fork disassembly question

[jmoth79]

Can someone explain how to disassemble the circled piece from the chrome tube?

[Howie]

They are threaded on.  There are set screws in red Locktite that need to be loosened first.  Sounds easy, but it isn't.

[Speeddog]

Why do you want to remove them?

[jmoth79]

Thanks Howie

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.

[Speeddog]

Just paint the lowers, it's *way* easier.

[jmoth79]

Good call, Speeddog.  Will do.
Any suggestions on what paint to use?

[Speeddog]

Krylon semi-flat looks good.

[TJR178]

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?

[bikepilot]

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. 

[jmoth79]

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.

[Slow Guy]

cutting torch and a hammer 

[TJR178]

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?

[junior varsity]

anybody got pics of painted lowers (not pc) so I can see how it turned out?

[Speeddog]

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.



Different bike, better pic to get the whole effect:

[junior varsity]

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.