Cleaning forks

[Ricco1]

My 2006 Suzuki GN 125 is in pretty good condition overall. One area that lets it down is its forks. The coating has broken down in some areas leading to oxidisation. I've tried to remove this with Autosol, but it's made little difference.

I'm now thinking of trying wire wool. If this fails I guess I'll have to resort to painting them.

Any other ideas? and, if wire wool works, is there a clear coating available that would stop them oxidising again?

Cheers

[polecat]

Are you talking about the chrome parts ?

If so then you can use (once rust and pits removed a clear coat spray (as used on metalic paints)

I have pitting on my forks and will polish it out then use a clear coat.

cheaper than new chrome.

I have seen where people have stripped all the chrome and polished the steel then coated in clear acrylic spray.

you will need new seals and dust covers though as the pits kill the seals.

[Stu]

if your talking the chrome that slides inside the forks then you cant polish them with autosol or anything like that

they are chrome plated and you will start to remove it causing more wear eventually

once they are pitted they need polishing out filling then a rechrome

putting a clear coat on is a waste of time too as its not hard enough to withstand the sliding action of the forks and any stones will just chip it in an instant

[polecat]

if your talking the chrome that slides inside the forks then you cant polish them with autosol or anything like that

they are chrome plated and you will start to remove it causing more wear eventually

once they are pitted they need polishing out filling then a rechrome

putting a clear coat on is a waste of time too as its not hard enough to withstand the sliding action of the forks and any stones will just chip it in an instant

The Inner forks?

the bit that goes inside the forks if it is pitted has to be re chromed even if it is just slightly pitted ?

How much would that cost roughtly ?

[Stu]

yup the fork stanchions

not sure on price but you could be talking maybe £120

might be cheaper to look for replacement stanchions

[megawatt]

If Ricco1 is talking about the alloy fork legs, then he should nitromors and wire wool the coating off, rough em up and paint em or polish em with Autosol and wax em!

[Ricco1]

Yes I probably didn't explain that very well. It's the fork legs that I have the problem with, rather than the chrome plated thinner bits that slide inside the legs.

It's strange how they have corroded, powdery white stuff rather than red/brown rust. Maybe they're made from aluminium? I don't know...

[Capitano]

Wot megawatt said, nitromors is your friend, and yes they are an aluminium alloy, hence the white powdery corrosion under the pickled lacquer.

I have stripped off the lacquer on fork legs, polished 'em up a bit with a polishing kit (though you could use autosol) and protected 'em with a wipe over with an ACF50 soaked rag every few months.

Last bike I did that on was my GSX1400. The GSX14s were notorious for lacquer scabbing on the fork legs.

This pic is 18 months including 2 Winters' worth of riding, just protected by the ACF50:-

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s136/gedsquier/DSCF2016.jpg

[Rod York]

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applies to forks also as you see at the end. I did the swing arm, forks & wheels & have done on a few bikes now.