Can someone explain how to disassemble the circled piece from the chrome tube?
(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r166/jmoth79/IMG_0002.jpg)
They are threaded on. There are set screws in red Locktite that need to be loosened first. Sounds easy, but it isn't.
Why do you want to remove them?
Thanks Howie
Quote from: Speeddog on January 09, 2011, 09:25:02 PM
Why do you want to remove them?
These are not my forks. I would like to powder coat the lower pieces just like in the picture.
I am also looking into hard anodizing the upper tubes.
Just paint the lowers, it's *way* easier.
Good call, Speeddog. Will do.
Any suggestions on what paint to use?
Krylon semi-flat looks good.
Quote from: Speeddog on January 12, 2011, 09:38:18 AM
Krylon semi-flat looks good.
I'm going to do this since it's $$$ to have the lowers removed and PCd. I want this to hold up well - any hints on the best practice to prep and paint these things?
I've removed them on showas on a different Italian bike - I think they are secured the same. As said, there's a set screw with thread locker. There was also some threadlocker on the actual main threads. I heated the fork lower up with a propane torch to release the thread locker and they came off ok. the trick is securing the chrome tube. I used a bit of steel rod through the holes in the very top of the chrome tube and clamped the brake caliper mount of the lower tube in a vice and twisted. Worked a charm. Be sure to replace the o-ring that seals the chrome tube to the aluminum tube on the way back together else you'll get a leak between the two. [roll]
I wrapped the chrome tubes heavily in masking and duct tape, then blasted the lowers with glass bead.
Once they're all cleaned up pretty, shot a couple coats of Rustoleum black semi-gloss to match my newly anodized fork tubes.
cutting torch and a hammer [evil]
Quote from: jmoth79 on March 24, 2011, 09:41:52 AM
I wrapped the chrome tubes heavily in masking and duct tape, then blasted the lowers with glass bead.
Once they're all cleaned up pretty, shot a couple coats of Rustoleum black semi-gloss to match my newly anodized fork tubes.
How's the paint on your lowers holding up?
anybody got pics of painted lowers (not pc) so I can see how it turned out?
Quote from: j v on March 24, 2011, 05:28:56 PM
anybody got pics of painted lowers (not pc) so I can see how it turned out?
Crappy cellphone pic.
12k miles (mostly freeway) and one year on the black paint on the lowers.
They're a little pitted, but at more than a couple feet away you can't see it.
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5265/5557653266_405caf87e7_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26339726@N03/5557653266/)
Different bike, better pic to get the whole effect:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5057/5434337207_f8c6dacec2_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26339726@N03/5434337207/)
That looks great! Did you sand for prep? I'd like to do that to my aged 20mm axle Showa's sooner rather than later. I don't ever plan on having the slider removed to be TiN coated, so there's not going to be a PC opportunity anyway.
IIRC, I cleaned 'em good, light scrub with a fine wire brush, cleaned again and shot 'em with Krylon semi-flat black.
Nothing fancy for sure....