Author Topic: Fork lowers original finish?  (Read 1583 times)

Offline Sprocket

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Fork lowers original finish?
« on: October 18, 2018, 10:20:46 AM »
Hi - have got the forks in pieces awaiting sending off to hard rechrome. Looking at the lowers as I don't want to embarrass the rest of the bike when it's reassembled. There are a couple previous finishes (or refinishes!) apparent. The top where the boots fit are machined slightly, can see some faint grooves. Bit further down I can see remnants of clear lacquer and the associated rot creep underneath. And a little bit further still there's bare metal polished to some extent. On the back I can see what I can only refer to as 'casting finish' which is slightly stippled and looks like it's the kind of surface I've seen before on newer Hondas I've owned.

So I know I could polish the lowers, but they're quite marked and I don't really fancy putting weeks of work into that. I know it's not going to end up concours spec, I just want it tidy. I am thinking paint, but don't know what was originally put on. Does anyone have any ideas? Paint codes or reasonable colour matches?

Offline Bryanj

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Re: Fork lowers original finish?
« Reply #1 on: October 18, 2018, 10:34:40 AM »
Not painted originaly to the best of my memory but no reason you cannot paint them silver with the engine enamel

Offline petermigreen

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Re: Fork lowers original finish?
« Reply #2 on: October 18, 2018, 11:19:32 AM »
Always polish mine. It’s not weeks of work usually an evening.


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Offline Rob62

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Re: Fork lowers original finish?
« Reply #3 on: October 18, 2018, 12:56:11 PM »
a good scotchbriting will restore a factory like finish (work horizontally not vertically), then you can clear lacquer although the bare alloy is quite good and doesn't need much attention to keep its looks..

Offline Nurse Julie

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Re: Fork lowers original finish?
« Reply #4 on: October 18, 2018, 01:25:42 PM »
I like a bit of a polished finish as per my picture. You can't lacquer over this though, well you can but the lacquer won't look nice for long. I have also seen them painted in silver engine enamel and they look great too.

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Offline Nurse Julie

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Re: Fork lowers original finish?
« Reply #5 on: October 18, 2018, 02:33:44 PM »
TUT TUT TUT Julie, the gap in the fork clamp is supposed to be at the back not the front, I'd ask Graham to administer some punishment but I think he'd enjoy it too much  :) :) :)
So would I Ken 🤗🤗🤗Duly noted but this bike is in storage so not even tightened up fully but I will attend to it, and check all the others, post haste.
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Offline Nurse Julie

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Re: Fork lowers original finish?
« Reply #6 on: October 18, 2018, 04:08:01 PM »
Of course my comments were tongue in cheek Julie, as I'm sure that's the way you took it. Nice to rib friends isn't it?
Indeed it is Ken, makes for a happy world. BUT, I have been on my bloody hands and knees checking every fitting on the fork bottoms and adjusting where necessary, do you realise how may bikes we have here, its gonna take me days 😀😀😀😁😀
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Offline Bryanj

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Re: Fork lowers original finish?
« Reply #7 on: October 18, 2018, 05:49:11 PM »
Should have read the buletin Julie-----not availablr from Specsavers

Offline Nurse Julie

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Re: Fork lowers original finish?
« Reply #8 on: October 18, 2018, 06:02:39 PM »
Should have read the buletin Julie-----not availablr from Specsavers
Nah, not read anything Bryan. I think Trig assumes I know what I'm doing with these bits. I'm sure he would have enlightened me when they have their 1st service.....which is a way off yet as some still haven't even had the PDI yet what with being newly restored and not on the road and all that. Strange, as I have checked all the bikes we ride and they are OK, he must have rectified my past errors on these ones, without saying a word 😏😏😏
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Offline taysidedragon

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Re: Fork lowers original finish?
« Reply #9 on: October 18, 2018, 08:24:40 PM »
Should have read the buletin Julie-----not availablr from Specsavers
Nah, not read anything Bryan. I think Trig assumes I know what I'm doing with these bits. I'm sure he would have enlightened me when they have their 1st service.....which is a way off yet as some still haven't even had the PDI yet what with being newly restored and not on the road and all that. Strange, as I have checked all the bikes we ride and they are OK, he must have rectified my past errors on these ones, without saying a word 😏😏😏

The chances are 50% were correct anyway! 😁😉
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Offline Sprocket

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Re: Fork lowers original finish?
« Reply #10 on: November 19, 2018, 08:38:11 AM »
Julie, the gap in the fork clamp is supposed to be at the back not the front
So, interesting find number #3856433/23b. The fork end clamp pieces are asymmetrical. There's about a 2mm difference between the shoulders. If the gap is supposed to be on the rearmost stud, does it follow that the shorter shoulder should also be on the rearmost stud?

Offline Nurse Julie

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Re: Fork lowers original finish?
« Reply #11 on: November 19, 2018, 09:46:30 AM »
Fairly sure there is an arrow embossed in the bottom of them which points forward if installed correctly.
No arrows on mine Ken but Graham says some do, some don't.
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Offline Sprocket

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Re: Fork lowers original finish?
« Reply #12 on: November 19, 2018, 09:52:30 AM »
So, any idea which shoulder faces the wind then?

Offline Bryanj

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Re: Fork lowers original finish?
« Reply #13 on: November 19, 2018, 11:34:52 AM »
The clamps have an arrow on them that faces forward and the front stud is done up first

Offline taysidedragon

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Re: Fork lowers original finish?
« Reply #14 on: November 19, 2018, 12:39:56 PM »
The high shoulder is at the front
Gareth

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1965 T100SS

 

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