? about polishing forks

[mrhammer2u]

Mother's had a product years ago. It was a jar that contained a brillo'y material that you broke off and shined up with. Worked great! Can't find it. They have an aluminum polish that goes on with a rag now.

Are the forks lowers alum?

What do you guys use?

Lowers are in good shape just looking weathered and want to shine up.

[motoman]

Mother's had a product years ago. It was a jar that contained a brillo'y material that you broke off and shined up with. Worked great! Can't find it. They have an aluminum polish that goes on with a rag now.

Are the forks lowers alum?

What do you guys use?

Lowers are in good shape just looking weathered and want to shine up.

Yes they are.............and a short 3in. tall jar with a blue screw-on lid. Auto Zone or O'rielly's has it. Works extremely well, but forgot the name of it, sorry.

[IanDMacDonald]

Are you referring to Eagle One's "Never Dull"? Silver tub, with oiled batting?

I have some here. Bought it at Auto Zone.

[motoman]

Yes they are.............and a short 3in. tall jar with a blue screw-on lid. Auto Zone or O'rielly's has it. Works extremely well, but forgot the name of it, sorry.

Found it...........BlueMagic metal polish creme

[mrhammer2u]

Are you referring to Eagle One's "Never Dull"? Silver tub, with oiled batting?

I have some here. Bought it at Auto Zone.

Nice!! That's what I'm looking for. It wasn't Mothers, it was this stuff. The wadding is what digs in and brings out the shine with much less elbow grease than most I've tried. Off to AZ!

[79XS11F]

English custom polish
It's the best polishing product I have ever used. I did my restored bike with it and wouldn't even bother looking at other products now. This 3 part kit melted oxidation away like magic.
Rob

[dbeardslee]

Unless I'm mistaken there's a coating on the forks, and the coating is what yellows.

[jetmechmarty]

Unless I'm mistaken there's a coating on the forks, and the coating is what yellows.

Not mistaken. They had clear coat on them. Should be yellew or gone by now.

[dbeardslee]

Not mistaken. They had clear coat on them. Should be yellew or gone by now.

But if it's not gone, is polishing really going to do anything? Seems like you'd need to strip it off first, then polish.

[MPittma100]

Polishing

But if it's not gone, is polishing really going to do anything? Seems like you'd need to strip it off first, then polish.

Probably not. I have removed remainder of deteriorated clear coat on forks with Acetone and/or Lacquer thinner. Then used Mother's polish. Works well. It is quite labor intensive.

[jetmechmarty]

But if it's not gone, is polishing really going to do anything? Seems like you'd need to strip it off first, then polish.

This will remove the clear coat in 2 seconds. I would disassemble the forks before using it as it will probably melt the fork seals.




I just discovered this stuff. If my students can get aluminum to shine with it, anybody can!

[mrhammer2u]

My forks are not yellow, just dull and blotchy. I can't tell if there is any coating left. I'm thinking after 35 years,..no? I've only had the bike 2 years so I don't know the history. Hopefully some polish will shine them right up.

[dbeardslee]

My forks are not yellow, just dull and blotchy. I can't tell if there is any coating left. I'm thinking after 35 years,..no? I've only had the bike 2 years so I don't know the history. Hopefully some polish will shine them right up.

That coating doesn't exactly wear off. It would be like the paint wearing off a car - even after thirty five years there would still be quite a bit of paint left. And cars rust, but sealed aluminum doesn't oxidize, which is why the coating is there. I took it off mine with abrasives but I think a chemical process would probably give you better results. You might try a little dab of stripper in an out of the way area and see what it does. Could save you a lot of elbow grease. JAT

[79XS11F]

They do need to be striped first with a strong paint striper like the aircraft paint remover. then polish as necessary and re-coat with an appropriate clear coat or polishing will become part of maintenance.
Rob

[jwhughes3]

Try coating it with Sharkhide after polishing to keep it from re-oxidizing.It ain't cheap but its Marine Grade - designed for exposure to saltwater.


John