Topic: Rust Under the Fork Gaiters - Best Way to Address?

[Imago]

Well, I'm on the lookout for a 75/76 GL1000 front end to get the dual discs/wire wheels on my 1976 CB750K build, but in case I can't find the GL front end, what's the best way to deal with the inevitable rust under/above the front fork gaiters, particularly if you don't want to replace the gaiters?

Is re-chroming the only, (read: expensive) option?

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

You can try to prevent it with silicon spray but if the gators are secured to the for ears and at the bottom by the rings, it's not so easy. It's easier if you use non stock gators that do not fasten to the rings so you can move them to clean the tubes.

Keeping the tubes under the fork ears completely rust free is not as easy.

[CBDee]

You could always paint the area beneath the gaiters to try to keep rust away, but the gaiters will cover any problems you might come across. Do not get  aftermarket gaiters because they don't last and will fail within a couple of years. Get the Honda gaiters and get better quality gaiters! 

[MickB]

Try rubbing the rust down and use POR15's Marine Clean followed by Metal Ready then apply POR paint and you'll get on top of the rust problem, done correctly they reckon 45 years no rust, finally cover with new gaiters.

[wowbagger]

I had rust on the upper section of my forks above the area the seal travels across. I ended up bead blasting just the upper half and then powder coating them with a chrome powder. It's not an exact match but the gaiters cover the transition area so it's not noticeable:

[Imago]

I had rust on the upper section of my forks above the area the seal travels across. I ended up bead blasting just the upper half and then powder coating them with a chrome powder. It's not an exact match but the gaiters cover the transition area so it's not noticeable:

Nice! Did you polish the lowers yourself?

We're powder coating the frame black...how would that look on the upper half above the seal area? Cheaper, no doubt, than a re-chrome.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

You could always paint the area beneath the gaiters to try to keep rust away, but the gaiters will cover any problems you might come across. Do not get  aftermarket gaiters because they don't last and will fail within a couple of years. Get the Honda gaiters and get better quality gaiters! 

Gaiters damnit

[wowbagger]

Yes, fork gators are something entirely different:

[Imago]

"Gaiters"... got it... finally.

It's like having my proofreading, grammar correcting wife here...

 

[calj737]

I do believe that is a crocodile, not a gator. Which causes even more confusion. There's a listing for a GL front end in Parts For Sale as we speak type read.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

That chopper reminds me of the video of the guy in the Predator suit riding a chopper.

[Muckinfuss]

You could clean with acetone, lock the rust with a rust reformer and then spray the rattle-can plastic cote from Rustoleum or whomever and lock the surface.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Is that a Florida Gaiter?

Amazing what hides behind those. I prefer the dust seals on my F. Nothing lurking creating problems like that. If you're going to retain gaiters then blast them, use some rust inhibitor which will turn it black and hope the corrosion doesn't extend past the oil seals.

Or new fork tubes........ and use the dust seals instead to prevent that from happening again. I think ?? they will fit??

[Maurice]

That chopper reminds me of the video of the guy in the Predator suit riding a chopper.

Somehow, I don't mind never seeing that video.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I don't think there is any foolproof way of avoiding oxidation of the fork tubes under the stock fork ears.  The rubber cushions help, but the fork ears themselves have holes exposing them to moisture (not too much).  I think you might be able to spray some silicon spray in the crevices to help fight oxidation.