Lug Nut Posted June 22, 2016 #1 Posted June 22, 2016 Sanded/polished my forks today 12 Hours, 23 Minutes ago My 1998 RSTC looks decent except the front forks were like every other clear coated aluminum fork lowers after a couple of years....nasty. clear coat chipping, yellowing, just looking dirty. I painted my Roadstar fork lowers and they still look nice but I wanted to try polishing. Removed fender and wheel....used a spray stripper to get rid of clear coat...from Walmart $10....worked great Started sanding with 320 dry, then 400 dry, then 800 dry, then 1000 wet, 1500 wet, and 2000 wet. I only used one sheet on each leg per grit number. I think it would have been better to use 2-3 pieces of each grit in hindsight. Washed thoroughly and dried. I first used Flitz polish on a high speed Milwaukee rotor tool (cut off/grinder) with a string buffing wheel. Worked surprisingly well. After doing a little spot I realized I would need a lot of Flitz to do both. I went to harbor freight and spent $5 on brown and white polish with 2 wheels. Used brown then white and looks pretty decent. I think when I get more time I will do some flitz by hand to give it more luster. Took a while. Plan on most of a day. I also cleaned up my brake calipers, all hardware from brake and fender, and used POR 15 on inside of front fender (noticed slight surface rust). Also checked everything out, tightened up some bolts and greased things...just all day fricking around in the garage. I also re-installed the luggage rack so I cam at least carry some damn leftovers when I'm out riding... I do like the look better than painted and certainly better than dingy/dirty. http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq14/sbojrab/Mobile%20Uploads/20160621_165355_zps0pxhchv9.jpg http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq14/sbojrab/Mobile%20Uploads/20160621_165345_zpsw9puisyp.jpg http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq14/sbojrab/Mobile%20Uploads/20160621_165317_zps3bsuaoxu.jpg http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq14/sbojrab/Mobile%20Uploads/20160621_165331_zpseqontfuk.jpg
Freebird Posted June 22, 2016 #2 Posted June 22, 2016 Looks great. A lot of work but certainly turned out fantastic.
Marcarl Posted June 22, 2016 #3 Posted June 22, 2016 When I did my 85 I finished with Magic Cloth, stayed good for years.
DarrinGT Posted June 23, 2016 #5 Posted June 23, 2016 WOW,.. Looks Great, When can I bring my 97 over,..?
Lug Nut Posted June 23, 2016 Author #6 Posted June 23, 2016 WOW,.. Looks Great, When can I bring my 97 over,..? It would take a really really big case of beer to do those on another bike! Lol. Worst part is cleanup. ....you get DIRTY...and the garahe gets little remnants of the buffing wheel everywhere.
DblTrbl Posted June 23, 2016 #7 Posted June 23, 2016 Looks great. I just added that to my list of "winter" projects!!
ToyOdie Posted June 23, 2016 #9 Posted June 23, 2016 Everyone says it "looks great." Is it just me or am I missing something? I don't see any pictures.
eagleeye Posted October 6, 2016 #10 Posted October 6, 2016 Absolutely gorgeous motorcycle! Job well done!
cowpuc Posted October 7, 2016 #11 Posted October 7, 2016 :scared:WOWZY did those come out GORGEOUS!! Excellent piece of work there brother!!
Rotten Posted October 29, 2016 #12 Posted October 29, 2016 Looks great Wish I could do that to my forks, they are powder coated black and god I hate that.
Gucci Posted December 22, 2016 #13 Posted December 22, 2016 Sanded/polished my forks today 12 Hours, 23 Minutes ago My 1998 RSTC looks decent except the front forks were like every other clear coated aluminum fork lowers after a couple of years....nasty. clear coat chipping, yellowing, just looking dirty. I painted my Roadstar fork lowers and they still look nice but I wanted to try polishing. Removed fender and wheel....used a spray stripper to get rid of clear coat...from Walmart $10....worked great Started sanding with 320 dry, then 400 dry, then 800 dry, then 1000 wet, 1500 wet, and 2000 wet. I only used one sheet on each leg per grit number. I think it would have been better to use 2-3 pieces of each grit in hindsight. Washed thoroughly and dried. I first used Flitz polish on a high speed Milwaukee rotor tool (cut off/grinder) with a string buffing wheel. Worked surprisingly well. After doing a little spot I realized I would need a lot of Flitz to do both. I went to harbor freight and spent $5 on brown and white polish with 2 wheels. Used brown then white and looks pretty decent. I think when I get more time I will do some flitz by hand to give it more luster. Took a while. Plan on most of a day. I also cleaned up my brake calipers, all hardware from brake and fender, and used POR 15 on inside of front fender (noticed slight surface rust). Also checked everything out, tightened up some bolts and greased things...just all day fricking around in the garage. I also re-installed the luggage rack so I cam at least carry some damn leftovers when I'm out riding... I do like the look better than painted and certainly better than dingy/dirty. http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq14/sbojrab/Mobile%20Uploads/20160621_165355_zps0pxhchv9.jpg http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq14/sbojrab/Mobile%20Uploads/20160621_165345_zpsw9puisyp.jpg http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq14/sbojrab/Mobile%20Uploads/20160621_165317_zps3bsuaoxu.jpg http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq14/sbojrab/Mobile%20Uploads/20160621_165331_zpseqontfuk.jpg Love them bout to do mine
Lug Nut Posted December 23, 2016 Author #14 Posted December 23, 2016 Shortly after polishing the lowers I removed the upper tins.....really like the stock chrome underneath! http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq14/sbojrab/Mobile%20Uploads/20160810_115837_zpsqn56n9uf.jpg http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq14/sbojrab/Mobile%20Uploads/20160810_115808_zpsvxy4au9c.jpg Gonna be doing the same treatment to my Roadstar soon
grubsie Posted April 27, 2017 #15 Posted April 27, 2017 Just in case anyone is wondering Lugnut crashed this bike just over 2 months ago. He's OK, but I imagine still hurting. I don't know him personally but I wish him all the best and a speedy recovery! This is his post on the Road Star Clinic form the day after it happened: http://roadstarclinic.com/component/option,com_fireboard/Itemid,187/func,view/id,1001679/catid,49/limit,10/limitstart,0/
Lug Nut Posted May 18, 2017 Author #17 Posted May 18, 2017 Just in case anyone is wondering Lugnut crashed this bike just over 2 months ago. He's OK, but I imagine still hurting. I don't know him personally but I wish him all the best and a speedy recovery! This is his post on the Road Star Clinic form the day after it happened: http://roadstarclinic.com/component/option,com_fireboard/Itemid,187/func,view/id,1001679/catid,49/limit,10/limitstart,0/ I broke my left collarbone in 3 pieces LOTS of bruises and contusions, but all healed up now. Guy slammed on his brakes ahead of me, LOTS of sand on the street (in Indiana we use sand instead of salt for the snow and it sits until finally getting washed away usually in May)....I hit the brakes rear and front firm/progressive....textbook panic stop. I have synthetic fresh fluid and EBC HH pads front and rear and like new Dunlops. All of that didn't mean ****! lol. went down hard on my left side at 45 mph. DOT half helmet, Viking textile riding jacket, Joe Rocket boots with steel in heel area did their jobs great. No surgery needed, collarbone re-fused nicely. Only damage to bike was left passing lamp broke off, ground down the ball end of clutch lever (looks it was clipped with a cut off wheel it is so precise), had to bend the shifter a little, bend back the exhaust bracket and respray....ended up just removing the passing lamps all together. NO paint damage or dents....I was amazed at that. Of course, the bike had the advantage of a 6ft 2in 250 lb airbag underneath of it. Actually polishing my Roadstar lowers right now...its gonna be a badass Roadstar when finished I hope....
grubsie Posted May 18, 2017 #18 Posted May 18, 2017 I saw your original post on RSC and I have to say, you looked bad to me in that hospital bed. Kind of gave me chills. Have been wondering in the back of my mind how you were doing. Very glad you are up and running again. Will be watching the progress of your RS on RSC. Ride on!
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