Removing lower fork brace?

[gabriel_gs]

Hey folks,

On fitting my new cast wheels the other week I fitted a new mudguard. When I took the old one off, I could see just how badly the paint had chipped and the back of the fork brace was really corroded.

If I wanted to remove it to try and clean it up and repaint it, how do I go about it?

In my head I assumed I just remove the front wheel, loosened the pinch bolts on the back/sides of the fork brace and slid it down the forks, but on looking at it it's obvious it won't slide over the fork lowers.

Never messed with forks before - would it means removing the forks from the bike completely and sliding the brace up over the tops?

If so, or even if not, how do I go about it?

As always, any tips greatly appreciated!

 

[zdaveuk]

you are correct , they need to come over the top need to take the stantions out from the top and slide it up the fork tubes and over the stantions.

watch out the pinch bolts can get a good grip due to corrision and there is a risk of buggering the bolt heads and it will give you no end of problems.

I`d be tempted to refurb it in place lots of masking tape when spraying

 

[Ash]

you dont need to take it off.
Apply plenty of masking tape/newspaper to the forks [and i mean plenty] to allow you to sand away the old paint, primer/paint/clear coat and jods a good un.

<a target='_blank' title='ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting' href='http://img8.imageshack.us/i/001edn.jpg/'><img src='http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/4732/001edn.jpg' border='0'/></a>

<a target='_blank' title='ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting' href='http://img854.imageshack.us/i/002x.jpg/'><img src='http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/463/002x.jpg' border='0'/></a>

after repaint-

<a target='_blank' title='ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting' href='http://img836.imageshack.us/i/002lad.jpg/'><img src='http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/6708/002lad.jpg' border='0'/></a>

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=258064

 

[cookie]

i'd take it off.


remove wheel.

undo top nuts, and drop the legs out whole.

unbolt crossbrace from wishbone.

am i missing something? seemed simple enough when i did it

 

[gabriel_gs]

you dont need to take it off.
Apply plenty of masking tape/newspaper to the forks [and i mean plenty] to allow you to sand away the old paint, primer/paint/clear coat and jods a good un.

Sounds like a better/less-margin-for-screwing-up option for me

What primer/paint/clear-coat did you use?

 

[slimbo]

Sounds like a better/less-margin-for-screwing-up option for me

What primer/paint/clear-coat did you use?

best toake it off then use smoothrite silver to paint it..building up about five coats over a few days..

if its off the bike you can really make sure all the loose stuff is removed properly..

 

[roddy]

best toake it off then use smoothrite silver to paint it..building up about five coats over a few days..

if its off the bike you can really make sure all the loose stuff is removed properly..

see here for a comparrison of the original and Silver smoothrite it's a good match

 

[Ash]

Sounds like a better/less-margin-for-screwing-up option for me

What primer/paint/clear-coat did you use?

Halfrauds
been using it for years.
there really is no need to take the forks off,you can get to everywhere to clean/repaint/clear coat,and if your less competent/unsure easier.
But each to there own...........

 

[gabriel_gs]

... and if your less competent/unsure easier

Sounds like me!