polishing fork tubes...

[dougie]

How to do it?
Need to replace my fork seals and the stanchion tubes aren't like new.
No nicks or scratches that can be felt, but some fine lines, shadows, and spots that aren't a mirror finish.
As I said - nothing that can be felt.
Very fine wet/dry paper?
Solvol Autosol?
0000 steel wool?
What do the smart people recommend?

[ME 109]

What do the smart people recommend?[/quote]

I've no idea.



But I used about 800 wet and dry last time.

[Max Headroom]

Doug, last time I polished the forks, I went to my local engine reconditioning shop and bludged some linishing tape off them. The fine grade is used for polishing crankshaft journals, and is ideal IMHO for our fork legs. The linishing tape is used wet, and something like WD40 is OK. I have a lathe, which makes the task even easier, but you can use it by hand as well.

[gspd]

Same way you polish a crank journal, or anything round, if you want it to remain round.
A wide shoelace and FINE compound.
The shoelace has to wrap completely around the object , so ALL surfaces are getting equal pressure.
This cannot be done with "Very fine wet/dry paper or 0000 steel wool"
Solvol Autosol? That should work. I use Mother's metal polish.

[so cal charlie]

i got my h-2 tripple tubes from z-1 interprize in new york for $100

[Major Softie]

Checking for problems: I use a cotton ball. Rub that thing up and down the fork tube and it will snag on things you might not feel with your hand. Little rock hits can make sharp spots like these that will tear up a seal.

I use 800 - 1200 wet/dry paper with a sanding block for taking down a snag, but the shoe lace trick will work fine for anything else.

[Zombie Master]

For the love of God, get yourself some gaiters!

Riding without gaiters is like waking around with you zipper down sans underwear.

[Major Softie]

Riding without gaiters is like waking around with you zipper down sans underwear. [/i]

while people throw gravel at your unmentionables.

[dougie]

For the love of God, get yourself some gaiters!

I would, but I can't determine which ones will fit. An '87 Mono has thicker forks.
(38.6mm as opposed to 36mm.)

[Zombie Master]

For the love of God, get yourself some gaiters!

I would, but I can't determine which ones will fit. An '87 Mono has thicker forks.
(38.6mm as opposed to 36mm.)

I've been hearing a lot about Rancho part number 1952.Rancho gaiters (actually shock absorber covers, but work perfectly as gaiters)