Front fork restoration during winter

[alexdecker]

Hey all

Was a little late to the driving game this year because of the engine restoration. I have spent the last few months driving around, but the bike is now parked again for the winter. I wanted to use this time to cosmetically restore the front of the bike, meaning front forks, brakes, tacho and speedometer etc. I have started research for this, but also wanted to hear if some of you guys had any tips or advice, things to be aware of when restoring the front of a CB550F2 or anything else? Anything is appreciated!

- Alex

[Laverda Dave]

Peter Horton (Kent400) on here is THE man to go to for speedo and rev counter restoration. His work is fantastic but he's very busy so best to contact him asap to book a slot for your speedo and tacho restoration. Philpotts in Luton is the place to go to for a strip and re-chrome of the front fork stanctions. If you take the two fork top nuts they will also hard chrome those as well. They will also check them to make sure they are straight. I have sued them four times over the years and their work is excellent.
The lower fork legs will need a vapour blast if they are badly corroded followed by silver paint or you could polish them, Look at Ted's 550 restoration thread, he's been polishing his fork legs and there is a good discussion going on about the best methods to use.

[Orcade-Ian]

Philpotts Dave,
Oh, I really hope you haven't SUED them!   . Just 2 letters make a lot of difference!
They do an excellent job and virtually always have to straighten the stanchions, even a few thou shows up when grinding prior to chroming.  Alex, I'm on with doing virtually the same to my recently acquired F1.  Remember to slacken the top fork nuts (the chrome ones) before you undo the pinch bolts on the yokes.

Ian

[Oddjob]

Also remember the bolt allen keyed bolt, do that whilst they are locked into the yokes, then pinch back up again.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Peter Horton did my clocks I'm trying to polish my 500 forks - not finished yet!!


500 fork legs by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr

[Laverda Dave]

Philpotts Dave,
Oh, I really hope you haven't SUED them!   . Just 2 letters make a lot of difference!
They do an excellent job and virtually always have to straighten the stanchions, even a few thou shows up when grinding prior to chroming.  Alex, I'm on with doing virtually the same to my recently acquired F1.  Remember to slacken the top fork nuts (the chrome ones) before you undo the pinch bolts on the yokes.

Ian

 , it's that predictive text again Ian! Should have been used . I need to take my Rickman forks up to them when I collect the bike from Glasgow.

[Orcade-Ian]

I was just having a dig Dave after commenting some years ago on your Dresden Triton!

Ian

[Seabeowner]

Ian
Your front stanchion/damper etc. is an F and F1 only. Lurking under the gator of mine was the biggest/deepest rusty pit I'd seen. Sourced a stanchion in the end, £150ish.

[alexdecker]

Peter Horton did my clocks I'm trying to polish my 500 forks - not finished yet!!


500 fork legs by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr

This is marvellous work! I’d like to accomplish something similar. Do you have a link to the process you went through to get there? This seems like a perfect winter project 😊

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

See the Polishing thread here on sohc.

[alexdecker]

See the Polishing thread here on sohc.

Thanks! Read through your restoration thread - love the whole thing

Quick and potentially stupid question: Can I take off the front wheel and forks with the bike just resting on the center stand?

[taysidedragon]

See the Polishing thread here on sohc.

Thanks! Read through your restoration thread - love the whole thing

Quick and potentially stupid question: Can I take off the front wheel and forks with the bike just resting on the center stand?

No, it's bound to topple forward. 😫
Put a trolley jack or some wooden blocks underneath the engine or lower frame tubes to provide support.

[Bryanj]

Yes but not in one piece and you need to support the engine

[Gromitdog]

Hi Alex

I Have used Philpots for my front fork overhaul I had them do the whole thing as my sliders where under sized at 34.1 mm and they rebuilt them back up to 35.0mm and if you strip them down & drain the oil and clean all the oil off the parts & take the seals out then speak to the manager you should get a better price, Plus put the top cap bolts in and they will chrome them too as part of the deal. They will send you a email with the collection details print off the shipping details a courier will collect next day and when done will send them back next day delivery

Pete is the guy for the clocks he done a great job on mine I had to send one back as it was jumpy np came back perfect

Hope this helps you

Nioge

[haynes66]

ive always used philpotts until recently but their prices have gone up quite a bit. i've just had a set of stanchions done for my 750 at £190 a pair by a company by the name of dynasurf. good job too