Quick question regarding the chrome on forks wearing away...

[robbocop33]

Rebuilding forks on the 93 zxr750 i'm restoring. I've heard they are bad for this, but does the chrome wearing off where the seals are going to effect the seal between the new seals and the fork leg?
There's no pitting, deep scratches on the legs, just really fine scratches which i'll be prepping, the usual thing. Thanks!

[Rubin215]

There is always going to be some wear on the chrome after years of use; how much it will affect you depends on how bad it is!

Without seeing the stantions, the best I can advise is just go ahead and rebuild them and see how long it takes for them to leak!

The other option is to go the expensive route and just buy brand new...

[robbocop33]

Hard to show on pic but here goes. This is after a quick rub with 1200 grit wet and dry. Bush were were like new, and the oil was was pretty fresh looking which surprised me.
You can't feel any scratches with your nails, and i've done the tights test! :-) Very light pitting, which i never saw before.
You can see the bronze patch faintly in the pic.

[curlie467]

Those need rechroming.
You will be putting new seals in a lot if you ignore it.

[dc2rr07]

Re-chrome required mate or get some new Fork Stanchions would be easier.

[poo at Paul's]

I agree. With the forks in bits already, the relative cost of doing it now, will be recouped when you (if you) ever sell it, as a job that will cost someone £300 to £500 in future can be done now for £100.

[podman]

My previous YamaGamma needed the legs rechroming, for me, re-chroming wasnt much cheaper than buying a set of ( Tarozzi) stanchions from Wemoto and the waiting time for re-chroming was around 10 weeks at that time, so I went for a new pair of stanchions.

Id way up both options and see which suits you best.

[robbocop33]

poo at Paul's said:

I agree. With the forks in bits already, the relative cost of doing it now, will be recouped when you (if you) ever sell it, as a job that will cost someone £300 to £500 in future can be done now for £100.

£100 for what? Can't be rechroming, prices are 150+ for a pair, new stanchions 150-200.
Might go for new stanchions, thanks for the replies!

[King Herald]

poo at Paul's said:

I agree. With the forks in bits already, the relative cost of doing it now, will be recouped when you (if you) ever sell it, as a job that will cost someone £300 to £500 in future can be done now for £100.

Why does the price go up 500% if you do it later???

If it were me, and if they aren't leaking now, I'd simply turn the stantions round so the worn spot is on the opposite side it is now and fit new seals. And put some rubber gaiters over them if that is possible on that model.

Hydraulic seals will work surprising well even on slightly tired surfaces.

New stantions don't cost much more than rechroming with most bikes.

[catso]

Don't know if it's any tougher than chrome? but a few years back I enquired about Ti-Nitride plating and was quoted £170 the pair, in the end I bought new ones as it was quicker, they were £280 from K-tech.

[King Herald]

My Beemer has pitting in the fork legs, the chrome has come off in chunks, and oil works its way past the seal. It is £80 a leg for good used legs, which is apparently cheaper than rechroming.

The oil is merely lubrication though, not damping in the weirdo BM front end.

[dc2rr07]

King Herald said:

poo at Paul's said:

I agree. With the forks in bits already, the relative cost of doing it now, will be recouped when you (if you) ever sell it, as a job that will cost someone £300 to £500 in future can be done now for £100.

Why does the price go up 500% if you do it later???

If it were me, and if they aren't leaking now, I'd simply turn the stantions round so the worn spot is on the opposite side it is now and fit new seals. And put some rubber gaiters over them if that is possible on that model.

Hydraulic seals will work surprising well even on slightly tired surfaces.

New stantions don't cost much more than rechroming with most bikes.

I think he is referring to the cost a garage would charge you to do the job if you took your bike in, anyway they are knackered, the photograph shows the chrome has worn off leaving them now soft in the area where the seal runs so will only get worse very quickly, more than likely the chrome will start peeling off. Three options really new, secondhand or rechrome.

[King Herald]

Very soft? Hmm, still carbon steel though. I would assume they wear in the high load area, where the bushings rub, so reversing them so fresh chrome is in that area would be one way to get another couple of years life, if the owner didn't want to splash out a couple hundred quid right now.

Or if he were selling it....

[dc2rr07]

Since when was carbon steel that colour, that is the copper base layer they put on before the zinc/chrome on top.
And for reference untreated carbon steel is soft, that's why you either case harden it or plate it like the stansions.

Edited by dc2rr07 on Sunday 23 July 14:57

[King Herald]

dc2rr07 said:

Since when was carbon steel that colour, that is the copper base layer they put on before the zinc/chrome on top.
And for reference untreated carbon steel is soft, that's why you either case harden it or plate it like the stansions.

It is probably nickel plating. And if you think carbon steel is 'soft', imagine how the bushes feel in comparison. What are they made of, probably phosphor bronze, or more likely some sort of teflon nowadays. They are in perfect condition, as stated.

My point stands, if the OP wants a concours restoration, then change the legs, if he just wants to ride it for several years then re-use them turned round so there is fresh chrome to run on.

[dc2rr07]

Back to the original question, yes they will leak oil if you rebuild them leaving them like that.
Entirely up to you how you wish to proceed.

[Rubin215]

dc2rr07 said:

Back to the original question, yes they will leak oil if you rebuild them leaving them like that.
Entirely up to you how you wish to proceed.

I think he might get away with turning them round; the wear looks nicely smooth with no pits or raggy edges and, if they are as smooth as the OP says, then there's nothing to cut up the seal lip.

Has to be worth a try, rather than spend a few hundred quid.