Pitted Forks

[sprot850g]

Hi
Just had to replace the front fork seals on my 1980 GS850g, the faliure of the seals has been due to a series of tiny raised rust spots in the hard chrome. One possible course of action recommended to me has been to gently rub the pitted areas with very (600 grit) fine oiled wet and dry sandpaper, has anyone else tried this and if yes, was it sucessful?
My hope was to avoid the expense of having the stantions re-chromed,
all the best, Robbie from S. Yorkshire, England

[gearheadE30]

I've not tried that, but it seems like it should work. I've had luck with using a dremel with a small wire wheel on it to smooth the edges, and then hitting it with the polishing wheel and some compound.

[hampshirehog]

Hi Robbie and welcome to the GSR. Those pits in fork in stantions are the very devil - they just love to shred seals in no time. Actually it's the sharp edge of the chrome that does most of the tearing but it all amounts to the same thing.

In answer to your question you can get away with what you suggest if the pits aren't too bad - and you'll have to find out what 'too bad' is. the best job you can do, apart from re-chroming or new tubes, is to rub down with (eventually) 1600 or thereabouts wet and dry. Then de-grease like you have never degreased before and fill the pits with one of the 'liquid steel' products you can buy. For it to stick you have to be 100% clear of any grease / oil etc so it's tricky. Rub down the compound with wet and dry till smooth.

To save your handywork you're best off fitting fork gaiters.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. If you're on a budget it can be worth a go as you only lose a tenner for new seals and a fiver on fork oil.

[Johnny Drummond]

The old dodge used to be to use Araldite in the pits,usins a pin to put it in so as to minimise rubbing with wet and drylook in the back of the Motorcycle Mechanics magazine- there is a company doing new chrome tubes for around£180 the pair-dear I know but cheaper than re-chroming, but try the other methods mentioned here first.Johnny

[jetta90]

I have had very good success using the method you described sprot850g. You can go with a even finer grit sand paper. I have used a combination of different grit paper including 2000 for the final finish. A tip that has worked very well for me is to cut a 1 or 2 inch strip the length of the sand paper sheet and wrap the paper strip around the tube. Use it with a back and forth motion on the damaged area of the fork. Use a wet type paper and don't be afraid to keep it wet........it'll get messy. You can apply various rates of pressure on the damaged area of the fork by pulling on the 12 inch x 1 inch (or whatever width you decide to cut the strip) as you use the back and forth motion.
If the damaged area is deep you can use some JB Weld to fill the holes and then use the above process to blend in the surface.
It has worked very well for me.

[1_v8_merc]

I've done it, it works.
I've even done it to brake pistons....eekk!