Author Topic: Fork tube Rechroming (Read 15392 times)

kghost · « **on:** February 21, 2008, 04:52:38 PM »

Anyone found a good reasonable place to have rusty old fork tubes rechromed?

Sure you can buy them from Cycle exchange or from Frank.

Just curious if anyone had done a Rechrome.

MRieck · « **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2008, 04:56:01 PM »

KG
I'd say the tube itself has to perfect. If the chrome is off (with vertical scores) or the surface is pitted even a little bit it won't work

754 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 21, 2008, 07:24:48 PM »

If you are thinking decorative chrome DONT BOTHER!!

Unless they have a machine to do it, they will polish of the old by moving it with their hands across a belt sander.. I kid you not..and it will end up with a series of flat spots and be out of round.. You can easily tell by feel without looking.

Hard chrome is the way tho go, a bit duller, a lot tougher, and dimensionally accurate.. a ground finish with a tight tolerance

kghost · « **Reply #3 on:** February 21, 2008, 07:32:35 PM »

Yup Obviously the dimensions have to be exact and decorative trim won't work.

I think they need to be de-chromes, polished, base plated, machined then chromed

Based on the opinion of MRieck I'll prolly order new if no one else weighs in

super pasty white guy · « **Reply #4 on:** February 21, 2008, 07:46:29 PM »

I've read several places that hydraulic tube reconditioning places can do this for you. re-hardchrome with a regrind.

754 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 21, 2008, 08:04:19 PM »

That is what 73 and up 750K use, and it holds up well.

canttuckmyshirt · « **Reply #6 on:** February 22, 2008, 08:39:00 AM »

Any idea of what this will cost?

malcolmgb · « **Reply #7 on:** February 22, 2008, 08:46:59 AM »

not a lot of use to you in the US but this company http://www.pittedforks.co.uk/ in the UK has a good reputation and the web site has some useful info.

kghost · « **Reply #8 on:** February 22, 2008, 09:25:15 AM »

Quote from: malcolmgb on February 22, 2008, 08:46:59 AM

not a lot of use to you in the US but this company http://www.pittedforks.co.uk/ in the UK has a good reputation and the web site has some useful info.

Yeah saw thier site....but I can buy new ones for what that would cost.

jdawg · « **Reply #9 on:** February 22, 2008, 11:17:37 AM »

Dude - just buy new ones from Cycle exchange. I bought a set for $149 + $13 shipping and they are perfect. They even come with new seals (Emgos) and dust covers. Call and Talk to Ken and Sue - they are super nice and Ken is very knowledgeable and passionate about CB's.

http://www.cyclexchange.net/Front%20Ends%20Page.htm

My guess is that you would spend at leasty that in hardchrome. And you definitely need hardchrome. Traditional chrome will never last.

kghost · « **Reply #10 on:** February 22, 2008, 11:27:21 AM »

Quote from: jdawg on February 22, 2008, 11:17:37 AM

Dude - just buy new ones from Cyycle exchange. I bought a set for $149 + $13 shipping and they are perfect. They even come with new seals (Emgos) and dust covers. Call and Talk to Ken and Sue - they are super nice and Ken is very knowledgable and pastionate about CB's.

http://www.cyclexchange.net/Front%20Ends%20Page.htm

My guess is that you would spend at leasty that in hardchrome. And you definetly need hardchrome. Traditional chrome will never last.

Obviously had you read the post we are not talking about buying new ones...nor are we talking about decorative chrome...

By the way....cycle exhange is out of stock on the stock fork lengths as of yesterday when I looked.

The point of the discussion is I have 6-7 sets of fork tubes. Couple are complete junk but several could be repaired and are only pitted in the clamp area.

jdawg · « **Reply #11 on:** February 23, 2008, 12:12:00 AM »

Well excuse the crap out of me. I realize I'm just a noob, but don't assume I'm a dumb ass.

My point is that you are wasting money on decorative chrome (as you and others have stated), it won't last. You needed a source for hard chrome, in the absence of that you stated you would order new. I was simply trying to 1) keep the discussion progressing and 2) comment on my recent purchasing experience.

What's the cost to have them stripped, ground, polished and 'decorative' chromed? More than $150 I bet. Hard chrome would be even more. If you really want hard chrome I can talk to one of my tool vendors and see what they would charge to strip, OD grind and have them coated. I had some tooling hard chromed a few years ago, but can't recall the price. Let me know - I would be more than willing to make a call or two.

I would recommend calling Cycle Exchange and ask for inventory status. I ordered and received mine 2 weeks ago and they had 12 sets at that time. I don't think they update their website as often as they should or would like too. They are a small shop and have a lot of stuff going on.

Later -

CrisPDuk · « **Reply #12 on:** February 23, 2008, 03:19:08 AM »

Quote from: malcolmgb on February 22, 2008, 08:46:59 AM

not a lot of use to you in the US but this company http://www.pittedforks.co.uk/ in the UK has a good reputation and the web site has some useful info.

Could be of use to me though Malcolm

I've got two sets of slightly worn 550 forks that I was wondering what to do with. I think I'll give them a ring on Monday

Soos · « **Reply #13 on:** February 23, 2008, 03:38:53 AM »

Not too sure of the pricing yet, but I am looking into having tungsten carbide sprayed and then ground to size on a set I have spare.

here is a link to themhttp://www.flamespraydenver.com/Processes.aspx, they are in denver colorado.

Having seen some of the materials they can spray, and having worked with some of the parts they can produce....I was VERY impressed.
For about 4 years I worked at a machine shop that about 1-2 times a year they would rent our King VTL. That machine shop had the only VTL large enough, and could go at under 1rpm without chatter so they could grind some specialty parts.
Nice lathe, but still used vacuum tubes....

I have seen shafts that tungsten carbide sprayed then ground to size from their shop....
A suitable finish for a seal, and a nice blackish color. Would go well with my bike.

Hoping the bill will not be sky high though, with shipping and all.

l8r

Soos · « **Reply #14 on:** February 23, 2008, 03:40:17 AM »

They can spray hard chrome as well.

l8r

No I don't work there, I just knew a few of the workers over there, honest people, VERY good at what they do.

Gregorymoto · « **Reply #15 on:** February 23, 2008, 07:22:02 AM »

Just buy new ones
Forking by Frank is in my opinion the best place to go.

http://www.frankmain.qpg.com/

754 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 23, 2008, 08:58:25 AM »

You got me thinking..

I have seen the sprayed black on shafts and it looks cool, but now am thinking..maybe the yellow tool coatings could work? The Ti or Ti o2, I think it is.. there is a tool regrinder near Vancouver that does a dozen or more specialty coatings.. I should ask..

There is nothing wrong with the aftermarket tubes, except occasional size problems, but they look better than they work.. if you want a fork tube to look the same after 40K as it did new go hardchrome... the decorative after a season or two will have colour change due to wear and usually show scratching... a low performance solution..

I think the key to doing hardchome reasonable, is: find the right shop.. they gotta like bikes

Send in batches like 5 or 10 sets at a time..

kghost · « **Reply #17 on:** February 23, 2008, 09:19:09 AM »

Quote from: Gregorymoto on February 23, 2008, 07:22:02 AM

Just buy new ones
Forking by Frank is in my opinion the best place to go.

http://www.frankmain.qpg.com/

I like Franks stuff and he has a solid reputation.

If I needed them immediately they'd be in the mail from Franks yesterday.

Some really good ideas here about aftermarket mods.

754 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 23, 2008, 09:27:57 AM »

Call it F by F or Forking by Frank.. but not Franks..

cuz Frank has been dead for at least 20 years and it has been run by his wife since...

and yes, she does know a lot about forks..

So what do you guys think..would gold or black tubes look cool or what??

kghost · « **Reply #19 on:** February 23, 2008, 09:30:08 AM »

I think Gold would look a little too modern ala sportbike.....unless you had alot of other gold too...

Black with blacked out rims and spokes...with a polished hub....now that would work

canttuckmyshirt · « **Reply #20 on:** February 26, 2008, 08:58:04 AM »

I love the black! What are we talking price wise? ($$$)

goon 1492 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 26, 2008, 09:23:28 AM »

Quote from: kghost on February 23, 2008, 09:30:08 AM

I think Gold would look a little too modern ala sportbike.....unless you had alot of other gold too...

Black with blacked out rims and spokes...with a polished hub....now that would work

+1 on the black on black with polished hub. that some hot sex

man black forks would looooook good

Gregorymoto · « **Reply #22 on:** February 27, 2008, 06:53:15 AM »

I say black, gold is just way to gold, it might be cool if it where anodised but, black is black you can never go wrong and it goes with polished alum nicely
G. Mountain

lordmoonpie · « **Reply #23 on:** February 27, 2008, 12:54:03 PM »

Not much use to anyone outside the UK but I have all my "restoration" project race bikes get their forks hard chromed at Dynasurf in Wheelock, Cheshire(www.dynasurf.co.uk). They are excellent, have not corroded anywhere and the oldest is now 12 years old and still being race abused. They charge £106 for a pair....oh and they do mail order too.

If you want real sexy though, get them DLC coated so they come out black and super friction free. You better have a fat wallet though - my gudgeon pins were £29 each to DLC coat!

Hinz · « **Reply #24 on:** May 19, 2009, 08:20:00 AM »

Quote from: Gregorymoto on February 23, 2008, 07:22:02 AM

Just buy new ones
Forking by Frank is in my opinion the best place to go.

http://www.frankmain.qpg.com/

is that seriously the website?!? hah.
it's 2009. If you don't have a website with prices and pictures, I'm not buying from you.
Dinosaurs will die.

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Author Topic: Fork tube Rechroming (Read 15392 times)