1. Some members were not receiving emails sent from XJbikes.com. For example: "Forgot your password?" function to reset your password would not send email to some members. I believe this has been resolved now. Please use "Contact Us" form (see page footer link) if you still have email issues. SnoSheriff

    Hello Guest. You have limited privileges and you can't "SEARCH" the forums. Please "Log In" or "Sign Up" for additional functionality. Click HERE to proceed.

polished forks

Discussion in 'XJ Modifications' started by cutlass79500, Apr 24, 2011.

  1. cutlass79500

    cutlass79500 Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,226
    Likes Received:
    51
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    lawrenceville georgia
    what do you think of my polished forks. Just have the front wheel and 1 side cover left and i am done polishing this thing tired of polishing for a little while
     
  2. Metal_Bob

    Metal_Bob Active Member

    Messages:
    1,944
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Bourbonnais, IL
    SHINY!

    I was hoping to go for a brushed/wire-wheeled look for my aluminum eventually.
     
  3. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    9,751
    Likes Received:
    2,097
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Beaver Falls, PA
    nice work
    is that stand 5 feet high ? or is that other bike real low :)
     
  4. mlew

    mlew Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    3,090
    Likes Received:
    241
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Apex, NC
    Nice
    I can see myself in them all the way from NC. I have the forks on all my bikes polished like that. Finish it off with polished stainless bolts.
     
  5. cutlass79500

    cutlass79500 Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,226
    Likes Received:
    51
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    lawrenceville georgia
    I am glad they are done for sure right now i am about burned out on polishing. Polished the original right fore when i started sanding the left found out the lower leg had a bad casting and was leaking fork oil thru the casting . So i replaced them with another pair i had off a virago so i ended up polishing 3. Will do the front wheel this week. Then i just have 1 crank cover to do which is a major pita. Just like the rear wheel there are 1/8 inch deep machine marks i have to sand out. I have been working on this project everyday for the past 4 weeks. Its come a long ways I think i have between 14-16 hrs just on the rear wheel will be nice to finish up the mechanical stuff in the next few weeks.
    Polock the other bike is normal sized. I have the lift raised 30 inches spent way to many years bending down before i got smart and bought a lift now everything is eye level.
     
  6. BillB

    BillB Active Member

    Messages:
    1,091
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Tulsa Oklahoma
    what is your process for polishing?
     
  7. cutlass79500

    cutlass79500 Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,226
    Likes Received:
    51
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    lawrenceville georgia
    Depends on the parts. strip off the clear. if the finish is really bad i will 220 it then 400 then 600 and 1k. If your using a buffer you really don't need to use the 1k. Most of the bigger parts forks and wheels i polish by hand using purple metal polish. Smaller parts i use the bench buffer and white rouge. I do all the parts that can't be taken off by hand that way all the wool that flies doesn't get on everything . The front forks only have 3 coats of polish put on by hand and wipe off by hand
     
  8. RickCoMatic

    RickCoMatic Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    13,843
    Likes Received:
    66
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    Massachusetts, Billerica
    Get rid of the Clear Coat.
    "Airplane" Brand Stripper does a nice job.

    Sand-out imperfections.
    320, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 2500
    Begin base polishing.
    Hard "Sewn" Buffing Wheel and White or Brown Rouge Compound.
    Clean.
    Shift to Medium "Sewn" Buffing Wheel.
    Jewelers Rouge's.
    Number-5 and Number-6.
    Shift to Firm Un-sewn Buffing Wheel.
    3M Swirl Remover or ZAM.

    The More you Buff the Better it gets.

    [​IMG]
     
  9. cutlass79500

    cutlass79500 Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,226
    Likes Received:
    51
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    lawrenceville georgia
    i have tried going finer with the paper to me its just a waste with as quick as 1k gets clogged uo its like sanding with much finer sandpaper after a few sec but i keep using it. I have never had a swirl problem but even the parts i do on the machine i always polish them after wards to protect them. The polish even takes the black smudges you get occasionally when you use to much rouge off.
     
  10. waldo

    waldo Member

    Messages:
    871
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    San Jose, Ca. 95125
    Wow nice looking work want to do mine?
     
  11. RickCoMatic

    RickCoMatic Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    13,843
    Likes Received:
    66
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    Massachusetts, Billerica
    When you do the 1000, ... you need to do it WET and have an old Pull Trigger Sprayer with warm water in it.

    When the 1000 Clogs-up, ... you shoot it with the Sprayer and let the clog drip-off.

    Or a Bucket.
    Or the old hose trick.
     
  12. mrtim123

    mrtim123 Member

    Messages:
    49
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Location:
    Newcastle, Australia
    Yep, that is pretty well what i did on mine. probably skipped every 2nd paper grade and only used a stitched rag wheel, then an unstitched rag wheel before finishing with Purple metal polish. Tell ya what, the diff is hard to get but its sure worth it!!

    [​IMG]
     

Share This Page