Front Fork Stanchions/Tubes

[Jbizzle]

Hi all,


I have surface rust on my front fork stanchions/tubes. Although it is nowhere near the seals, it annoys me, and i want to replace them for aesthetic reasons.


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-Fazer-600-1999-2002-fork-tube-stanchion-x-1-Made-in-the-Uk/192408217826?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

Seem a good deal. 

Will i need to replace the fork seals? Has anyone had any issues resulting from replacing either part? 

Thanks

[BBROWN1664]

It wont be rust but corrosion does look bad on some bikes.
Take some autosol and wire wool and they will clean up. Just lacquer them again and you shouldn't see the problem again for years.

[brooker81]

Just don't wire wool up and down. go round and round if that makes sense.

[matt7chunk]

I think he means the part that slides inside the the fork leg (shiny bit)


A little trick I learnt for rust is to rub them with a ball of tin foil , the foil is softer than the chrome but harder than the rust , thus it removes the rust 

[Disorderlypunk]

I think he means the part that slides inside the the fork leg (shiny bit)


A little trick I learnt for rust is to rub them with a ball of tin foil , the foil is softer than the chrome but harder than the rust , thus it removes the rust 

ok thats a new one -- so gonna have to try this

[daviee]

nothing new been doing it for years

[red98]

An old trick that works 

[Jbizzle]

Hi all,


I font think any abrasive action will help as it is the chrome plating that has come off.  See pic.


it dont think that can be polished out. I dont really want to go down the re-chroming route either.


Really the questions was has anyone had problems with aftermarket fork stanchions? 


Especially with regard to seals not fitting/sealing correctly.


Thanks.

[fazersharp]

I cant remember an owner on here ever having that kind of damage/rust on a Fazer I wonder if they are already second hand forks. Any sign elsewhere that the bike has had repairs.

[Jbizzle]

The bike is pretty mint everywhere else.


Just passed 20k, im the third owner.  The last owner was my best mate, who i know kept it in the garage and looked after it. And the guy before had FSH, all the paperwork, and no mods (completely standard). So i don't think he was dicking about with it either.


I only noticed it when i was swapping the fork oil. Went to slide the forks out, and the chrome came off like it wasn't attached. I am wondering if a stone chip exposed the metal underneath and corrosion took hold from there making it flake off when disturbed.


Has anyone on here replaced them, and have any experience with fork seals and aftermarket stanchions? 

[vinnyb]

http://www.forkrechroming.co.uk/
 I used these guys a few years ago to sort my XS850 stanchions and they did a good job on them but there are companies who do the same thing all over the country. Most of the used ones on Ebay will be at least 15 years old and pattern parts are often a bit of a gamble. A friend of mine bought a set of Tarozzi legs for his GPZ750 and the OEM fork seals leaked from day one. It's obviously your call but I know what I'd do.

[Disorderlypunk]

A little trick I learnt for rust is to rub them with a ball of tin foil , the foil is softer than the chrome but harder than the rust , thus it removes the rust 

just tried it and works a treat . gonna pick up some chrome nail varnish and use a cocktail stick to feed it in there to hide the chip and seal it
(never use the brush)

[slappy]

A little trick I learnt for rust is to rub them with a ball of tin foil , the foil is softer than the chrome but harder than the rust , thus it removes the rust 

just tried it and works a treat . gonna pick up some chrome nail varnish and use a cocktail stick to feed it in there to hide the chip and seal it
(never use the brush)

Cos that's for when you do your nails on that special occasion

[Disorderlypunk]

Cos that's for when you do your nails on that special occasion

who needs a special occasion for chrome nails 
with the amount of dirt under them its black and chrome and we all know that works well

[matt7chunk]

A little trick I learnt for rust is to rub them with a ball of tin foil , the foil is softer than the chrome but harder than the rust , thus it removes the rust 

just tried it and works a treat . gonna pick up some chrome nail varnish and use a cocktail stick to feed it in there to hide the chip and seal it
(never use the brush)

Haha awesome punk 

The bike is pretty mint everywhere else.


Just passed 20k, im the third owner.  The last owner was my best mate, who i know kept it in the garage and looked after it. And the guy before had FSH, all the paperwork, and no mods (completely standard). So i don't think he was dicking about with it either.


I only noticed it when i was swapping the fork oil. Went to slide the forks out, and the chrome came off like it wasn't attached. I am wondering if a stone chip exposed the metal underneath and corrosion took hold from there making it flake off when disturbed.


Has anyone on here replaced them, and have any experience with fork seals and aftermarket stanchions? 

Wemoto sell them also , don't know if there'll be any better ?
http://www.wemoto.com/bikes/yamaha/fzs_600_fazer/98-99/picture/fork_tube_-_stanchion_-_single/

[matt7chunk]

http://www.wemoto.com/bikes/yamaha/fzs_600_fazer/98-99/picture/fork_tube_-_stanchion_-_single/

[Nemesis]

I think he means the part that slides inside the the fork leg (shiny bit)


A little trick I learnt for rust is to rub them with a ball of tin foil , the foil is softer than the chrome but harder than the rust , thus it removes the rust 

which side of the foil? will try this on downpipes

[matt7chunk]

Shiny side mate , never tried on downpipes but worth a try

[Jbizzle]

http://www.forkrechroming.co.uk/
 I used these guys a few years ago to sort my XS850 stanchions and they did a good job on them but there are companies who do the same thing all over the country. Most of the used ones on Ebay will be at least 15 years old and pattern parts are often a bit of a gamble. A friend of mine bought a set of Tarozzi legs for his GPZ750 and the OEM fork seals leaked from day one. It's obviously your call but I know what I'd do.

Thanks Vinnyb, exactly what i was worried about!

[Jbizzle]

Anyone else think that £90-£140 for a chromed tube is a bit steep? 

[daviee]

Anyone else think that £90-£140 for a chromed tube is a bit steep?

but its not just a chromed tube its machined threaded and then chromed slight difference 

[vinnyb]

Anyone else think that £90-£140 for a chromed tube is a bit steep?

  Absolutely, but you're over a barrel and they know it, obviously without forks your bikes off the road. OEM from Fowlers are £172 each and Tarozzi fromWemoto are £133 each Even hard chroming and regrinding down to size at £150 for the pair is pretty pricey. The only other options are to leave them to see whether the rusted areas kills your fork seals or risk a used pair, I don't know how much a decent pair would cost from Ebay, if you can find any.

[Jbizzle]

Anyone else think that £90-£140 for a chromed tube is a bit steep?

  Absolutely, but you're over a barrel and they know it, obviously without forks your bikes off the road. OEM from Fowlers are £172 each and Tarozzi fromWemoto are £133 each Even hard chroming and regrinding down to size at £150 for the pair is pretty pricey. The only other options are to leave them to see whether the rusted areas kills your fork seals or risk a used pair, I don't know how much a decent pair would cost from Ebay, if you can find any.

Thanks Vinny!

[Jbizzle]

Anyone else think that £90-£140 for a chromed tube is a bit steep?

but its not just a chromed tube its machined threaded and then chromed slight difference

Fair Point Daviee

[Andy1970]

I had the same rusty fork problem with my Fazer when I bought it. It's just down to the previous owner(s) only cleaning the bits they can see, and not up inside the fairing.
I thought about getting them re-chromed, but when I took the forks off it was apparent that they were also slightly curved. As the curve was pretty even I'm guessing that this was probably just down to 60k miles of front brake use, rather than accident damage. As I didn't want to risk getting them straightened as well as re-chromed I went for a set of the Tarozzi tubes from Wemoto. They're fine, everything went together ok and a year later I've had no problems with leaks.