anybody rattle can their forks?

[TechMagic]

I'm wondering if I carefully replaced them into the tree, if anyone thinks a satin black rattle can job would last on the fork tubes?

 

[Trill]

Not sure, but I need to replace the fork seals on mine and just called a plating shop and got a quote for anodizing. Cost was 65$ to plate and another 45$ to mask them off if you dont do it urself.

I think that is worth it

 

[TooFst]

My cousin painted his rims with apliance (spelling) paint. He asked have you ever seen a stove with the corner chipped? that paint is very thick, almost ceramic.... He said it worked awesome.. and if he did get a chip just break out the rattle can and give it a touch up!

 

[theoctopus]

I'm going to guess that it's probably a bad idea. Forks usually have a high gloss finish, which makes it incredibly hard to lay down a layer of paint. If you're going to do it, I'd suggest hitting it with fine grit sandpaper (to give it a surface to adhere to) first, then lay down primer, then lay down your paint (in a few layers), then wet sand the entire sucker and touch up as needed.

 

[Jornum1]

+1 with what theoctopus said. Its going to be tough to get it to stick. I have toyed with the idea of doing it until I could get the front end anno'd/powdercoated. If it were me I would probably blast them and then use some self etching primer before trying to paint. I would think rattle can would flake off that smooth finish of the forks very easily.
Not to mention trying to put them back together, unless you were going to tape it off and do it on the bike in one piece.

 

[BRatigan]

An etching primer such as zinc phosphate or chromate might help with the bond. I have used the green stuff on outboard motors and outdrives and it is made for aluminum. It does however slightly etch the surface so it can hold, might be worth a test. I used OMC Cobra outdrive paint.

BR

 

[Jornum1]

I have used the duplicolor etching primer you can get from autozone on my old Kz's forks and other various parts. It worked really well. Though I also bead blasted them before hand, so that helps too.
I am curious now...
I am going away for the weekend, it might give me a excuse to pull the front end off and let the paint cure for a couple days since I wont be able to ride anyway.
Hmm ideas
Worse case, i pull them off and blast them, then I have a nice satin finish I like anyway. Trying to get rid of all the shine

 

[TechMagic]

well the **** that did my seals marked up my perfect fork tubes anyway, I may sandblast them, use an etching primer, and then try that thick paint Toofst recommended if it's available in satin black. Thanks guys for the feedback.

 

[Jornum1]

Sounds good we will have to compare pics, be sure to post them up.

 

[BRomanowski]

Wouldn't the paint change the diameter of the tubes enough to cause problems with installation?

 

[Jornum1]

Thats the question I am wondering. I mean you can spread them a little with a wedge, but you dont want to go too far. I am hoping I can spray thin on the top side to minimize the paint build up. We will see how it comes out.

 

[Evil Mechanic]

why not just save up your pennies and buy the black forks from buell?? save yourself the mess and from having to touch them up every season. it will be worth it in the long run if you plan to keep your bike for a while.

 

[BRomanowski]

I have an 04 XB12S so they don't list black forks for my model/year. Will any of them fit? Also I got a price from a local powdercoater of just $80 to do them.

 

[Jornum1]

Well I was going to do it as more of a experiment and see how it would come out. I plan on tearing down my bike this winter and having the forks annodized satin black and the trees and fairing stay coated to match the frame. As well as some other misc parts(engine site covers, ect). I would just rather do it all at once.
I figured for the sake of tinkering I would see how it looked since I am going to have 5 days of down time.

And like the above poster said, for 350 a piece, you could pownder coat/anno your whole bike!

 

[Jornum1]

oh and powder would probably be way too thick for the forks. You would scratch the **** out of them I think. I dont know this for sure, but I was told you should have the forks anno'd

 

[icepop77]

at $80, that sounds like a good deal to me. I did the etching primer + rattle can on my Sporter forks and they came out great. Only problem is that I have chips in the paint just from road debris. Powdercoat would have been worry free.

If you can get them powdercoated cheap, do it.

 

[scheetz31]

Il hoping to get a few pieces of black vinyl and just wrapping them. You can hide the seams on the back side...remove whenever you like...and fairly cheap. no breaking down of front end necessary