Painting fork legs

[rj2para (Bisto)]

Like most old bikes my fork legs have that grey and tired look.

What is the best way to gibe them a lift.

Could I go moto style and clip on some plastic?

Remove them strip them down and spray them?

Are there options to polish them up in situ?

Cheers for your thoughts.

Roger

[stoney]

They polish up quite well with some wire wool and autosol, but you have to keep polishing them (no good laquering them it never stays on)

I had thought of the supermoto style plastic covers I think its just a case of finding some the right size that may prove difficult

In the end I sprayed the ones on my ntv black using pj1 engine paint and a couple of coates of good laquer, had to spend a while removing all the old laquer first though but they now look realy nice and the paintwork seems quite durable

thats my 2 pence worth

[rj2para (Bisto)]

I like the idea of the wire wool as it lets me keep the bike on the road.

Stripping down the forks for a spray would mean taking the bike off the road, which would be hard

Thanks for the advice.

Roger

[blitzman5]

spray them with out stripping just mask of area real well

[rj2para (Bisto)]

Spraying without stripping, now that is a thought.

I used some chrome cleaner the other day and that seemed to clean them a bit.

Autosol sounds like a brand name for Chrome cleaner?

Thanks for the tips. I will take some before and after shots out of interest.

Roger

[McF]

Woger
a half day's work for you -

Take some pics of the front of your bike, then front wheel off ground and remove front caliper, front wheel, mudguard and brace. Remove all 4 of front spindle pinch bolts, secure caliper and speedo cable out of the way.

Carefully prise up the (top) dust seals on the forks

Rub down fork sliders (lower section). Use Nitromorse with wire wool if old laquer plays "had to get". Wet and dry to smooth over any pitting / scratches

Wash off and neutralise with mild soapy water, allow to dry, ensure sliders are degreased, especially where spindle goes.

Mask off the bike and fork stanchions (chromed, upper sections).

Spray with a suitable ALLOY FRIENDLY paint, (I used silver-grey alloy wheel paint for high shine). A couple of coats is good. Refer to Jazeroos tips on building up layers and fine wet and dry between coats. Lots of thin coats is better than a few thick ones.

I would try a suitable laquer over the wheel paint (it goes harder and quicker).

While you are waiting for that to dry and harden a little, turn the mudguard upside down and remove the fork brace, give it a good wire brushing, then a couple of coats of Hammerite (or smoothrite!)

A spot of copperslip on your bolts, reassemble, stand back and admire the view, take pictures and post to your mates!

For best results, pause every step or two, take a cuppa, freshly brewed by your general, and some piccies to record the moment.

[rj2para (Bisto)]

Some Autosol later ;D



Just need to wire wool off the remaining laquering off the back of her legs.

[richieb]

Hi all,

This is one thing on my many things to do to my NTV list. Frost Auto restorers sell some stuff called Diamond Clear plus others. I plan to polish the legs on a bench polisher (sod hard work) then spray them with this stuff and see how that goes. Trouble is I have to build my shed first.

www.frost.co.uk/

Richard.

[rj2para (Bisto)]

I will be interested to see how you get on.

I tried some wire wool and autosol today.

Not a gut busting job just slow. Your shed option does sound like a plan if the rest of her looks fab.

My old girl looks just that old, so my aim is just to make her look better. Not make her look new.

Please post pics of your project though.

Luck
Roger

[McF]

The fork legs on my mighty Pan are painted black, but a large proportion are covered by plastic mudguard
after many years and 65k miles, they were looking pretty tatty.
After having a new front tyre fitted, I had to move the mudguard as the fender extender was rubbing on the tyre.

Once you see the bike, you'll realise this is not an easy job because of all the plumbing (ABS and Combined Braking Systems). Both parts of the mudguard came off, then the fork brace which looked a complete rusty mess.

While I was applying a couple of coats of black smootherite to the brace, I thought - I wonder how effective this would be on the legs?

So two coats quickly brushed on the legs and an overnight dry - it looks great.

The instructions say a specialist undercoat/primer should be applied on aluminium, but this is brush application only and not very smooth. I took a chance on the alloy and it worked.

Perhaps not the best solution for silver naked forks, but take a look at my legs (steady there ;D) on Sunday.

I have to say, if you can stand the elbow grease, or get the legs out on a bench buffer, the shiny alloy finish will be well worth it