleaner and a few other cleaners,,,,nothin' !!! Thanks:) White vinegar is best at … The rear shoes and springs are typically sold as a unit and should be replaced. I've used it on motorcycle pipes to remove blue exhaust stains, and it will remove light rust from chromed surfaces like handlebars, and front forks. If necessary shock bodies and cartridge tubes are honed to improve sealing. These appear to be either mag or aluminum. send the part to be media blasted on the pitted areas (not sand blasted! If the forks are pitted, then the pitting will, in time, damage the seals, and they'll leak. Motorcycle Set-Up. 2015 icon, 3500 miles not offroaded. Remove damper rod In order to completely free the bottom from the top of the fork, you will need to remove the damper rod, which holds the pieces together. Remove the top fitting nut (ring nut). Drain and remove all the old oil from the front forks and the engine. Q. I just couldn't get it adjusted due to the bad … I use a die-grinder & Scotchbrite pads to get the the real ugly off, and the remaining clear coat. Fork Seal Replacement. Don’t take them out, just loosen them. Use steel wool, some lubricant and then topcoat with a high quality sealer as they usually last long than a wax. This will work best on chrome and sometimes on bare steel. Usually 0.025" is sufficient to remove all damage. For cleaning the fork, first of all, you should wear gloves. The skill lies in the polishing and there is a fine line between polishing enough metal away to remove the erosion, but not over polishing and causing the part to split, crack or make a hole. remove the rust by whatever means you can. How To. Snow in New Mexico. Correct, these forks have no drain bolts. Depends where the pitting is. If the seals go over the pitted section then it will wreck the seals, resulting in loss of oil (and hence damping). Fixing it means replacing or rechroming (or bodging it with an epoxy glue). Start by carefully knocking off the "pit" that is sticking up, then wiping with the conversion coat and rinsing. So dismantled the forks ready to send lowers for powdercoat and stanchions for centreless grinding etc. Remove the Forks. Usually 0.025" is sufficient to remove all damage. metal polish only at the end. the best I have done is sand down with 1500 wet and dry to remove the rust and sharp edges of the rust pits on mildly pitted forks. Used wet with a splash of dishsoap in the water to help keep the grit floating. Remove all dirt and debris from the surface of the chrome using a soft sponge and clean water. Pull the fork spring clear, being careful not to get oil all over the living room carpet. This process should be covered in a shop … It's called "Sharkhide". Remove the brake calipers and front wheel from the forks. A higher viscosity level would result in increased gear pitting. If its the shiny bits, then the shop i took my forks to were able to cover the pitted bits with some araldite, then using wet & dry, sand it back down to the level of the rest of the forks. wipe on petroleum jelly and leave over night. But you really do need to remove them and drain, you don't know how much is in there, and you need to start from scratch.. Remove the two Allen bolts (2) and axle nut (3), then loosen the … Here's what they looked like starting out. Any thoughts on how to remove pitting and get the shine back. Jack up the front end of the motorcycle. Have only done about 1500 miles since getting bike on the road, so can't comment on the longevity of … The fork caps on these early models are held in place with a steel retaining ring. Tried this out to remove pitting from the forks on my Harley-Davidson. How To: Remove Rust from Chrome Though a chrome finish goes a long way to protect metal against corrosion, cracks can enable rusting. in the morning or some time the next day gently wipe it off with a super fine steel wool pad that is 0000 steel wool. Another option - after you are sure the tubes are straight- visit an electroplater shop. the plater I used was a Rapid brand. Removed the front mud guard / fender - comes out from the opposite side to the stand. Then applied paint stripper to get rid of the clear coat. Used a medium wet or dry pad wet in soapy water the same water I used to remove the paint stripper residue - rubbed in the direction of the polish lines - around the forks. Cheers! Using a socket wrench, loosen the pinch bolts on the upper and lower triple clamps. If the shop has the equipment the repair can sometimes be … You cannot have any pressure on the top of the leg because it prevents cap removal. Remove the dust cover from the fork and clean it using the tissue paper. ... fork stanchions and shock shafts are polished to remove any pitting which could damage seals, and reduce stiction. ... Any original forks will show some wear after 30+ years of use or neglect. 5. Also, these bikes had springs that were too soft. Going through the 3 sets of forks I got to cherry pick the fork rebuild. Pitted Forks - Unit D - Cradock Road Ind Estate - Luton - Bedfordshire - LU4 0JF Tel: 01582 571234 - Fax: 01582 584924 - E-mail: sales@pittedforks.co.uk Pitted Forks - Rusty Forks - Motorbike Fork Rechroming - Motorcycle Fork Restoration - Bike Stanchion Repair - Straightening Remove pitting and rust; Improve the appearance; Restore beam to current UK MOT standards . Tear off another 3-inch (7.6-cm) strip of foil. Anywho, thinking of getting new inner tubes and replace. I then wash the fork sliders with Awsome or 409 type cleaner,Rinsed off with Brake clean. I finally decided to replace the carburator. It's a pleasure for me to provide the bike information. Engine Oil and Fork Oil. ), then … Use a homemade abrasive to remove especially thin or weak chrome. The fork tube repair service we offer is the best in the UK with chroming prices starting from £164.99 per pair. However, crank arms, forks, brake calipers, stems, and handlebars may also be made out of this material. Sadly, we don't undertake the dismantling of units. Don’t forget that the chrome layer is very thin, so using aggressive polishes will eventually wear through it. Was contemplating to sand and smoothen but not convinced. Removing glued lens covers: It will require about 2 hours to repair your motorcycle fork properly. Then clean the dust from the fork using a cloth or tissue paper. 2 All forks are different but most bikes will have a bolt in the bottom yoke, a smaller one in the top yoke and an even smaller one in the handlebar. 3. Well I put some elbow grease into the lower fork legs and they turned out awesome. Note the rust pitting. Purchase the Cycle Care Formula M Motorcycle Metal Polish at J&P Cycles, your source for aftermarket motorcycle parts and accessories, with free everyday tech support. Removed the front mud guard / fender - comes out from the opposite side to the stand. The first type – hard chrome – is used on almost every motorcycle. Congrats on a nice save. long ago I did that with regular solder. For non braking parts like forks or engine cases use a very,very fine emery cloth with oil and then clean and use valve grinding paste then polish, autosol would work or similar metal polish. The forks have that pitted look from the factory. I use these on my bike before every wash to remove any rust spots If you can warm up the metal by placing in the oven on low heat or with a hair dryer, then use the coarse brown paper towels like … To get to the springs (or service the forks in any way) you have to remove the fork caps on the top of the tubes. Motorcycle Repair, Building, and Restoration. the worst pitting is at the top of the forks, which i do plan to just strip back and repaint gloss black later (or get shorter forks as having 4" of staunchion sticking out the top of the triple tree looks ridiculous) and i will be fitting gaiters to the bottoms. Rust on my CL450 motorcycle forks prevented the stanchions from sliding past the lower triple tree rings. Slide the forks out from the bottom of the triple clamp. Set the forks on a clean work area. Prepare the forks by removing the painted or anodized finish from the fork tubes. Spray the fork tubes with an aircraft-grade paint stripper to remove paint. What is Motorcycle Chrome? Wet the ball and gently rub any pitted areas with the foil. Is there a cheap easy fix: i.e., way to clean it off? Remove the rear wheel to get at your motorcycle’s rear drum brake. I live near the coast and my front forks are quiet pitted after just 18 months of riding. That, and keeping water off it with a cover. There are two uses and therefore two types of chrome on motorcycles. Therefore, leave about six inches of the leg body above the vice. 2.10 Deflate the tyre.

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