Fork Reconditioning - The Process Explained

Upon receipt of motorcycle forks they are booked onto a process list and etched with the customer's name so that there is full traceability on them, measured on an unworn section, the size noted and confirmed (normally a nominal metric size).

All these details are entered on the progress list in order to keep a check on each process of the work at anytime.

The process from start to finish is as follows:

1. Check for straightness and if necessary straighten. (Most forks wear in a bent fashion as a result of heavy braking and flexing )
2. Pre-chrome grind on a centreless grinder, the amount ground off depends on the wall thickness of the tube and severity of the pitting/damage. Usually 0.025" is sufficient to remove all damage.
3. Prepare for hard-chroming which requires masking of all internal bushes/valves with a special wax coating.
4. Placed in vats for the hard-chrome to be deposited (slightly oversize). This process can take up to 24 hours and sometimes longer, dependent upon the amount of deposit required.
5. Remove forks from the plating vats and measure to ensure there is sufficient thickness of chrome to allow them to be ground to the original size. They are then inspected for pin holes or imperfections in the hard-chroming deposit.
6. Forks are cleaned in preparation for finish grinding.
7. The finish grinding operation is now carried out which involves grinding the forks to the correct size - within 0.0005 of an inch.
8. A further inspection is made to ensure no imperfections are evident in the hard chrome.
9. The forks are then polished to help the seals bed in and last longer.
10. Passed to dispatch area for a final inspection and subsequently packed into special tubes in order to eliminate any damage in transit back to the client by overnight carrier.

All work is carried out in-house - nothing is sub contracted - unlike some Companies!

From the amount of appreciative telephone calls and e-mails we receive we know we are able to offer a very high quality of workmanship. In the past we have regularly handled work from countries such as Iceland, Germany, Spain, the Channel Isles, Eire etc. to name but a few.

For more information or to arrange collection call Philpots on 01582 571234.