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New trick for fork tube lowers now w pics
- The Gringo
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One little project I have been avoiding is polishing the fork lowers on my 77 650 C1. Since it is 30 years old they are looking pretty ratty. Over the winter I've got the rest of the bike looking pretty good which only tends to accentuate how bad these things look. So I decided today is the day to get er done. I pulled the tubes off and took them out to the kitchen sink. Since I know that Kawasaki coated them with some sort of clear I figured that using some paint stripper on them might be a good call. I slopped some on using a toothbrush and watched all that old yellowed crap start to bubble up. First go around got most of it but I don't think I left it work long enough since there was still some left. Hit it one more time and then used steel wool to remove the remainder.
Next step was to hit it with some 600 grit wet dry sandpaper. Once I had that done about 15 minutes work on the buffing wheel had the first one shining like chrome.
I really was amazed how easy this was to do. The stripper really makes this a lot easier since no sanding is required to get down to the bare aluminium. Whatever Kawasaki used 30 years ago did a pretty good job of protecting most of the metal. The areas that had been chipped by rocks had started to tarnish some but the wet dry paper gets rid of it quick. Unfortunately I don't have a digital camera so you will just have to take my word for it, this method works well.
Post edited by: The Gringo, at: 2007/11/18 07:06
Andy
Akron, Ohio
80 Z-1 Classic-Sold
84 GPZ1100
79 KZ 1000 LTD
78 KZ 1000 A2
77 KZ 1000 LTD-Sold
76 KZ 900 The definition of a barn find
76 KZ 900-Sold gone to Denmark
KZ 750 times 3, KZ 650 times 8 Sold 1 down to 7
KZ 550 times 2 80 440LTD-Sold
81 CSR 305-Sold 81 Yamaha XS650 Special
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- 77KZ650
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07 MDP Rookie of the Year
01 ZX-12R street/drag bike. 8.97 @155.7 pump gas, dot tires, no bars, no power adders. top speed in the 1/4: 161MPH
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- Vter Bob
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Georgia, Vermont
1981 KZ550 LTD
1982 KZ1000 LTD
1999 ZG1000 Concours
Greetings from the Peoples Republic of Vermont, home of Ethan Allen, 2 American Presidents, a socialist US Senator and.....Homer & Bart Simpson
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- RonKZ650
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321,000 miles on KZ's that I can remember. Not going to see any more.
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- Shoe48
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- z1kzonly
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Any stripper will work, Zip strip, automotive spray can gasket and decal remover.
After that 600 paper use 1000 makes the buffing easier.
And always use water when you sand.
Marty in Buffalo
Livin in "CheektaVegas, NY
Went thru 25 of these in 40 yrs.
I SOLD OUT! THE KAW BARN IS EMPTY.
More room for The Old Girl, Harley 75 FLH Electra Glide,
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Starts everytime!
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- The Gringo
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What brand of paint stripper did you use? I gotta do that myself. Kitchen sink? Single aren't you?
Shoe is correct, I am a newlywed, however the warden.... errr I mean wife is still in Colombia awaiting her visa. I'm guessing once she arrives I'll probably have to change some of my ways:pinch:. But until then I'm making the most of it:P . The stripper I used I got from either Home Depot or Lowes I think it is called Kleen Strip but pretty much any stripper will work.
Andy
Akron, Ohio
80 Z-1 Classic-Sold
84 GPZ1100
79 KZ 1000 LTD
78 KZ 1000 A2
77 KZ 1000 LTD-Sold
76 KZ 900 The definition of a barn find
76 KZ 900-Sold gone to Denmark
KZ 750 times 3, KZ 650 times 8 Sold 1 down to 7
KZ 550 times 2 80 440LTD-Sold
81 CSR 305-Sold 81 Yamaha XS650 Special
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- Bluemeanie
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1980 KZ650F1, Bought new out the door for $2,162.98!
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- The Gringo
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I dont either, but I still post pics:P borrow one or I wont believe ya;) :silly: :laugh:
Better late than never. Here you go.
Andy
Akron, Ohio
80 Z-1 Classic-Sold
84 GPZ1100
79 KZ 1000 LTD
78 KZ 1000 A2
77 KZ 1000 LTD-Sold
76 KZ 900 The definition of a barn find
76 KZ 900-Sold gone to Denmark
KZ 750 times 3, KZ 650 times 8 Sold 1 down to 7
KZ 550 times 2 80 440LTD-Sold
81 CSR 305-Sold 81 Yamaha XS650 Special
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- Biquetoast
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- King Jeremy The Wicked
Sweeet!
Your dust seal popped off.
(1.) '75/'76 KZ400D - Commuter
(2.) '78 KZ750B3 Twin - Commuter
(3.) '78 KZ750B3 Twin - Commuter
(4.) '75 KZ400D - Sold
kz750twins.com
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- patmann
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The stripper I used I got from either Home Depot or Lowes but pretty much any stripper will work.[/quote]
Wait until we let the Mrs. Gringo know you have been picking up strippers @ Home Depot and Lowes
How did you find them?? Must have been in the brass pole area:P
Pat
1974 900 Z1 modified to look like a LTD , some engine mods. But I still have all the original parts.
1977 1000 project bike
1972 H1 project bike
If pro is opposite of con, then what is the opposite of progress?
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- The Gringo
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The Gringo wrote:
The stripper I used I got from either Home Depot or Lowes but pretty much any stripper will work.
Wait until we let the Mrs. Gringo know you have been picking up strippers @ Home Depot and Lowes
How did you find them?? Must have been in the brass pole area:P
Pat[/quote]
:laugh: :woohoo: Actually the store manager got really upset when I got a lap dance in the hardware section:evil: :evil: :evil: . In reality though Senora Gringo looks far better than anything I'm likely to find at a home improvement store, plus she likes to clean.
Biquetoast actually that is not the correct dust seal for that bike I robbed them from a 550 front end I had laying around so they don't fit quite right. I'll buy new ones probably the next time I take the front end apart to replace the steering bearings. Good eye though.
Andy
Akron, Ohio
80 Z-1 Classic-Sold
84 GPZ1100
79 KZ 1000 LTD
78 KZ 1000 A2
77 KZ 1000 LTD-Sold
76 KZ 900 The definition of a barn find
76 KZ 900-Sold gone to Denmark
KZ 750 times 3, KZ 650 times 8 Sold 1 down to 7
KZ 550 times 2 80 440LTD-Sold
81 CSR 305-Sold 81 Yamaha XS650 Special
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