When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
What I did pack neck bearings, rebuild shocks polish triple trees and shave and polish lower legs. Polishing aluminum hard, keep it flat use wood sanding block. Guy down the road is a master, my stuff looks like...the price is right. Air tools are good but....
Polished my front forks a few days ago. Go tired of the chipped up forks on my 2003 RKC. Started with 300 wet or dry (I went wet) and then to 500, 800, 1000, 1500 and 2000 then polished them up with Mothers Mag & Aluminum. I did not remove the wheel or fender but was very careful. The parts of the fork that you cannot see are not as shiny, but they were rough there anyway. I'm happy with it. I'll have to buff them up now and then, but I'm retired and that's what I do when I'm not golfing or riding.
Thanks. I only do fluid changes or replace batteries or install new chrome on My RKC. the major mechanical stuff I leave to someone who knows what their doing. I was a little concerned when I started sanding, but then thought what the hell, if I does not work out I'll spray them with aluminum colored Plasti-Dip or even buy chrome ones or bring it in to a shop and have a pro do it, but I'm glad that I didn't need to do any of that. I'll waste the money I saved in Sturgis this year.
Okay flhchaz, if your ears are ringing tomorrow it's me cussing you.
Changing out the seals on my forks. Got them apart and laid out to make the swap and noticed that the lowers really look like shyte. So I said what's another day of not riding and went and got the stuff to make em shiny.
Cool! Take ur time. Did you see rizzo's thread? He used a chemical stripper to get the clear coat off. It would save you some sanding. Looking fwd to the pics
Did it years ago. The clear coat wears off the leading side of the fork sliders and the alloy seems to corrode easily. I just sanded the remaining clear coat off. I started with 400 grit, then 600 and 1000. I could have continued on with 2000 grit and metal polish, but I like the stock brushed look, so I stopped there. The sandpaper also removed the corrosion.
After you finish sanding and polishing, stop by the Harley dealer and pick up some Harley Preserves. It's a polymer protectant for aluminum and comes in a moist towelette. You wipe it on the forks and it will keep the corrosion from coming back.
I treated my forks five five years ago with it, and they still look like new.
Went to the Harley dealer near me and asked about the Harley Preserves and they didn't know what I was talking about. Is that stuff a Company product with a part number?
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
