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Repair Pitted Forks


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Hi Gurus

 

I have BSA C15 pitted forks. My friend told me to check with Industrial Hydraulic Repair company to 
re-chrome them . I contacted them and they said they can make new fork tube.
which might be much cheaper then re-chrome. and last longer.
 
Is it good idea to try new fork tube ? Is it possible to increase length of fork tube , Do i need to change spring or fork internal etc.
I was think may be i can put some spacer on top nut and keep forks internal same ? 
 
Regards
 
JH
 
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Id be surprised if they could make it, fork tubes are rather thin walled, and what grade of steel will they be using? Why do you think they would last longer?? Both are chromed are they not? Philpotts rechrome a set for 120 or 150, cant remember which, getting a company to make a one of pair cant be cheap, that include threading and/or circlip grooves...

 

However, to answer your question, you can make the the tubes longer, but this will not increase the movement of the fork remember, just give you longer forks...

Edited by faussy
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I have had pitted forks repaired and re-chromed and hydraulic rams re-chromed. This was quite a few years ago and I can't remember who did the work but the two processes are often quite different.

Hydraulic rams spend much of their time retracted and therefore protected from the weather. Many hydraulic rams only have chrome plate which for a number of reasons is not ideal for forks.

Forks should be nickel plated under the chrome to improve corrosion resistance and make flaking off less likely. Many cheap Chinese bikes omit this underplating and that is why their chrome rusts or pits so fast.

Forks need an excellent finish to very close tolerance as they act as a bearing as well as needing to seal. Hydraulic rams can have much wider tolerance and rougher surface (although it still looks and feels smooth)

Whether new or repaired is cheaper depends on the complexity of the machining on new tubes vs the amount of pitting on the old.

I would be inclined to use a motorcycle fork specialist of long experience - web search will find a few. They will usually offer new tubes if appropriate as well as advise on lengthening etc.

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