Author Topic: Clear coat on fork sliders?  (Read 905 times)

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Offline Kevin

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Clear coat on fork sliders?
« on: August 31, 2020, 03:04:43 PM »
Hey Guys,
I know that most people prefer to just polish the fork sliders and not clear coat them, but I have a very low mile 400F that I want as original as possible.
I have already brushed the fork sliders to the OEM look and am looking for advice from people with experience on what to use that will hold up and look as though it was from the factory.

Ready, Set, GO!!!!

Thank you in advance!

Kevin
A couple of 400F's and a
'98 Suzuki Intruder VS1400 ~ for long rides

Offline ekpent

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Re: Clear coat on fork sliders?
« Reply #1 on: August 31, 2020, 06:06:49 PM »
 Wish I could find some Dupont 380s lacquer clear coat around here still. Used it for different things in the past including bikes/paint/aluminum and it was good stuff.

Offline Scott S

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Re: Clear coat on fork sliders?
« Reply #2 on: August 31, 2020, 06:18:42 PM »
 You mean the lowers?
 Sliders to me mean the uppers, which were chrome.

 I have satin finished or polished the lowers and clear coated them.
'71 CB500 K0
'17 Triumph Street Scrambler
'81 Yamaha XS650

Offline Kevin

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Re: Clear coat on fork sliders?
« Reply #3 on: August 31, 2020, 06:27:42 PM »
Thanks for the correction Scott,
Yes, the lower aluminum part that the axle is clamped too.
So.....the question is, what do you use when you clear coat them?

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A couple of 400F's and a
'98 Suzuki Intruder VS1400 ~ for long rides

Offline Scott S

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Re: Clear coat on fork sliders?
« Reply #4 on: August 31, 2020, 06:32:21 PM »
 I used just some cheap stuff from the auto parts store. They should never (in theory) encounter brake fluid, carb cleaner, etc.

 Or just polish them and touch them up from time to time


 Matter of fact, I only clear coat the satin/brushed or painted  ones. The polished ones, I keep polished.
'71 CB500 K0
'17 Triumph Street Scrambler
'81 Yamaha XS650

Offline Kevin

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Re: Clear coat on fork sliders?
« Reply #5 on: August 31, 2020, 06:34:19 PM »
I have polished lowers on most of my bikes, but I really want the original look on this bike.
Thanks for the input.

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A couple of 400F's and a
'98 Suzuki Intruder VS1400 ~ for long rides

Offline pjlogue

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Re: Clear coat on fork sliders?
« Reply #6 on: August 31, 2020, 08:42:24 PM »
I use Diamond Coat Clear for all "bare metal look" parts I want to protect.  It is cyanoacrylate (sp?) based and it withstands just about anything that has gotten on it.  On my aluminum parts, it has been the only thing I have found that does not dull the look of the metal or give a yellow appearance when coated.

=P.

Offline Kevin

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Re: Clear coat on fork sliders?
« Reply #7 on: August 31, 2020, 08:46:42 PM »
I use Diamond Coat Clear for all "bare metal look" parts I want to protect.  It is cyanoacrylate (sp?) based and it withstands just about anything that has gotten on it.  On my aluminum parts, it has been the only thing I have found that does not dull the look of the metal or give a yellow appearance when coated.

=P.
Oh that sounds like just the ticket!
I googled it, a product manufactured by KBS comes up.
Is that the brand you use?

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A couple of 400F's and a
'98 Suzuki Intruder VS1400 ~ for long rides

Offline pjlogue

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Re: Clear coat on fork sliders?
« Reply #8 on: August 31, 2020, 09:47:03 PM »
KBS Coatings, yes.  The stuff is quite forgiving with respect to application.  I cut it with 10% Zylene and all parts are very clean and I do a final wipe down with Acetone and really let it dry before applying the clear.  The coating air cures with the moisture in the air.  Cure time is about 4 hrs until you can touch it.  Full cure is a day.  I have used it on my hubs, engine covers, fork sliders, rear brake stay.  Hasn't yellowed and seems to hold up well with engine heat. 

A word of caution. Make sure your parts are individual, not assembled with other parts or you will never get them apart.  Also, wear a mask and have good ventilation and eye protection. 

A little goes a long way so buy the smallest quantity you need.  Once the can is open it is hard to seal it tight again without the lid being glued to the can.  I use a syringe to extract the coating so I don't get any on the can rim.  A pint will do all parts on a bike like I mentioned above.  They say it can be brushed on as well as sprayed.  I have never brushed it on but it has excellent leveling properties so I think brushing would work however with a brush the coating would be much thicker than anything I would want.

-P.

Offline Kevin

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Re: Clear coat on fork sliders?
« Reply #9 on: August 31, 2020, 09:52:00 PM »
Thank you for the info and for taking the time to share your tecnique and experience!
I ordered a spray can of it, $22 delivered (including tax).
I bought the Satin finish as I was afraid High Gloss would not look right. I guess we will soon see.
Luckily I have oodles of lowers if I mess these up I can start over.

Thanks again!
Kevin

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A couple of 400F's and a
'98 Suzuki Intruder VS1400 ~ for long rides

Offline pjlogue

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Re: Clear coat on fork sliders?
« Reply #10 on: September 01, 2020, 03:26:44 PM »
I had tried the KBS cleaning solution (Klean) however it etched the aluminum and ruined the satin look I wanted.  I found it is not needed as long as all grease is removed from the parts.  Warm acetone wipe down twice on prepped metal and I have never had a problem  Avoid using the diamond clear on very humid days.  I have used it in temps down in the 40's with no problem and also on days when it was well into the 80's.  The stuff is quite forgiving.

-P.

Offline Kevin

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Re: Clear coat on fork sliders?
« Reply #11 on: September 01, 2020, 03:28:53 PM »
Great!
I appreciatte it!
I will post some pics after I have clear coated them.

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk

A couple of 400F's and a
'98 Suzuki Intruder VS1400 ~ for long rides