View Full Version : Front fork clean up
scottjames
10-01-08, 07:09 PM
heya. i only had my sv a little while not even ridden it yet (couldnt resist buying it - got my test on mon) so while im waiting iv been cleaning it up a bit etc. iv been reading the bad condition fork thread and thought it was worth a go.
i cleaned em up with some wet and dry, bit of autosol an then i lackerd them to night. they not a professonal level but they are clean which is what i was hopeing for.
this is them before.
[img=http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/3412/dsc00528mj7.th.jpg] (http://img89.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00528mj7.jpg)
and after.
[img=http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/8007/dsc00533hf2.th.jpg] (http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/8007/dsc00533hf2.th.jpg])
what do you think? is there any easy way of keeping them in good condition? some peole wrap em?
Wideboy
10-01-08, 07:12 PM
nice! i think i will do mine, mine aren't as bad as what your where so i shouldn't take longer than a few mins
scottjames
10-01-08, 07:14 PM
cheers. they wernt tht bad. the one in the pic was the worst of the two. it only took id say bout 3 hours start to finish but only been doing little bits every night.
Wideboy can you see the second pic its not showing on my comp?
scott
Can't see the second pic for some reason, but it's the laquer which is the weak link. You can get stick-on clear plastic sheets if you fancy trying those.
I just didn't bother with the laquer once I'd polished ours.
Wideboy, stop talking about it and do it................I'll give you 15 mins from NOW!:D
scottjames
10-01-08, 07:19 PM
yea most people said not to bother but i dont want to be polishing em all the time id rather just rub em back gain re lacker when ever needed.
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/9813/dsc00533cg5.th.jpg (http://img80.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00533cg5.jpg)
but seriously they were hard at all. and didnt take much effort, im pleased with them. :D
Ah, but I like polishing, so I'm quite happy.:D
They look much better though, I must say.
chris8886
10-01-08, 07:29 PM
yea most people said not to bother but i dont want to be polishing em all the time id rather just rub em back gain re lacker when ever needed.
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/9813/dsc00533cg5.th.jpg (http://img80.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00533cg5.jpg)
but seriously they were hard at all. and didnt take much effort, im pleased with them. :D
did you drop them out to do it?
Wideboy
10-01-08, 08:35 PM
Wideboy can you see the second pic its not showing on my comp?
scott
yes
Wideboy, stop talking about it and do it................I'll give you 15 mins from NOW!:D
but i've only just seen your post not fair not fair, plus its cold outside :(
did you drop them out to do it?
+1 don't really have the time to take out
but i've only just seen your post not fair not fair, plus its cold outside :(
Wimp:D
Oh, and I didn't drop the forks out on our first SV, did them in situ.
Wideboy
10-01-08, 08:54 PM
Wimp:D
Oh, and I didn't drop the forks out on our first SV, did them in situ.
if.... and IF! ican be ar5ed:D, i will do it on sunday as im pulling the bike apart again and then going to wash it so will probably do it then, but no promises:-({|=
if.... and IF! ican be ar5ed:D, i will do it on sunday as im pulling the bike apart again and then going to wash it so will probably do it then, but no promises:-({|=
Ok................I'll be waiting for the pics then:D
scottjames
10-01-08, 09:29 PM
i didnt drop the forks out. i didnt have anythign to do it with. i just rubbed back all the bits i could get to did it tht way. i know it cold i has a little heater on the whole time. you get warm any way cos of all the effort! :D
scott
Wideboy
10-01-08, 09:43 PM
i didnt drop the forks out. i didnt have anythign to do it with. i just rubbed back all the bits i could get to did it tht way. i know it cold i has a little heater on the whole time. you get warm any way cos of all the effort! :D
scott
no. im lazy and use a dremmel for all my autosoling :D:D
chris8886
10-01-08, 09:58 PM
don't you need to cover everything up to re-laquer it without ruing your paintwork?
scottjames
10-01-08, 10:36 PM
i stuck some news paper over every thing discs, calipers and the bottom of the fairings. painted it like tht. i used just a halfords lacker and its actually quit a nice finish specially in my dusty garage. btw i cheated and didnt get all the way round the fork obi as i couldnt take the wheel out but i got as much i could so unless you take a real good look underneath you couldnt tell i didnt go right round.
next thing i want to do is the gold on the discs but i can seem to find the right paint any one know any thing i could use?
scott
Wideboy
10-01-08, 10:37 PM
don't you need to cover everything up to re-laquer it without ruing your paintwork?
put a bit of cardboard behind where you are spraying works for me, i usually spray outside and then more stuff into the garage to dry, that way the paint in the air drys so if it lands on the paint work it should rub off, well thats my theory anyways :D
scottjames
10-01-08, 10:40 PM
yep work to, i had the little heater on it and it dryed almost instantly.
toonyank
10-01-08, 10:50 PM
yea most people said not to bother but i dont want to be polishing em all the time id rather just rub em back gain re lacker when ever needed.
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/9813/dsc00533cg5.th.jpg (http://img80.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00533cg5.jpg)
but seriously they were hard at all. and didnt take much effort, im pleased with them. :D
Well not Scott that looks fantastic from the pic. I did mine in the summer and liiked pretty much like that BUT now they look like sh!t again.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb270/toonyank/Motorbikes/Suzuki%20SV650S/DSCN2717.jpg
Maybe it was the prep or just the cheap Halfords lacquer it just flaked off which lacquer did you use?
Maybe it's time for the Lissa touch :cool:
scottjames
10-01-08, 10:54 PM
cheers toonyank. i only used a halfords lacker, only one i could get to hand. ive laid it on quite thick, bout 5 or 6 decent coats. i managed to do it with no runs which was a plus. ill see how it holds up i dont mind doing it gain. i was toying with the idea of getting em done properly at some point maybe powdercoat or some thing. want some decent leathers first!! :D
toonyank
10-01-08, 10:59 PM
want some decent leathers first!! :D
+1 :D
You will never get lacquer to stick to polished alloy...it just won't work. It needs a keyed or painted surface to adhere to, anything else and it'll just lift off as soon as it gets the slightest chip in it.
You'll have more success trying to glue two bits of lard together.
scottjames
11-01-08, 03:50 PM
i know, i do a lot of model stuff and ive had that problem before which is why i just cleaned them up. got em smooth slightly keyed then lackered. i wouldnt spray on a shiney surface. its bound to come off stright away. most people wouldnt think tho ive seen it loads of times. :D
John Burt
11-01-08, 04:19 PM
I've sucessfully glued lard together - I used butter, mind you it all smelt a bit funny come summer :)
ranathari
11-01-08, 04:24 PM
i know, i do a lot of model stuff and ive had that problem before which is why i just cleaned them up. got em smooth slightly keyed then lackered. i wouldnt spray on a shiney surface. its bound to come off stright away. most people wouldnt think tho ive seen it loads of times. :D
Excuse my ignorance but how do you get the forks keyed so you can lacquer them?
Maybe it was the prep or just the cheap Halfords lacquer it just flaked off which lacquer did you use?
Maybe it's time for the Lissa touch :cool:
If you lived closer, I'd do them for you:D
GastonJ
11-01-08, 08:39 PM
can I drop my bike round as well, it's not a pointy!! :cheers:
can I drop my bike round as well, it's not a pointy!! :cheers:
Absolutely;)
scottjames
11-01-08, 08:57 PM
Excuse my ignorance but how do you get the forks keyed so you can lacquer them?
you just leave them slightly rough once you've sanded them, basicly leave them in the stage before you'd polish them, then lacker them instead.
:p
you just leave them slightly rough once you've sanded them, basicly leave them in the stage before you'd polish them, then lacker them instead.
:p
Or whilst at that stage use a primer for alloy give them a few coats of satin black and forget about them :)
Graham
plowsie
11-01-08, 09:10 PM
If you lived closer, I'd do them for you:D
you'll wish you'd never said that with me lurking ;)
Or dont you clean Honda's?
you'll wish you'd never said that with me lurking ;)
Or dont you clean Honda's?
Oh GOD!!
It'll take a LOT of triple choc cookies!
plowsie
11-01-08, 09:13 PM
lol dunno if you saw then at the stormey the other week but they are in a worse state than then.
What are the options to get the ****e of first.
lol dunno if you saw then at the stormey the other week but they are in a worse state than then.
What are the options to get the ****e of first.
I used Nitromors to strip the scabby laquer off ours. Painted it on with a brush then used scotchbrite to rub it away.
plowsie
11-01-08, 09:19 PM
Sorry i wasn't clear, the pitting lol, is that still gonna be good idea?
Sorry i wasn't clear, the pitting lol, is that still gonna be good idea?
If your forks are like ours were, the pitting is in the laquer. I'd have to see them really to say for sure.
plowsie
11-01-08, 09:21 PM
Want me to go and get ya some good piccys?
Want me to go and get ya some good piccys?
Yes, some good close-up ones if you can.
plowsie
11-01-08, 09:23 PM
Be back in 5 ;)
plowsie
11-01-08, 09:38 PM
Thing needs a proper clean up i know....
Blimey, they are bad. Can't really tell if there's laquer still there or not, but Nitromors won't damage metal. You could maybe try some just on a small area first, leave for a few mins, then wipe away. If it has removed old laquer you'll notice a difference.
Wideboy
11-01-08, 09:46 PM
Thing needs a proper clean up i know....
good lord!!! :o
plowsie
11-01-08, 09:49 PM
Okie cokie what do i wipe it away with, I thought it was a autosol and scrub jobby....
Okie cokie what do i wipe it away with, I thought it was a autosol and scrub jobby....
I used scotchbrite........inherited a whole roll of it when the metal plating company i worked for closed down;)
It's just the stuff that scouring pads are made from.:rolleyes:
Once any old laquer is off it's easy to autosol.
GastonJ
11-01-08, 09:58 PM
I was thinking of breaking out my Dremmel. I bought the curvy off a mate who was flooded out in June. The bike was also stolen from him, then after that his house and bike were flooded. It's in need of work, but I still have another bike in mind.
plowsie
11-01-08, 09:58 PM
Reckon i'll be able to get some of that Nitromors from Been in the Que(B&Q)? Will give that a go, like you say cant damage metal so will be okay :)
Oh yeah, me disc's seen the state of them, whats best, never seen that before on my SV or anything...
GastonJ
11-01-08, 10:06 PM
My biggest problem is no garage, so I can't take 'em off to do them, otherwise I'd look at cleaning 'em up and getting them sprayed. Perhaps I should build a strong shed with lintels I can hang it from.
Yes, B&Q should sell it. You want the one in the green tin.
Your discs are certainly rusty. You could try scotchbrite pads on those. Scotchbrite is only plastic so it won't harm metal.
My biggest problem is no garage, so I can't take 'em off to do them, otherwise I'd look at cleaning 'em up and getting them sprayed. Perhaps I should build a strong shed with lintels I can hang it from.
You don't need to drop them out, I did our first SV forks in situ. It's just easier to drop them out, that's all.
plowsie
11-01-08, 10:09 PM
Yer but are there any specific compounds to clean them with?
Yer but are there any specific compounds to clean them with?
Not that I'm aware of, but never had rusty discs:)
yorkie_chris
12-01-08, 04:58 PM
To save work you could take the front wheel off, then you'd be able to spin the fork lowers round to work on them
To save work you could take the front wheel off, then you'd be able to spin the fork lowers round to work on them
I should have said, of course, that while we left the forks in we did drop the front wheel out, but I just assumed that would be taken as read. #-o
Must remember not everyone is a mind reader:D
Spudsta71
10-02-08, 11:40 AM
Wow !!!
This site, and you guys never cease to amaze me. Each and every time I have delved into threads on the forum, looking for answers and inspiration, I have found not just pointers, but detailed explanations and even photographs.
Tell you something, the biking community must be the most giving, accepting, helpful group of people anywhere in society today.
Hats off to everyone, and sincere gratitude for helping to solve another dilemma for me. Salt of the earth each and every one of you.
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