Re-chrome fork tubes or suggestions ?

Ernie12

Active Member
Hey guys I thought I would reach out and see if someone could give me some Ideas on how to make these chrome fork tubes look better or a reasonable re-chrome shop. I contacted a local place here and the price was really high. They always look dull and cloudy no matter how many times I try to polish them. Where they clamp down in the triple tree they are really scratched up but that is expected. I took 1000 grit and 1500grit to the top of the one with tape on it but it changes the whole texture.

Any Suggestions?

ThanksIMG_20180723_200123 copy.jpg
 

SEAL-rider

Active Member
I have never tried sanding chrome, but if I did I would go a lot higher than 1500. I would be in the 15k - 30k+ range.
 

Ernie12

Active Member
Thanks Butch and sealrider I did not even know they made it 15k range. What front end is that on your bike? Never thought about power coating.
 

SEAL-rider

Active Member
Now that you have an area at 1500, you will need to progress at 3-4 k steps on that area with sandpaper up to 15k. That polish will take a year to impact a 1500 grit surface. Look at automotive grade wet dry.
 

bdm7250

Guru
Supporting Member
Now that you have an area at 1500, you will need to progress at 3-4 k steps on that area with sandpaper up to 15k. That polish will take a year to impact a 1500 grit surface. Look at automotive grade wet dry.
Fine grade sanding film is often used by jewelers for polishing, grades up to 60K, color coded as follows. Jewelers supply chains should sell it.
• Tan 15000
• Grey 20000
• Black 30000
• Brown 40000
• Green 60000
 

Ernie12

Active Member
Fine grade sanding film is often used by jewelers for polishing, grades up to 60K, color coded as follows. Jewelers supply chains should sell it.
• Tan 15000
• Grey 20000
• Black 30000
• Brown 40000
• Green 60000


Thank You I will look into it.
 

Butch Cassidy

Active Member
WHY AN INVERTED FRONT FORK SUSPENSION IS SUPERIOR TO A CONVENTIONAL (TUBE & SLIDER) FRONT SUSPENSION

Front forks on a motorcycle need to be as rigid as possible, to function as effective suspension parts. They also need to be as light as possible.

An inherent advantage of inverted forks is their weight, they're lighter than conventional front ends. A steel fork tube is the heaviest part of a traditional fork assembly. By design, inverted forks have shorter and thinner walled fork tubes. This results in less steering inertia and more responsive handling feel.

One more benefit, inverted front ends deliver better compression and rebound dampening than conventional designs. Oh and one more big benefit when you compare invented front ends against conventional front (tube & slider) ends is their strength.

INVERTED FORKS, BY DESIGN ARE STRONGER THAN CONVENTIONAL FRONT END ASSEMBLIES
Most of the stress applied to forks occurs just below the bottom triple tree. When you pull the brake lever you are “braking the wheel” and the bike slows because the front wheel is attached to the front suspension. The momentum of the bike transmits through the forks, trying to push the front wheel.

Think of the force being exerted upon a steel fork tube, just below the lower triple tree, now think of that same force on an inverted front end - clearly the inverted front end is stronger, by far, the tube absorbing those forces is of a much greater diameter.

Inverted forks are exponentially more rigid because they mount the larger diameter “slider” to the triple tree. Conventional forks mount to the triple tree via the smaller and heavier steel fork tube.

The much more rigid (compared to a steel fork tube) slider makes up a higher percentage of the overall length in an inverted front end. This design benefit reduces flex and improves handling and feel, what we call “connectedness” when compared to a conventional design..

Additionally, inverted forks are stronger because they have more overlap – the distance the fork tube protrudes into the slider – than conventional forks. The more overlap, the more rigid the front fork assembly.

Clearly, you can see why we are such fans and proponents of the inverted front fork design!! There is no reason we all can’t enjoy the benefits of a well built and designed front suspension. KRAUS is working hard to bring these big benefits to the riders that need and will appreciate them most, the Long Riding touring set and the Dyna Tough riders!

KRAUS INVERTED SUSPENSION PRODUCTS
Sport Touring Inverted Front End Kit
Dynamoto SP Inverted Front End Kit
https://www.krausmotorco.com/pages/why-inverted-front-suspension
Don't sell those inverted forks cheaply;
DYNAMOTO SP INVERTED FRONT END KIT
$4,199.00 USD
 
Last edited:

Mr. Wright

Knows some things
I know your wanting something right now, but in a month or two I'll be set up to do Furturechrome, spray on chrome. See if someone in your area does it. I think if you get on their web site, they can direct you to someone in your area.
 

Th3InfamousI

Administrator
Staff member
Fine grade sanding film is often used by jewelers for polishing, grades up to 60K, color coded as follows. Jewelers supply chains should sell it.
• Tan 15000
• Grey 20000
• Black 30000
• Brown 40000
• Green 60000
Well if they are chrome he needs to go deeper and peel the chrome then polish. Can't fix chrome has to go.

BigDaddy just had his TP heads chrome stripped and now finely polished heads!

Overall chrome is great until it's not, then you can't fix it.

Sent from my 2PS64 using Tapatalk
 

Ernie12

Active Member
I know your wanting something right now, but in a month or two I'll be set up to do Furturechrome, spray on chrome. See if someone in your area does it. I think if you get on their web site, they can direct you to someone in your area.

Thanks for the info Shannon. I will look into it. To be honest I am not sure if these are chrome plated or polished aluminum.
 

Ernie12

Active Member
My 04 chopper are polished aluminum, and the 04 Bull Dog I have in my shop polished aluminum also.
These are polished aluminum also not chrome. I really could not tell at first but suspected they were. I tried some aluminum polish and it turned black like alum does. I am going to get a kit from Eastwood and see if I can sand and buff them back .
 
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PacoPetty

Well-Known Member
These are polished aluminum also not chrome. I really could not tell at first but suspected they were. I tried some aluminum polish and it turned black like alum does. I am going to get a kit from Eastwood and see if I can sand and buff them back .
If they are aluminum you can definitely bring them back to life. There are several threads on this site dedicated to polishing aluminum.
 

bdm7250

Guru
Supporting Member
These are polished aluminum also not chrome. I really could not tell at first but suspected they were. I tried some aluminum polish and it turned black like alum does. I am going to get a kit from Eastwood and see if I can sand and buff them back .
If they are aluminum you can definitely bring them back to life. There are several threads on this site dedicated to polishing aluminum.
Mothers Billet Polish...
 
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