Cleaning up the forks

[cubfan1968]

The forks I have on my project bike are scratched and dinged up.Is there a way to polish them up so they pass, or do I need to take more ($$$$) extreme measures.

Rod Whitman
1972 Six Day (Rider)
1972 Six Day (Project)

[Chakka]

Rod,

You can have them bead blasted. That will clean them but not get rid of deep scratches. Another option which I found quite by accident will remove scratches/gouges but will require lots of elbow grease. I dropped  a set of 35mm Ceriani sliders off at my local sandblasters along with 2 frames. I figured he would know enough to not use sand on the sliders...wrong! They came back scratch free but very dull and rough from the sand. I started the long process of wet sanding, 220, 400, 600 and bronze wool...finished with compound on my buffing wheel and clear coated them. They look great now, in hindsight I am happy he made the mistake.
Chris

[farmer58za]

Hi Rod
Depends what you define as "pass". Very often, a ding or a gouge will have an adjacent high spot where the alloy has shifted. Smooth these off with a fine file. Remove the file marks with fine emery paper.

Kitchen scouring powder on an old worn scotchbrite gives a nice satin finish.

Regards
David

Regards

David
'75 KTM GS250
'75 KTM GS400

[OUCWBOY]

Rod,
Are you talking about the fork legs (sliders) or the fork tubes?

Donny Smith

[cubfan1968]

I'm talking the slider tubes here.

Rod Whitman
1972 Six Day (Rider)
1972 Six Day (Project)

[cubfan1968]

Chris I used your method and its working great so far. Going to take alot of elbow grease but I can see results already.

Thanks

Rod Whitman
1972 Six Day (Rider)
1972 Six Day (Project)