Fork lowers cleanup...

TeeCat · Posted: August 28, 2009, 9:23 am Post subject: Fork lowers cleanup...

Hi, guys -

We're supposed to have a questionable weather weekend, so I was thinking of maybe finally getting to cleaning up my fork lowers. I'm after a fairly uniform matte finish... not a chrome-like polish. I'm going to have to do this with them on the bike, and I suppose I can get the old yellowed lacquer off with some fine paper and water. But has anyone ever tried any of the foam ball type drill attachments? And do you have any compounds recommendations? not after concourse... just clean and neat.

Also, am I correct in assuming that tach cables are no more difficult to replace that other cables? I think it's the only cable on my bike that's original; works fine... just yellowed. Thinking of freshening it.

TC

TeeCat · Posted: August 30, 2009, 6:08 pm Post subject: Re: Fork lowers cleanup...

I went ahead and did the fork lowers on Saturday. They were on the bike, but I used lacquer thinner to get the old yellowed lacquer off - someone seems to have done left one already - and used a Mothers drill attachment and metal polish to bring them to a nice matte sheen. They look nice and clean now. I'll just have to keep after them a bit.

Hope to have my new tach cable by Tuesday... I'll have all new cables now.

TC

pumps · Posted: August 30, 2009, 7:16 pm Post subject: Re: Fork lowers cleanup...

Do you suppose the thinner might work on removing the clearcoat on the wheels too? I tried a teeny bit on my front and it didn't seem to do anything. My lowers and top tree came out good from the polisher though.

TeeCat · Posted: August 31, 2009, 6:51 am Post subject: Re: Fork lowers cleanup...

pumps, it will, but it takes a bit of time. If you try putting it on and it gets a little tacky, it will work. But you'll likely have to buff some off, too, with compound.

But, a bit of patience and time with the drill attachment, and mine came off.

TC

pumps · Posted: August 31, 2009, 12:26 pm Post subject: Re: Fork lowers cleanup...

I've been removing it with steel wool oh so slowly. I think I'll finally get the front done shortly. It'll make the rear look like hell though until I do it.

5twins · Full Member Joined: Aug 05, 2006 Posts: 1616

pumps · Posted: August 31, 2009, 8:10 pm Post subject: Re: Fork lowers cleanup...

Let me know how it works getting the spots out of the rain gutters. Mine have a few spots.

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