To clean or not to clean

[PipeyD]

I have these prettified forks that I rebuilt a few months ago in preparation for a swap out to my 1970 /5.

2016-10-10 09.56.33.jpg

The question is what to do with the replaced forks? I want to keep them. If I clean and rebuild I have a place to store them on the wall. Just wouldnt look right with dirty forks. If they are not cleaned they go to the basement or shed for longterm storage. Both places are not the best for storage especially with the humidity. Someday I may put them back on a bike.

Do you store the used parts in the cleaned state or just throw in the corner and deal with it in the future.

[Rob]

I don't know, but I had a set of lowers blasted with walnut shell. They were gorgeous afterwards.

Cosmoline?

[Ken in Oklahoma]

. . . The question is what to do with the replaced forks? I want to keep them. If I clean and rebuild I have a place to store them on the wall. Just wouldnt look right with dirty forks. If they are not cleaned they go to the basement or shed for longterm storage. Both places are not the best for storage especially with the humidity. Someday I may put them back on a bike. . .

If the forks please you as more or less as an art form, they need to go onto the wall. I would wax them well so as to minimize any corrosion/oxidation and keep my eye on them--which will be easy to do since they are hanging on the wall. Otherwise I would more prepare them for long storage, such as with a film of grease or oil, bearing in mind that grease will slowly oxidize.

In my den (not a man cave!) here in Boise I have my Brother's Harley engine and my BSA Gold Star engine and transmission on display. Soon I will put an airhead engine (with transmission, carbs, etc.) on display. The rolling bases for the display are the lower (rolling) part of a Craftsman tool chest. The drawers in the chest can accommodate associated brick brack which I don't need to display. (I also have 5 whole motorcycles on display including two airheads, two Triumphs, and one Clews CCM MX'er.

I know, I know! If there ain't no pics it didn't happen.

Ken

[Rob]

. . . The question is what to do with the replaced forks? I want to keep them. If I clean and rebuild I have a place to store them on the wall. Just wouldnt look right with dirty forks. If they are not cleaned they go to the basement or shed for longterm storage. Both places are not the best for storage especially with the humidity. Someday I may put them back on a bike. . .

If the forks please you as more or less as an art form, they need to go onto the wall. I would wax them well so as to minimize any corrosion/oxidation and keep my eye on them--which will be easy to do since they are hanging on the wall. Otherwise I would more prepare them for long storage, such as with a film of grease or oil, bearing in mind that grease will slowly oxidize.

In my den (not a man cave!) here in Boise I have my Brother's Harley engine and my BSA Gold Star engine and transmission on display. Soon I will put an airhead engine (with transmission, carbs, etc.) on display. The rolling bases for the display are the lower (rolling) part of a Craftsman tool chest. The drawers in the chest can accommodate associated brick brack which I don't need to display. (I also have 5 whole motorcycles on display including two airheads, two Triumphs, and one Clews CCM MX'er.

I know, I know! If there ain't no pics it didn't happen.

Ken

I am waiting for the link to "Ken's Not A Man Cave Motorcycle Museum" [North]!

[khittner1]

Clean them; they'll be an easier sell if you eventually decide to do so.