Stanchions

[Paulun]

Part way through my 1976 cb550 k2 project only to find the stanchions have a slight bend in them has any body used Brook in Bradford for straightening stanchions I phoned them today they quoted £190 for both  where as philpotts  I was quoted £290 for both. Thanks.

[Murf]

Was the Philpotts quote just for straightening the stanchions or rechrome as well, £290 seems a lot just to straighten them. I saw Philpotts straighten stanchions on a Henry Cole show, it took about 3 minutes using a machine.   Many Stanchions on old bikes have slight bends, often just the weight of the bike being on them for years and general use.  How much gap do yours show when rolled on a flat surface eg  kitchen work top. Another option could be after market stanchions.

[Nashfly]

I always buy new ones for about the same price of straightenersing......

[Oddjob]

New ones won't be genuine ones, finding genuine is expensive. The problem with new ones is they are aftermarket and they are sometimes very slightly different, the differences don't always show up straight away either. Getting them straightened is usually cheaper and better in the end. Quality is better as well.

[Bryanj]

Plus Philpots use a harder chrome than the show chrome so it dont wear off or pit as easy

[Oddjob]

I've had my stanchions hard chromed on my CB1300 for a few years now, no pits at all in all those years. It's not as bright as show chrome but it's seriously more robust.

[Nashfly]

New ones won't be genuine ones, finding genuine is expensive. The problem with new ones is they are aftermarket and they are sometimes very slightly different, the differences don't always show up straight away either. Getting them straightened is usually cheaper and better in the end. Quality is better as well.

Whilst I understand that some want originality, I've no problem with that, each to there own

Personally, I would prefer to use a new well manufactured pattern part than one that's over 50 years old and probably has been bent in a crash (or crashes) at some point over the years

I've used after market stanchions for many years and never had a problem, I do check after market parts before fitting (as I do with genuine parts!)

Could you please explain the differences that "don't show up straight away" unless your concerns are the quality of the chroming? Personally, I've never had an issue with chrome on pattern stanchions

[Oddjob]

Quite a few reports over the years of people buying replacement stanchions and finding the machining doesn't match the originals, especially for bikes like the 550, there are small differences between say the CB550F1 and the CB550K3 or even the F2, these differences don't show up until you try and fit them or fit new seals or springs, then you find circlips in the wrong place for instance, bushing that should be present but isn't, lengths wrong. It also seems the sellers don't differentiate between the 550s, they all tend to be lumped in as one size fits all. 

Almost all stanchions are bent to some degree, your new ones will be bent in just a few years, it's not crash damage I'm talking about, it's done by braking and weight. Then there's the quality of the metal, as good as some of these new stanchions look they aren't as well made as original IMO, the chromes worse as well, although that can depend on how much you use the bike, don't use it and the chrome can be fine.

If all you can source is aftermarket then that's all you can find, but I'd sooner reclaim some old ones before that. To me it's not about originality, who would know the difference between OEM and aftermarket with stanchions at a glance.

We try on this site to inform all members of the pitfalls of buying none standard, the choice is then theirs, it's their bike, it's their money, the amount of comments like "I've just wasted me money then" when they find out after what would have been great to know beforehand, stuff like points is a great example, buy cheap, buy twice was never truer.

[Laverda Dave]

Personally speaking I will always have the originals checked and hard chrome plated. Philpots hard chrome plate is ground down to the specific size (they will measure in an unworn area prior to stripping the old decrotive chrome off). I had a set of forks on my 400/4 replated by Philpots in 1989 and they are as good today as they were when I collected them, no marks on them at all. Money well spent IMHO and I knew they would fit straight back on the bike with no issues with regards to length, seals etc.

[Oddjob]

I’ve been rereading what’s been written and I want to assure Nashfly that mine and others comments in no way are critical of his choice. In no way do we want him to feel like” God, I wish I hadn’t said anything now” His input is welcomed, we may not always agree with it but he is more than welcome to say something, in this case we felt obliged to repeat what experience has taught the forum, it’s not always the choice members make however but at least it’s an informed choice.

Would I buy crash damaged forks, god no but pitted ones with some light surface rust is another story. Of course you’re never really sure if they are original or replacement ones fitted years ago, if you know the history of them then you’d be a fool not to snap them up. Just my opinion.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

On my 500 K1 I used Philpotts, they checked them for any slight bends, they hard chromed them, excellent workmanship not cheap. You get what you pay for, they even chromed the top caps.

On my current project a 400NA Superdream I've fitted some new aftermarket ones. This choice was cost driven, there were lots of options priced from as little as £125 to over £300 a pair. I did a lot of searching, I settled for a pair that were the correct length etc.
I did not risk the cheapest, I went for a pair that were recommended from another site.

This sohc site gives imho the best advice. The Superdream sites I've joined  have not as far as I know have  any members who have worked in Honda Dealers with the associated experience.

As Oddjob has said at the end of the day it's your choice, we give advice, it's not compulsory to take it. I post this reply as I have a foot in both camps so as to speak.