Topic: Chrome front guard on 800mile bike

[The Sovereign Man]

I picked up a bike last night, under the cover of darkness, from an estate sale and in the workshop light now I’m home the front guard has a weird texture to it.



It has a “paint streak” look to it. The rest of the bike is, as expected for 800miles, immaculate. The bike was stored in a below ground concrete garage.

Anyone have any ideas what may have caused this? I can’t ask the PO, well not without the help of a psychic medium (sorry, bit dark).

And how I should tackle the repair?

I can take better photos once the sun comes out.

[ekpent]

 I guess we will see if it can be cleaned/polished up when you get a chance to play with it in the daylight. Probably a case of the chrome just going bad and never having any wax or attention paid to it in years. Be interesting to see what you uncovered and some more details.

[Stev-o]

That is odd, have no idea?  Same bike with the cracked lower, right??  Maybe not the original guard???

[The Sovereign Man]

I guess we will see if it can be cleaned/polished up when you get a chance to play with it in the daylight. Probably a case of the chrome just going bad and never having any wax or attention paid to it in years. Be interesting to see what you uncovered and some more details.

I’ll take a better look in the daylight and post a picture.

[The Sovereign Man]

That is odd, have no idea?  Same bike with the cracked lower, right??  Maybe not the original guard???

No This is another one. My wife is extremely understanding but I think it’s maybe time to stop.

[69cb750]

I picked up a bike last night, under the cover of darkness, from an estate sale and in the workshop light now I’m home the front guard has a weird texture to it.

Normal oxidation for an old fender.

[754]

Looks like a lot  of  pitting, hope the rest if the chrome is not so bad ..
 Is it a 500 or 550 ?

[The Sovereign Man]

I picked up a bike last night, under the cover of darkness, from an estate sale and in the workshop light now I’m home the front guard has a weird texture to it.

Normal oxidation for an old fender.

Okay. I’ve not seen this in my other bikes and it’s not evident on the rear fender?

[The Sovereign Man]

Looks like a lit ov pitting, hope tge rest if the chrome is not so bad ..
 Is it a 500 or 550 ?

The rest of the chrome looks like brand new, that’s why this is weird. I’ve not seen this type of ageing on my other bikes.

[Don R]

 There were some bad front fenders that came out around 76.  The chrome was iffy.

[The Sovereign Man]

There were some bad front fenders that came out around 76.  The chrome was iffy.

This is what I was hoping (strangely) to hear. The chrome is otherwise perfect, including the fender in question, with no pitting or oxidation. The only thing wrong is the fender, no other part, has a strange “paint run” look and feel to it. It’s very odd.

[jlh3rd]

is that "in" the chrome? Or is that some attempt at trying some type of clear coat that has "wrinkled" ?

[The Sovereign Man]

is that "in" the chrome? Or is that some attempt at trying some type of clear coat that has "wrinkled" ?

I can’t be sure. I’m going to attempt to polish it, in the least conspicuous place, to see if it’s in fact a coating.

[newday777]

is that "in" the chrome? Or is that some attempt at trying some type of clear coat that has "wrinkled" ?

That was my thought looking at that picture(not a good picture to know for sure)

[gpzkat]

A small dab of paint remover would tell you pretty quick and easy.

[jlh3rd]

yes....if it is the case....you got real lucky....paint remover shouldn't hurt the chrome ( i don't think) ...and that chrome should shine good...

[The Sovereign Man]

Here’s what it looks like up close in the light of day



As you can see, no surface rust or oxidation just this weird texture. 

[gpzkat]

I've never seen chrome do that trick before.

[754]

It looks sorta of familiar, is it only on the front part ? I got an idea what caused it......

[gpzkat]

Coud be chrome termites.  Sorry I just remembered someone selling brick termite treatment in Chicago I think.   I am eager to hear the theory. 

It looks sorta of familiar, is it only on the front part ? I got an idea what caused it......

[jlh3rd]

man.....that's in the chrome.......ok, waiting for the answer.

[The Sovereign Man]

It looks sorta of familiar, is it only on the front part ? I got an idea what caused it......

Only on the front fender, heaviest towards the front section.

I’m all ears!

[754]

Plastic over the bike, it get moisture under it like condensation ..and it can't breathe..
 Plastic tight against fender  I bet..

[jakec]

I have seen chrome like that before. Probably just a defective application

The miles went down?? What did you do ride it backwards,?

[The Sovereign Man]

I have seen chrome like that before. Probably just a defective application

The miles went down?? What did you do ride it backwards,?

My conversion from kms was off. It’s 835 miles if we want to split hairs