Removing Color from Gold forks

[Funnymachine]

I have an M600 and I want to get the gold color off the forks without damaging them - can it be polished out (how deep is the coloring) I would like them to be polished ally - anyone any ideas?

T

[stef]

I have the same question ! From what i can see, it looks anodized, so it should brush off pretty easily. I will have to try at some point.
(wire brush in the drill, followed by a good scrub with autosol for shinyness..)

[NattyBoy]

LEAVE 'EM ALONE !!! They look great in gold..I actually want my silver forks anodised gold... :D

Nat

[A Yerbury]

agree with natty B although Funny mac has some interesting ideas, how is the bike coming BTW?

[stef]

gold... clashes with the rest of the bike.. has to go.

[A Yerbury]

but will it clash with your purple helmet? keep it simple and chrome the lot I say! you could remove it using the techniques mentioned, depends on the depth of the finish, although I would strip the legs before hand, metal shavings on the chrome or in the seals is a bad idea.

[Funnymachine]

LEAVE 'EM ALONE !!! They look great in gold..I actually want my silver forks anodised gold... :D

Nat

If your silver forks will fit an M600 I will do you a straight swap...

T

[Funnymachine]

agree with natty B although Funny mac has some interesting ideas, how is the bike coming BTW?

Last thing I did was hard tail and lower the rear end and add straight through pipes - sounds very very loud and looks mean and low - then decided yellow was boring and painted it (matt) black - unfortunately it now looks like a Monster Dark :-(

Currently regrouping for next MOT and still can't decide whether to chop it or make it into a sprinter - or something between the two...

T

[A Yerbury]

the later ones are all silver, cheap 2nd hand.

[Pedro]

I wouldn't use a steel wire brush on the forks to try to shift the anodising, it'll stratch them, drastically so if used with a drill.

Your best option would be to have them chemically stripped by an anodising company I think.

Gold looks classier though, don't see many jap bikes with gold forks.

Ped

[stef]

I wanted to go for the neutral tones all round. black, silver and chrome.
besides, the gold on one of the legs is not looking it's best. a few knocks on it.

[gary tompkins]

You can DIY strip anodising using MR Muscle oven cleaner. Only works if coating is not too deep, and leaves a dull, blotchy finish that takes a lot of polishing out afterwards. You need to do it in a well ventilated area and wear rubber gloves as the oven cleaner disolves alluminium if left on too long, and your skin :eek:

As Pedro said if in doubt strip the legs (good chance swap seals & do a re-build) and get them polished by a pro. Or swap for a set of later silver finish legs?

[norrie]

You can sand off the annodising with a sander and then polish them.
It's a hell of a lot of work though.
I done the swingarm on my Hornet took ages.
Better to have it done by a pro.
I can recommend this company.
http://www.glmmetalpolishers.co.uk/

There very good and cheap as well.
They are in Devon but you can post the forks to him and he'll have them back in a couple of weeks.


Norrie.

[Shauns4]

I removed the anodising from the top yoke using oven cleaner and heat, horrible job and took several attempts and still had to sand the remnants off, I would lets someone do it who has the right kit.


Shaun

[Mr Cake]

Removing the anodising will expose the metal to oxidisation. I'll do a straight swap for my silver ones if you like.

Dave

[Funnymachine]

Removing the anodising will expose the metal to oxidisation. I'll do a straight swap for my silver ones if you like.

Dave
Where are you? And they are definitely the same - I have a 95 M600...

[A Yerbury]

Where are you? And they are definitely the same - I have a 95 M600...


I think catswhiskas has showas as opposed to gold marzo, I may be wrong for once? but I think this is generally a fact. easy to tell by looking.

[Mr Cake]

It'll probably be single disc too :(

Yes mine are Showa.

Dave

[A Yerbury]

not nesscerysarrillyesque, my 600 had marzo golds with twins (obv not caliper but it had the bracket and plastic plate combo) I now have gold showa 900s, much firmer and generally chuckable, those early marzo are a bit floppy.

[Mr Cake]

Bugger it then.

Dave

[Funnymachine]

Yes, Marzo gold with twins - have two solutions now - polished for £93 inc carriage - Devon company someone mentioned - or blasted (satin finish) for about £15 a leg - thanks for all your help