New trick for fork tube lowers now w pics

I've been purposely putting off going to get my newest bike purchase since I know once I do all work on my other half completed projects will stop.

One little project I have been avoiding is polishing the fork lowers on my 77 650 C1. Since it is 30 years old they are looking pretty ratty. Over the winter I've got the rest of the bike looking pretty good which only tends to accentuate how bad these things look. So I decided today is the day to get er done. I pulled the tubes off and took them out to the kitchen sink. Since I know that Kawasaki coated them with some sort of clear I figured that using some paint stripper on them might be a good call. I slopped some on using a toothbrush and watched all that old yellowed crap start to bubble up. First go around got most of it but I don't think I left it work long enough since there was still some left. Hit it one more time and then used steel wool to remove the remainder.

Next step was to hit it with some 600 grit wet dry sandpaper. Once I had that done about 15 minutes work on the buffing wheel had the first one shining like chrome.

I really was amazed how easy this was to do. The stripper really makes this a lot easier since no sanding is required to get down to the bare aluminium. Whatever Kawasaki used 30 years ago did a pretty good job of protecting most of the metal. The areas that had been chipped by rocks had started to tarnish some but the wet dry paper gets rid of it quick. Unfortunately I don't have a digital camera so you will just have to take my word for it, this method works well.

Post edited by: The Gringo, at: 2007/11/18 07:06

I dont either, but I still post pics:P borrow one or I wont believe ya;) :silly: :laugh:

What brand of paint stripper did you use? I gotta do that myself. Kitchen sink? Single aren't you?

Any paint stripper should work. The coating comes off easy. Try it on black forks though and you'll get a nice surprise as the stripper won't budge that black coating. Takes a lot of work.

Gringo was suppose have just got Married so I would guess understanding wife ??

Yes, that yellow coating is only good old fashioned laquer!!

Any stripper will work, Zip strip, automotive spray can gasket and decal remover.

After that 600 paper use 1000 makes the buffing easier.
And always use water when you sand.

Marty in Buffalo

Vter Bob wrote:

What brand of paint stripper did you use? I gotta do that myself. Kitchen sink? Single aren't you?

Shoe is correct, I am a newlywed, however the warden.... errr I mean wife is still in Colombia awaiting her visa. I'm guessing once she arrives I'll probably have to change some of my ways:pinch:. But until then I'm making the most of it:P . The stripper I used I got from either Home Depot or Lowes I think it is called Kleen Strip but pretty much any stripper will work.

Years ago I had "blacked" out my bike and now am going back to chrome. (Thanks to you guys making me realize what I really had) Started using steel wool to remove paint from fork lowers, was taking forever! For accesability removed wheel, fender, which allowed lower fork rotation for 100% access. Brought home some carb spray and some brake clean, hit forks with carb spray and steel wool (00) and paint came right off. (Kinda messy, use a pan below) Did that and found the clear coat. Thought..damn this is gonna take awhile. Sprayed brake clean 2-3 times (evaporates quickly) and clear coat starts bubbling, spray it again and while it's wet hit it with steel wool and it slides right off. Had both forks done in about 2 hours. Hit forks with #3 steel wool and the shine was very nice! I was suprised how well they looked, clear coat really protected them for 27 years! Am now polishing them with Simichrome, will post pic's as soon as sun comes up (5:55am now) Was very pleased how easy and quick it turned out!

77KZ650 wrote:

I dont either, but I still post pics:P borrow one or I wont believe ya;) :silly: :laugh:

Better late than never. Here you go.

The Gringo wrote:...Better late than never. Here you go...[/quote]
Sweeet!
Your dust seal popped off.

The Gringo wrote:
The stripper I used I got from either Home Depot or Lowes but pretty much any stripper will work.[/quote]

Wait until we let the Mrs. Gringo know you have been picking up strippers @ Home Depot and Lowes
How did you find them?? Must have been in the brass pole area:P
Pat

patmann wrote:

The Gringo wrote:
The stripper I used I got from either Home Depot or Lowes but pretty much any stripper will work.

Wait until we let the Mrs. Gringo know you have been picking up strippers @ Home Depot and Lowes
How did you find them?? Must have been in the brass pole area:P
Pat[/quote]

:laugh: :woohoo: Actually the store manager got really upset when I got a lap dance in the hardware section:evil: :evil: :evil: . In reality though Senora Gringo looks far better than anything I'm likely to find at a home improvement store, plus she likes to clean.


Biquetoast actually that is not the correct dust seal for that bike I robbed them from a 550 front end I had laying around so they don't fit quite right. I'll buy new ones probably the next time I take the front end apart to replace the steering bearings. Good eye though.