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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> What kind of corrosion is this?
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Message started by Cadence on 09/09/15 at 19:57:22

Title: What kind of corrosion is this?
Post by Cadence on 09/09/15 at 19:57:22

Hi all. Just got a 2002 non-running Savage for a project. Just curious what kind of corrosion this is on the forks. It raises up from the surface instead of receding like pitting. Any experience with this?

Thanks!

http://i.imgur.com/OrQjcpk.jpg

Title: Re: What kind of corrosion is this?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/09/15 at 20:15:15

Do the engine cases have spiderwebs in them, too?
The clear coat cracks and lets corrosion occur.
Aluminum foil , wadded up, spray with water, scrub chrome.. darn if I know how it works so well.
Now, how to get the aluminum cleaned up,, much bigger hassle.

Title: Re: What kind of corrosion is this?
Post by ls650v on 09/10/15 at 03:02:15

I don't think the fork tubes have a clear coat. To me it looks like there is rust under the chrome. I don't think there is any way you will be able to make this look pretty. The mottled gray aluminum pieces do appear to have some corrosion under the clear coat. I am not expert on cleaning aluminum so hopefully one of the more experienced forum members will have some good suggestions.

Title: Re: What kind of corrosion is this?
Post by Dave on 09/10/15 at 03:04:16

The forks are chrome plated steel. When they rust it can raise the chrome off the underlying steel.

There is really no way to fix this once it happens. If it only occurs up above where the lower fork tubes slide up/down......it is a cosmetic issue. If it occurs down in the slider/seal area....the forks are going to wear out the seals and the forks will weep oil.

The aluminum pieces get moisture under the clear coat, and then the corrosion makes the grey spiderweb appearance. The only way to fix that is to strip the clear coat, sand out the corrosion (which usually goes pretty deep), and then make a near factory brushed appearance with Scotchbrite or a more shiny appearance by polishing or buffing. Unless you put a clear coat back on....the aluminum must be polished regularly to keep it from tarnishing.

Title: Re: What kind of corrosion is this?
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 09/10/15 at 05:37:14

6F4D4849424F492C0 wrote:
Just curious what kind of corrosion this is on the forks.

Expensive. Maybe.

If the rust is limited to the area above the lower triple clamp, and looks don't matter, then you can just leave it be.

However, if the corrosion extends into the area that compresses into the wiper, or if look of corroded forks bothers you, then you are looking at a set of replacement fork tubes.

Used ones can be found on ebay or the for sale section of this forum.

Title: Re: What kind of corrosion is this?
Post by Cadence on 09/10/15 at 08:40:21

312E282F32350434043C2E22695B0 wrote:

Do the engine cases have spiderwebs in them, too?

No, just cobwebs.

This happens throughout the fork tube except for where the seals touch during its travel, surprisingly enough. Maybe the fork oil residue protected that area.

Thanks for the input, guys.

Title: Re: What kind of corrosion is this?
Post by Dave on 09/10/15 at 09:42:40

6E4C4948434E482D0 wrote:

This happens throughout the fork tube except for where the seals touch during its travel, surprisingly enough.

So it appears that you can ride it with the rusty forks.

So now the question becomes........Do you ride it as a "rat bike" and enjoy it for the dirty/rusty/corroded machine that it is - or - Do you spend a lot of time/money polishing and replacing corroded parts to make it pretty again?