Front Fork Cleanup
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,377
Likes: 647
From: Santa Clarita
Not a clean up deal, more like a refinish deal! Either polish the aluminum. ..chrome it...or paint/powder coat it. The surface is corroded, and is the result of the factory clear coat wearing off. Can be expensive...chrome or polishing...or not too expensive...rattle can painting it.
I painted mine using standard HVLP automotive techniques. If that interests you, OP, lemme know, I'll provide more details!
I painted mine using standard HVLP automotive techniques. If that interests you, OP, lemme know, I'll provide more details!
Last edited by Veekness; Jul 10, 2017 at 09:39 PM.
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 135
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta, Ga
Not a clean up deal, more like a refinish deal! Either polish the aluminum. ..chrome it...or paint/powder coat it. The surface is corroded, and is the result of the factory clear coat wearing off. Can be expensive...chrome or polishing...or not too expensive...rattle can painting it.
I painted mine using standard HVLP automotive techniques. If that interests you, OP, lemme know, I'll provide more details!
I painted mine using standard HVLP automotive techniques. If that interests you, OP, lemme know, I'll provide more details!
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,805
Likes: 6,932
From: Cincinnati OH.
Wow
Those are pretty rough. There was a thread on this last week I think. Anyhow, they need to be sanded. I did mine with strips of Emory cloth. Like doing a shoeshine buff, or cleaning the end of a copper pipe before sweating on a fitting.
This maintained the directional brushed finish. Requires lots of elbow grease. A couple hours for each leg and they will look good. No dis-assembly required.
Mine weren't as bad as yours, but they were ugly. Very cheap to do.
This maintained the directional brushed finish. Requires lots of elbow grease. A couple hours for each leg and they will look good. No dis-assembly required.
Mine weren't as bad as yours, but they were ugly. Very cheap to do.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,527
Likes: 57,084
From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
Actually it is possible to clean/polish them to a luster that will rival chrome ... Been there, done that. Starting with some stripper to remove what is left of the clear coat, then a whole lot of elbow grease, wet or dry paper in increasing "fineness" and then polishing. You will be pleasantly surprised at how good they will look.
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