front forks

[Jigger]

The front forks on my bike are pitted. Probably from road sand or something. It is only the lower section that has this pitting. Anyone know of a way to get rid of the pits. I don't know if they are made out of steel or aluminum or what. Should I try to sand them down with steel wool ?

[roboto65]

Are you talking about the lower legs if so they are aluminum and can be polished if you want or chromed. They have a clear coat on them that will have to be removed before any of this work lots of sanding LOL

[LIMagna]

The pitting is most likely just in the clear coat that Honda puts on these parts.  When I had mine off last winter to install the Race Tech cartridge emulators, I took a buffing wheel and some aluminum polish to them and stripped all that crap off.  It took quite a while to get through the clear coat but they looked 100% better after that ... all pits gone & nice and shiny (looks almost like chrome).  I used the same approach on the brake reservoir, which also came out looking better than new.  

[hootmon]

On my 94 there didn't seem to be any clearcoat, but they looked very dull..
Most Honda's do have clearcoat though. IF you are in the country (or I'm sure on-line) that John Deere has a product that takes clearcoat right off.. You could also check with a auto paint store, I'm sure they would have something.. Once you get the clear coat off, you are going to need to do some polishing..

I used some steel wool and some coarse metal polish and hand polished them, it takes a couple of hours per leg by hand.. Now it looks like chrome, but is just polished aluminum.

[lragan]

The only problem with this approach is that you have to keep on polishing -- just like the heirloom silver.  Or learn to love the dull look of aluminum oxide.

[magnagregcan]

OR, you can get them powder coated in crinkly black; looks real nice polished, and does not show the dirt quite so bad.
I did my 2 wheels and front forks a few years ago (2000 Magna); this year I'm installing a belt drive from Scootworks. No more crap on the back wheel, swing arm or back fender.
Will send pics after install completed.

[roboto65]

Not to get off topic but has anyone got there belt drive for the Magna yet think I saw a post about them taking money and not delivering

[Chokse]

Never got the belt kit.  I only got a lot of empty promises.  I have since had the credit card company cancel the transaction.

[magnagregcan]

I went thru the same exercise with the belt drive kit. I had MC credit my account on a Friday, after not hearing from Scoot for a bit. They said they would ship on Thursday, if not I'd cancel.
They let me know on Monday they had shipped on Friday. So basically I got a FREE kit, BUT I've since had the billing reinstated.
The kit is very nice indeed! A 1" wide belt, and 2 pulleys, a tension gauge and an "extender" to raise the chain (belt?) guard. The flange on the rear pulley (facing the wheel) was bare metal and already starting to rust. It's at the powder coaters for a gloss black finish.
My swingarm is there too and hope to have the parts back by weeks end.
Cheers!

[hootmon]

They let me know on Monday they had shipped on Friday.

Wow.. Great to hear they actually shipped a kit..
You or Lawrence will have to let us know what you think once you have it installed..
Particularly how the gear ratio's line up with stock.

[dgc67]

IF you are in the country (or I'm sure on-line) that John Deere has a product that takes clearcoat right off.. You could also check with a auto paint store, I'm sure they would have something..

I used "airplane stripper".  Came in a aerosol can at Auto Zone.  Took it right off with no effort.  Be sure to wear gloves and eye wear.  You get it on your skin and you will know it.

[magnagregcan]

HOOTMON: the stock ratio is 16 tooth front and 40 tooth rear, ratio is 1:2.5
the belt kit is 22 front and 53 rear, ratio is 1:2.4090909
This tells me with the stock chain set up, for every turn of the rear sprocket, the front has to go around 2.5 times.
With the belt, every turn of the rear means the front one has to turn 2.4090909 times.
Reverse logic? So which one gives you more speed (top end) versus more torque?
Does the lower ratio result in lower top speed and more torque?
I can't seem to wrap my head around this so early in the morning.
What does everyone say?
Cheers!

[dgc67]

This tells me with the stock chain set up, for every turn of the rear sprocket, the front has to go around 2.5 times.
With the belt, every turn of the rear means the front one has to turn 2.4090909 times.

I would say the difference is negligible and you likely won't notice any difference at all.  But, if you did, it would be ever so slightly more bottom end and less top end.  I think...   

[TLRam1]

More top end.

[dgc67]

It is smaller front sprocket more bottom end, smaller back sprocket more top end and vice versa if I remember correctly.  I always have had trouble keeping it straight though.

OHHHH.... Just looked down at it again.  So it is saying since the NEW ratio requires the front sprocket to turn slightly less it is actually bigger.  Just did not look at it hard enough.  I saw the smaller number and right off just thought smaller sprocket.