Front fork lower removal...

[dento33]

Hi all, i'm gonna clean up my forks and have the lower part of my forks recoated the bit that the brakes fit to (sorry i not sure what that bits called)

I've had a look in the service manual but i'm still unsure, do i have to take everything apart inorder to remove this as the forks them self are pretty clean other than the lower part.

I'm sorry if this sound stupid but i've never worked on forks before..which is why i'm asking

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[vandriver]

Re: Front fork lower removal...

Yes, they need to come fully apart to remove the fork bottom, if you are powder coating them. If you have never had forks apart, you might be over your head. After they are all apart, the is a small allenhead screw that needs to be removed. The head is peened to make removal difficult. Use some penetrating oil. The the lower can be unscrewed from the tube. You need to use a torch to loosen the loctite, lots of loctite. You can clamp the bottom in a vise, use soft jaws, then you can use a 43mm clip-on as an improvised tool to grab the tube and slowly turn it loose. Take it to a pro.

[GhostMAFIA]

Re: Front fork lower removal...

Does it HAVE to come completely apart for PC? Can't they just mask it off... I usually do things the "right" way, but the end result doesn't seem to justify all the work in this case.

[Chris]

Re: Front fork lower removal...

You wouldn't want to risk the seals after its been in the oven would you Ghost?

[Patch11]

just mask it off and paint the thing, no-one will know

[GhostMAFIA]

Re: Front fork lower removal...

You wouldn't want to risk the seals after its been in the oven would you Ghost?

I know shit all about lower fork removal. I've only had mine apart changing oil. I guess there are seals in there... I was just thinking about the amount of work to get them PC'ed... and I'm an anal fuc*er.

I think I would agree with painting them instead. Instead of rattle canning it, you could take it to a painter and have a quality job done for less than PC I bet, and a LOT less work it seems.

[TLDV8]

Re: Front fork lower removal...

The removed tube and lower could be masked for powder coating but the compression unit might not like being baked.

Removing the lower from the tube needs a tube clamp.
I sent this one to Texas.

3 minutes to seperated... a little over the top for powdercoat,maybe if you were getting DLC or something.

[The Ring-In]

Re: Front fork lower removal...

you get a really good result this way.

1 clean the lowers with soapy liquid and get them spotless.

2 wipe them with alcohol or thinners etc.

3 preheat the oven to 80degrees celcius. 180f near enough.

4 mask the tubes.

5 use a cheap enamel rattle can .

6 put several coats on each leaving a couple of minutes between each. just till its really nicely coated . put the last coat on smooth so its shiny.

7 give them a few minutes to settle then place the painted ends in the oven. support them so the are not touching any thing. leave the oven on with the door open for a few minutes for the lowers to warm thru. then turn off the heat and leave them sit for an hour.

8 remove and remove tape.

instant baked enamel. not quite as tough as PC but damn good.

[The Ring-In]

Re: Front fork lower removal...

BTW this works on any bike bits .

[TLDV8]

Re: Front fork lower removal...

BTW this works on any bike bits .

Stu forgot to add this is for single guys or ones who want to be single real soon.

[Sam]

Re: Front fork lower removal...

Stu forgot to add this is for single guys or ones who want to be single real soon.

Yeah, have to get the timing perfect with crankcase halves aswell, get the oven on as soon as the missus goes shopping, bearings in the freezer, windows and doors open...........

[Patch11]

the dishwasher has a fast cycle

[Sam]

Re: Front fork lower removal...

the dishwasher has a fast cycle

That used to have the MX bike plastics in it, they come out sparkly clean

[The Ring-In]

Re: Front fork lower removal...

I used to have a DW in the workshop when I did lots of VW heads. they used to come out steaming hot and almost dry!!

[dento33]

Re: Front fork lower removal...

you get a really good result this way.

1 clean the lowers with soapy liquid and get them spotless.

2 wipe them with alcohol or thinners etc.

3 preheat the oven to 80degrees celcius. 180f near enough.

4 mask the tubes.

5 use a cheap enamel rattle can .

6 put several coats on each leaving a couple of minutes between each. just till its really nicely coated . put the last coat on smooth so its shiny.

7 give them a few minutes to settle then place the painted ends in the oven. support them so the are not touching any thing. leave the oven on with the door open for a few minutes for the lowers to warm thru. then turn off the heat and leave them sit for an hour.

8 remove and remove tape.

instant baked enamel. not quite as tough as PC but damn good.

Good man...just got the tape out and my wheels will fit in the oven to, you just saved me a few

The wife is away for a girls weekend in a couple of weeks..perfect timing

Happy days..