Clear coating

David Toll

David Toll

Reliving my youth?
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Think I've sorted the master cylinder. Here is a picture of the forks I thought I would clean up and re-oil while the wheel is off. Another day or so and they'll look a treat. Do you recommend a coat of clear or will a bit of regular maintenance keep them shiny? I've brought the callipers back to the metal so I am wondering if I should clear them as well?
 

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Im doing mine now as well, I'm not going to clear but if someome chimes in with why I should, I may listen.
 
Once you get them nicely polished a clear can keep them that way without having to polish them.
A clear powder coat is tough and easy to maintain. Just a wash.
I had my fork lowers powdered an 80% gloss black maybe 5 years ago. With a wash with just water and a rag and they look like they just got out of the oven.
Leo
 
Clear powdercoat (or two pack) will be easy to maintain, but won't have the same high level of shine as professionally polished aluminium. I guess it depends on the kind of riding you plan to do - if it'll be in all weathers, go for the coating, if it's in dry weather only and you like to have a really shiny bike, just polish the bits and keep on top of the shine!
 
David, I have polished most of the aluminum on my bikes and they can be kept pretty nice looking with the occasional application of an aluminum polish , such as Blue Magic or Mother’s mag wheel polish.
If you choose to clear coat anything, I would advise not to use any spray on clear that isn’t a 2 part product with a hardener catalyst.
I sprayed some non hardened simple clear coat over the silver paint on my engine cases and it is starting to yellow. :mad:
I will someday be looking at doing it over.
Btw, clear powder coat sounds pretty nice!
 
Yes, I don't clear coat any of my polished parts either. The biggest reason is I don't want what happened to the originals happening again - clear coat chips, corrosion starts then creeps under remaining clear coat. You can't clean this off. The only option is to strip the clear off it again.
 
Hey David! I like em. They be shiny! I cleaned the factory clear off mine and then used Mothers. ( Ain't no shine like Mothers)
Then I used Windex to clean and Car Guys Hybrid Wax (on everything) After about the 3rd coating of the wax it shines like it's wet, no streaks. When it takes a hit the bug splatter slides right to the rear end of the bike and drips off the rear fender! :bs:Ok, ya got me, but it seems to be good stuff. I may get caught in the rain but I'm not going to turn a hose on the bike. Your project is coming along real well! At this rate you'll beat me back to the pavement!
Thu
 
You'd need to remove (and destroy in the process) the fork seals too. They don't take kindly to being baked at 400°, lol. Besides, out of all the polished alloy parts, the fork legs are the easiest to get at and maintain.
 
David! You bet, ride it first!! It's a kick in the pants! On your first couple of outings, resist the urge to go too far. I made a loop. 1st time out it was a loose connector in the head light bucket. Third time was pinched fuel line on #2. It was cutting in and out. WOOF! But it got me home with no pushing! Watching your progress. It's really cool watching somebody else build. There is very little here I've found about first start up, minor problems and first ride and any thoughts. Good stuff I think! Oh, and let me know, if you please, how your M/C mirror mounts married up with each other. I might like to go your way in the future.
Thanks.
Thu
 
thuban said:
If it will hold up on those ag trailers it's got to be some good shit!
Click to expand...
My personal experience is that it exceeds all expectations. With polished aluminum, they recommend etching with their metal prep. It dulls the shine a bit. The clear brings a lot of it back. If you want mirror finish, it may or may not be for you.
Changes since I used it:
https://www.por15.com/POR-15-2k-Industrial-Urethane You just choose CLEAR.

I showed this off at the last Ozark rally. I think Gary and MaxPete saw it. It's been on my forks for about 20 years.
 
Appreciate that Marty. The jury is still out on clear coating but, if I do paint things up, I'll ditch my Dulux Metal Spray Clear and try your stuff. That's as long as it comes as an aerosol, my spray gun days are behind me and they were never good.
Many thanks
 

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