front fork restoration
 

can anyone tell.me how best to restore the dirt/corrosion on the lower end of my forks. currently very unsightly. is there a good technique to restore to original or should I just paint them?

Attachment 26837
cheers

That's some pretty bad pitting.

Hit it with a wire wheel and paint them.

isn't it just! the previous owner didn't clean it for years and then left it stood up for 3 years! cheers for the advice.

looks like your calipers and wheel could use a coat as well...

and wheels, but it's a long journey! first I need to swap the engine then rebuild callipers, then head race, then swing arm bearing ....... you get the picture LOL!

Don't use a wire wheel made of any type of steel that will corrode. The wheel will leave microscopic steel particles embedded in the aluminum, and that can start corrosion. This is a proven phenomenon. FYI, any type of steel wire brushing on aluminum parts is strictly forbidden in the aerospace industry. Use a scotch-brite or brass bristle wheel, or aluminum oxide sand paper.

cheers for that advice. hadn't even considered that!

I have restored many sets of fork legs by completely disassembling them, then degrease, then mask off all openings. I media blast with aluminum oxide, wash, dry, outgas, then powder coat with a finish that matches the original. They look nicer than new and the finish will outlast paint. The best time to do this is when you have to replace leaking fork seals. They're off the bike and already apart, so why not do it right?

Note that badly rusted or corroded parts will have pitting that may show through the new finish, but the parts will still look a LOT better.

Tom

Attachment 26826

Very nice