So the PO of my bike painted the stanchions on the forks orange. Is there a way to safely sand/polish the stanchions without grooving it and ruining the seals?

 

He painted the shiney fork tubes?
...and you bought a bike off this guy?!?!?

I wouldnt touch them with anything abrasive at all. Try to use a paint thinner or acetone to clean them up. Dont let those chemicals touch the seals either.

Pretty dumb, but not as dumb as the VW owner who wanted red rotors...

 

Paint thinner or acetone. Awesome.
And yeah...he painted the shiny parts :/ and yes I bought it off him. Price for the year was too good to turn down, and really it just needs some body work.

 

ahahahahahahahaahahahahah both the thought of those forks painted and the vw pic is pure epicness. Seriously though, you should not have bought this bike. You sure it has motor oil instead of crisco in the crankcase?

 

My hamsters don't mind the extra grease.