The clear is half worn off the forks and yellowed on my 89 so I am looking to disassemble the front, strip it all the way of,f and either redo or just polish them periodically. Anyone know what kind of paint yamaha used? Will Laquer thinner, MEK, Tolulene work? Suggestions?
Thanks.
Aircraft Paint Stripper from your local auto parts store works nicely.
Then go have them powdercoated a nice shiney grey.
DavidR.
If you are thinking about polishing them, just go ahead and sand them down.
Start with as coarse of a grit as needed to smooth out the imperfections, and work you're way up to at least 1000 grit before starting to polish.
Aircraft stripper works great, but it is messy, and you'll end up needing to sand the aluminium smooth for polishing anyways. Skip the mess and start sanding.
Leon
Quote from: MACHV on November 19, 2012, 06:03:44 PM
The clear is half worn off the forks and yellowed on my 89 so I am looking to disassemble the front, strip it all the way of,f and either redo or just polish them periodically. Anyone know what kind of paint yamaha used? Will Laquer thinner, MEK, Tolulene work? Suggestions?
Thanks.
Just remember, everything you polish has to stay polished and only looks good when it is polished. It also needs to be accessable when refitted.
Noel
I used a bench grinder with brown pads and a polishing/buffer wheel. Add a little rouge.
This link might help too:
http://www.caswellplating.com/buffman.htm (http://www.caswellplating.com/buffman.htm)
CraigO
(http://imageshack.us/a/img406/826/picture029hz.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img856/1474/picture030jm.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img11/2985/picture031lp.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img3/8747/picture042yo.jpg)
Thanks guys. Am going to see what I can do without removing the forks and just tear off everything that mounts to them. Would like to maintain the factory machined look but have a pneumatic polishing handheld rotary tool if it comes to that. Fortunately there's almost no pitting on the areas where the clear has already been worn off. Aircraft stripper may be the way to go.
It's so simple to get the forks off if you've already taken all the bits off, just remove the airducts and it's 3 bolts each side. The forks just slide out as easy as pie.
CraigO
Here's a picture of mine after aircraft stripper and powdercoating.
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/4/82_20_11_12_10_53_34.jpeg)
No continual polishing required, just an occasional soap and water bath.
DavidR.
David, those look good! Did you powdercoat them a silver color? Or clear? If a color - I'd like to see a pic of them in the sunlight.
That looks nice David, but I don't buy into the theory that polished aluminium needs to be constantly polished to keep them looking nice.
My forks have been polished for over 2 years now, and they are as nice now as the were when I first polished them.
I wash the bug juice off with soapy water and use a spray wax on them, just like the painted surfaces of the bike.
The aluminium beads up just like something painted.
I don't expect anyone to fall in love with polished aluminum as much as myself, but it should be known that it isn't as hard to take care of as some people are lead to believe.
Cheers,
Leon
Marsh,
The powdercoat was either a silver or grey color. I was originally going to re-clear coat the sliders but couldn't find anyone in the area that could do it. The '91+ FJs all have painted sliders so I decided to go the p/c route.
Here's a pic in the sun, a few more in the MISC gallery:
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/4/82_21_11_12_8_48_57_3.jpeg)
DavidR.
I like that idea David and they look great powder coated.
My fork lowers are in some need of attention and the idea of polishing them is not all that appealing to me.
Ooooh, that looks sharp powdercoated! I believe I remember reading in a british bike mag that another way to strip clearcoat was oven cleaner?! Has anyone else heard this or am I hearing those voices again? (It'd be easy to try, if nothing else.) I've got an old Suzuki that's gonna need this as well.
Quote from: airheadPete on December 03, 2012, 06:58:13 PM
...another way to strip clearcoat was oven cleaner?
I would hesitate to use oven cleaner, or any lye-based product on anything made of aluminum. Lye dissolves aluminum pretty quickly, and even a short duration would deeply discolor the metal into a dingy dark grey. (Try it on some aluminum foil to see what I mean)
It might polish out, but I think you'd be creating more problems than you'd solve.
Aircraft stripper is harsh and nasty, and stings like a *BI*CH* if you get it on your bare skin. DEFINITELY wear heavy gloves if you go that route. Use it in adequate ventilation, too.
Personally, I think the sanding option may be your best bet (and safest).
Steve
I used simple old paint stripper on my 89' forks, the stuff just bubbles up and wipes off. Polishing is up to you....
I shall show my age here again, that being 186. (oh god...here he goes again.... :dash2: )
I was always a fan of the paintstripper called "NitroMors". But the busy bodies at the European Community (a foreign government who makes rules for us) banned the contents that made it the best stripper on the market (not to be confused with Naughty Nadine, who, at 92 years old and for $5 an houir, is also the best stripper on the market).
Anyhoo - Nitromors used to have dichloromethane and methanol in it. Not anymore. Now, the Nitromors marketed today is, well, shite.
So, I go back to old skool polishing ways. Cheap paint stripper to provide me a base to work on. Various grades of wet and dry to cut to a smooth surface. Loyblocks (now called Garyflex, which are rubber blocks impregnated with different grate grit) for the inbetween bits I can't get to (the blocks can be cut and trimmed).
Once I get the alloy suitable for taking on polish, it's out with the plenty rags (ripped up bed cotton sheets) and Solvol Autosol. Yes - a tube of metal polish.
Starting with 000 grade steel wool (the finest you can get), I apply the autosaol to that and just sit for ages working in little circles.
Within an hour, my fingers are dead, but the shine you get is almost on par with a drill or buff.
To polish just one fork leg by hand from clearcoat start to "you could shave in that finish" can take me about 4 hours.
Nearly all my bike rims, casings, forks legs or rocker covers have been polished the same old fashioned way. Which explains a lot about me really. In a sad way. :sorry:
Dave,
You *COULD* turn your obsession into a money-making sideline, if you so desire.
...just a thought.
Steve
He's here with us tonight folks!....yes indeed!.....fresh, from Saturday Night Live....give it up for....Steve_in_Florida. :yahoo: :yahoo:
(popcorn)
A money making sideline Steve? Mwahahahahaha!!! Stop it! :sarcastic: :biggrin: :lol:
It takes me so long to do one item by hand and poor little fingers, that a guy with a drill and buffy thing what goes onto a bench grinder can do in 10 minutes!
He'd have 2 fork legs and 2 side casings done, and I'd still be sat in the back room, with the one generator screwed down on a piece of wood only half done.
Is there anyone that lives close to Steve? if so, can they drive up and kick is ass for me? I'd do it meself, but I can't swim....
Oh man....it's good to laugh! :sarcastic: :good2:
One good thing has come out of this after all these years polishing by hand. It makes yer wrist muscles extremely strong.
And that means one has the capability to last for ages!
Polishing that is....not whatever you guys were thinking.....
Perverts. Sheesh!
Quote from: Anti-Dive Dave on December 04, 2012, 08:47:21 AM
It takes me so long to do one item by hand and poor little fingers, that a guy with a drill and buffy thing what goes onto a bench grinder can do in 10 minutes!
Just an idea to help keep you off the streets!
Yup - good thinking there, in keeping me off the streets. I'm a menace to society donchaknow. A danger to myself, and a hazard to others. :wacko2:
A social vampire, who has the ability to suck the life out of anyone that gets too close.
An old fart who drives like I should have 2 men way out front waving red flags. :shok:
Don't you worry, when they come and take me off the streets for good, I will guarantee that I will have the shineist strap buckles in the entire locked ward. :crazy:
That's if they manage to stop me from eating the metal polish first. :bad:
Now, if you'll all excuse me...I feel the need for a song as I sit huddled in the corner, rocking back and forth...
"no-body likes me...every-body hates me...think I'll go an eat worms......" :cray:
Quote from: Steve_in_Florida on December 04, 2012, 08:53:15 AM
Just an idea to help keep you off the streets!
And away from the computer for a few minutes! :-)
DavidR.
:scratch_one-s_head:okay.......
David your forks look great. I have a set From an 89 I'm goin to install soon. They look good now but mabe I should just go ahead and powder coat them before I install.... Another project! :yahoo: