HOW TO: Front Fork Cleanup **DONE!!* 2nd Page..Check It Out!!**

[nouseforaname90]

Ok.. this post is for anyone out there that wants their front forks to have that "chromed" look instead of that ugly, dull color. I did this on my SX, and will post pictures of what they look like on the bike when I get all done, but until then, here it is.
Ok.. first of all, you obviously have to take your forks off your bike.
Then you take them, one by one, and use a wirewheel on a bench grinder to take off all the crud. Here is my fork when I was wirewheel'ing it. Half is done, half is not. You can see a huge difference.. you tell me which side looks better; its obvious:


http://www.supload.com/thumbs/default/DSCN2948.JPG (http://www.supload.com/free/DSCN2948.JPG/view/)

I had to take a smaller wire wheel on a screw gun to get all of the crap out of the very small crevices, you probably will too.
Here she is when I was all done with the wire wheel:
http://www.supload.com/thumbs/default/DSCN2956.JPG (http://www.supload.com/free/DSCN2956.JPG/view/)

After you get all done with that (it took me over an hour just for one), take your orbital sander (I reckon you could do this by hand.. but it would take a LONG time) and get some 500 grit sand paper and slap on there. You will need ALOT of sanding disc's for this.
Now you take all of those little "dimples" out of the metal with the 500 grit, and after you have done that, you should end up with a nice, smooth looking surface.
After you get all done with 500 grit, use some 1000 grit disc's to make it even more shiny. This is mine after I did a little section with the 1000 grit sand paper:
http://www.supload.com/thumbs/default/DSCN2953.JPG (http://www.supload.com/free/DSCN2953.JPG/view/)
http://www.supload.com/thumbs/default/DSCN2955.JPG (http://www.supload.com/free/DSCN2955.JPG/view/)

After you are all done with that, go to #00 Very Fine steel wool and go at it. After this, go to #000 steel wool. Between the #00 and #000, you should have about half an hour in polishing with the steel wool. Do NOT skimp on the steel wool. It makes for a nicer finish. You may not feel like you are doing much, but you are. I have no pictures of what it looks like after steel wool yet, but I will get them up as soon as I am all done. It will probably take you 2-3 hours to do each one, but I think in the end it will be worth it. You should end up with a VERY nice looking front end (forks, atleast) on your trike.

Good luck to all of you.

EDIT: And if you want a really nice shine (its already great shine after you are done with the steel wool..), polish it up with some aluminum polish. It makes it look great and is like a mirror if you did it all right.

[Mr. Sandman]

WOW! Outstanding, but can you post a picture of it from another angle, like an end view, so we can really get a good look. :rolleyes:

[nouseforaname90]

I'll post pictures of it in about 2 hours when I'm all done. Now I gotta get back to it. lol.. its a tedious job, but I think it looks great.

[nouseforaname90]

I finally got it all done. It took me about an hour and a half last night, and 2 hours today. And that is just for one fork. I will post some picutres in a little bit if I can get my brothers camera to work. It is being difficult.

[nouseforaname90]

Ok guys.. here she is.. all done.
Here is just what it looks like.. I love the mirrored finish it has:
http://www.supload.com/thumbs/default/DSCN2972-691890.jpg (http://www.supload.com/free/DSCN2972-691890.jpg/view/)
Here are two comparison shots to what it used to look like:
http://www.supload.com/thumbs/default/DSCN2973-306037.jpg (http://www.supload.com/free/DSCN2973-306037.jpg/view/)
http://www.supload.com/thumbs/default/DSCN2976-955015.jpg (http://www.supload.com/free/DSCN2976-955015.jpg/view/)
Here is a side view:
http://www.supload.com/thumbs/default/DSCN2979-347267.jpg (http://www.supload.com/free/DSCN2979-347267.jpg/view/)
And I just figured I would add in a pic of what my baby looks like right now.. lol:
http://www.supload.com/thumbs/default/DSCN2982.JPG (http://www.supload.com/free/DSCN2982.JPG/view/)
Comments.. suggestions? Any would be greatly appreciated.

[wheelie king]

Nouse90-
Great work. Just curious, but what do you charge? No kidding- PM me and we'll discuss.
Dang, that's a long sig.

Those look great. Anyone else done something similar? Pics?

[bigredhead]

Nice job man.. you are correct.. i like !

That's it.. i'm gettin me a 12 pack of beer and goind shopping for an orbital sander !!! .. got any pics of your sander for fun ? what brand and model do you have ?

I have a 1/4 sheet palm sander that would do ok but not sure about the flat surface.. The nooks and cranies could probably be attacked with the dremel !

Way to go !

[nouseforaname90]

I didn't really do the nooks and crannies of mine too much. They were mostly smooth already from the wire wheel (its funny.. the hard-to-get places were smooth after wire-wheeling it.. the rest was like bumpy and rough). Uhm.. I'm not sure what kind of an orbital sander we have. I'm having a memory lapse. I'll take some pics whenever I get out there.. lol.

[Huffa]

Outstanding work !!! Brilliant! You take it a few steps more then I do. I'll have to try the 500 & 1000 next time I do a pair.

A + :beer

Just a thought..........you could do your brake backing plate too since it has the dull grey look?

Against your gun metal gray wheel that would look awsome.

[nouseforaname90]

Yeah.. I'm considering trying that on the brake backing plate whenever I get it disassembled. How the HECK do you get that brake drum off of there??? Help would be greatly appreciated, Huffa.. lol

[dovesprings250R]

Very nice work! I was looking at my trikes this morning before work noticing the sand pitting on my forks. I'm going to take your tips and start one trike at a time after pismo next week. Thanks for the tips and photos.

[so-cal]

Good job on your forks and getting me going on my own. Nice pics, I got work on posting photos but first I will go to work on my front end

[chris200x]

Not to rain on your parade but being from Pa, myself and knowing the terrian, I think the bottom of the forks takes a beating from rocks and other debris that nice finish you have will not last long at all. Very nice anyways. :wondering

[nimda78]

unless you coat those suckers, which look great!!!, with a polished aluminium clearcoat, they will corrode quick. the eastwood company makes a special clear for polished metal.

[nouseforaname90]

Not to rain on your parade but being from Pa, myself and knowing the terrian, I think the bottom of the forks takes a beating from rocks and other debris that nice finish you have will not last long at all. Very nice anyways. :wondering

Nah.. they won't. I didn't do my forks to a "showroom" condition kind of thing.. just so they look good. And that was for the simple fact that my bike is no showbike.. its just an everyday riding machine. And plus I don't really beat my bike and ride it hard. I mostly ride on some well-traveled paths and in my yard.

[bigredhead]

To get the drum off.

Back out the adjuster on the cable at the back so that the shoes retract then take off the 27mm hub nut and pull the tire rim and drum right off.

[Huffa]

I've done a few forks like that and the sheen last a long time. If it gets dull it doesn't take much effort to give them a fine steel wool buff job or some polish.

Chris, they won't get damaged by rocks at all unless you hit the right combo of them just right but that's pretty rare.

The best way to help protect them is heavy duty clear self stick vinyl.

http://www.mxsouth.com/nstyle/n-s163backgr.htm

You can put it on your tank, wear areas on the plastic, anywhere the trike will age some...........good stuff!

[nouseforaname90]

Here are the pics of the front-end overhaul all done, and some before shots. All I need to do is get the wheel back on, and that is going to happen later today when my chrome lug-nuts arrive :).

Here are a few before shots of the left fork when I had already had the right fork polished up. I didn't get any shots of the front end without anything done to it, and I regret it.
http://www.supload.com/thumbs/default/DSCN2975-640643.jpg (http://www.supload.com/free/DSCN2975-640643.jpg/view/)
http://www.supload.com/thumbs/default/DSCN2976-226344.jpg (http://www.supload.com/free/DSCN2976-226344.jpg/view/)
http://www.supload.com/thumbs/default/DSCN2968.JPG (http://www.supload.com/free/DSCN2968.JPG/view/)


This is a pic of the left fork and what I did to it. I love the shine that I got on the axle thingy..
http://www.supload.com/thumbs/default/MVC-012S-738168.jpg (http://www.supload.com/free/MVC-012S-738168.jpg/view/)

Here is the brake drum backing. I couldn't get quite the shine I wanted on it because of all the curves and stuff. You would know that it is very hard to sand something down to a shine if it has alot of curves if you have ever tried it.
http://www.supload.com/thumbs/default/MVC-016S.JPG (http://www.supload.com/free/MVC-016S.JPG/view/)

I figured I would throw this in. This is the SuperTrapp that I got in really shitty condition off eBay for $26, and cleaned it up. Id have to say that I polished it up pretty nice. Disregard the silvery looking stuff on the black pipe.. thats just dust from polishing the pipe.
http://www.supload.com/thumbs/default/MVC-017S.JPG (http://www.supload.com/free/MVC-017S.JPG/view/)

And here is what the front end looks like right now. I personally like the chrome and black scheme that I went with. If you can't tell.. I'm trying to make the wheels of this bike the focal point to draw their eyes away from the shitty looking plastics and rusty frame until I get new plastics, and paint the frame.
http://www.supload.com/thumbs/default/MVC-009S.JPG (http://www.supload.com/free/MVC-009S.JPG/view/)


Well there they are. And the restore is about 85% done and I should have it finished (all except the tank) by the end of next week. Tell me what you guys think of my job on this.

[83185s]

its freakin nice if you ask me!

[nouseforaname90]

Thank you!! I was fishin for some good comments.. lol.. it pays for the hard work.

Anyone else?? lol

[Maine_Triker]

Not bad I say... I kinda like the custom look you're going with. Keep up the good work!

[nouseforaname90]

Thank you.
I wonder where Huffa and bigredhead are.. I figured they would be the first to post.. lol.

[OldManDM]

i think it looks great....starting the same thing myself with the polishing, so i`ll be looking at the steps you`ve posted for guidance...keep up the good work!!

[bigredhead]

Yeah man.. way to go !

Very nice.. ( been running like a mad man all weekend.. otherwise i woulda posted earlier !! lol )

I'm going to have to dive into mine soon.. even tho i might wait until winter, when ever i start on one of these projects.. i tend to wonder off into a dozen more at the same time........ can't afford that just yet with the XR project now under way..

That Supertrapp came out great... now i really hate myself for not bidding higher. I was affraid of all the rust on the pipe end........

You got the sickness now buddy !.... it never ends.

Trust me !

[nouseforaname90]

I know it never ends. lol.. I started out just painting the footpegs, heat guard, and kick starter, and now look what it turned into.

My aunts boyfriend just got a Big Red in very nice shape, and he just said he was going to paint the front and rear racks, and now he is painting every little item on the bike and looking for aftermarket parts. He told me he just can't quit, ahd I said I know how it is.

I'm hopefully going to get the wheels on today when the chrome lug nugs I ordered for the bike come. hehe. They should give it a very nice look. I'll try posting pics of it with the wheels on later.

[AZ250R]

Congrats, you've created "Trike Porn" with your very own hands. Way ta GO!!! :beer

[nouseforaname90]

Trike porn? Am I the only one that didn't get that?? lol

[bigredhead]

Webster would define " Trike Porn " as:

Sexually stimulating images that entice hardcore 3 wheeled off road vehicle lovers to drool, have hearts palpatations or a desire to have in one's posetion.

[nouseforaname90]

Hahahhaha. Well thanks!

I got the tires on today too. The chrome lug nuts finally came. I'll post pics up of that tomorrow when I have the time to take them.
But now I'm really frustrated, and just.. bah!! I have 2 problems..
1) I was tightening the 4 nuts on that thing that holds the axle in.. and the one snapped!! Its on the bottom. Would it hurt if I ran it with one missing bolt??? Or should I take it back apart, and go get one rewelded on/a new fork?
2) The forks seem to be spread a bit at the bottom. The axle thingy (the hex head on the end of the axle) is flush with the side of the fork, and it didnt used to be. Is that ok??? Or should I somehow push the forks together??

Thanks all!

[nouseforaname90]

Ok!!! I finally got the chrome lug/acorn nuts, and I got the wheels back on!! Here are a few pics:

http://www.supload.com/thumbs/default/RWheel (1).JPG (http://www.supload.com/free/RWheel (1).JPG/view/)
http://www.supload.com/thumbs/default/RWheel (2).JPG (http://www.supload.com/free/RWheel (2).JPG/view/)
http://www.supload.com/thumbs/default/RWheel.JPG (http://www.supload.com/free/RWheel.JPG/view/)
http://www.supload.com/thumbs/default/Rwheel4 (5).JPG (http://www.supload.com/free/Rwheel4 (5).JPG/view/)
http://www.supload.com/thumbs/default/RWheel (3).JPG (http://www.supload.com/free/RWheel (3).JPG/view/)

[bigredhead]

What the hell did you do ? LOL..... :lol:

I think you forgot the axle spacer on one side dude !!

The snapped threaded rod twists out i beleive and can be replaced.. kind of like a head bolt.... i need to do a search.. be right back.

[nouseforaname90]

Where did I forget the axle spacer??
I put everything back exactly how it came off. And thats all the parts that I had for it. I had the whole assembly sitting on a towel on my workbench, and I put everything back on it. If I forgot an axle spacer, then it wasn't there when I got the bike..

[bigredhead]

you have different parts from mine.. . with the hex head axle... mine is a 17mm end and threaded on the other side..... weird.

When i thread my axle in the forks.. i end up with a half inch left outside the forks
did the brake shoes go all the way into the drum properly ?

is there a portion of stud left ( the broken one .. )

[bigredhead]

oh.. and BTW.. i like the lugs !!!!... nice.

[nouseforaname90]

Mine never had 1/2 inch left outside the forks. When I first got it (I looked at the pics I took when I bought it), it only had a little over 1/8th inch of axle sticking out. I thought it had a little more than that. But it's not that much of a difference from where it was when I tore it apart.

And yes.. they went all the way into the drum.

There is most of the stud left. Only about 1/4 inch of it broke off when I overtightened the nut.

[nouseforaname90]

oh.. and BTW.. i like the lugs !!!!... nice.

Thank you. I don't think many other people on the forums have chrome lugs on their trikes. If they do, I haven't seen them. I'm trying to add the little details that make a trike look nice when they all come together. The only thing I think that will make my trike look shitty is the platics and frame. But I'm getting new plastics at Christmas time, and repainting the frame next summer when I get the money. I'm also going to have the rims powdercoated when I have the frame done.

[bigredhead]

I searched but was unable to find the thread.... i think MO-350.. could be wrong... mentioned you can twist those suckers out of the forks and screw in new one's... Maybe call the dealer first ( yeah.. i know .. they probably won't know nothing.. ) and see if they have some on hand.. if they do . grab'em with vice grips ( i know you like those !! lol ) and put in a new one.

[nouseforaname90]

Ok. Thanks for the advice. That made me feel alot better. I was really pissed last night when I broke that off.

[Maine_Triker]

Thank you. I don't think many other people on the forums have chrome lugs on their trikes. If they do, I haven't seen them.
I was going to put some on my 350x, but it would of taken away from the originality of the trike, so I decided not to. They are nice though, and they are a steal for $13 on eBay, is that where you got yours?

[nouseforaname90]

Mine cost me $20.00 w/ shipping.. but yes.. eBay.

I still have the original nuts.. but for now I have these on it. When I go to sell the trike, I'll probably put the original nuts back on, and maybe have the rims powdercoated back to the original color.

[AZ250R]

Ok. Thanks for the advice. That made me feel alot better. I was really pissed last night when I broke that off.
I broke one off a 250R fork before. Rode it for 3 years after without a problem, but it always did bug me. Then when I finaly got a manual and read those nuts are suposed to be barely more than hand tight I realized "not everything must be CRANKed down"!?!?! Oh well... :twisted:
You still made "TRIKE PORN", good job IMO! :naughty:

[nouseforaname90]

Bleh! I tried tightening them as tight as I could without snapping them, but one did snap. I guess I'll know how tight to tighten them next time.

[bigredhead]

they kinda work them selves in a criss cross tightness... I have a few brittle ones.. not stripped but darn near as well.... so let me know when you fix it how hard it was !!! lol !!

[nouseforaname90]

Haha.. ok. I first have to get the right size bolt and what not. I'll probly have it all fixed by next week. And the whole project (minus the taillight and grabbar I'm going to get.. and the frame/plastics that are going to happen next year) will be done in about 2 weeks :)