Chrome plating fork tubes

Ducati single cylinder motorcycle questions and discussions, all models. Ducati single cylinder motorcycle-related content only! Email subscription available.
Moderator: Morpheus

Moderator: ajleone

desmoman900
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2016 12:20 am

Chrome plating fork tubes

Postby desmoman900 » Tue Jan 03, 2017 8:10 pm

Hello

I am restoring a '66 250 Mk3 and the fork tubes are badly worn. Any knowledge of a chrome plating service in the USA?

desmoman900
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2016 12:20 am

Re: Chrome plating fork tubes

Postby desmoman900 » Tue Jan 03, 2017 8:18 pm

Let me answer my own question. United Surface Finishing will hard chrome both legs for US$300.00 plus shipping with a 14 business day turnaround.
Not cheap but I doubt I can buy new fork tubes for $350, right?
http://www.unitedsurfacefinishing.com/plating-services/industrial-hard-chrome

amartina75
Posts: 347
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2012 1:13 am
Location: Cincinnati, OH. USA

Re: Chrome plating fork tubes

Postby amartina75 » Tue Jan 03, 2017 9:42 pm

It's been a few years since I bought tubes from them but Franks charged about $250 a pair plus shipping. Call them first. Also I'd be surprised if your tubes are straight and not pitted and ready to be hard chromed. That might add extra cost. If they are straight and not pitted you might be able to still use them by just polishing them up a bit. Without seeing them for myself I couldn't possibly tell you what to do.
http://franksforks.com/

Aaron
1966 250 Scrambler
1970 450 Jupiter

double diamond
Posts: 555
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2011 1:20 am

Re: Chrome plating fork tubes

Postby double diamond » Tue Jan 03, 2017 10:23 pm

fastfromthepast.com has new fork tubes for $168. To hard chrome, the tubes will have to be ground to remove any imperfections in the surface to be plated. Then hard chrome built up by plating and ground to dimension. If the tubes are bent, that will have to be addressed as well. $300 is pretty steep for hard chroming fork tubes. I've gotten quotes for half that. Gary's Grinding in Ontario, CA was charging $100/tube last time I inquired. Ray has hard chromed a lot of fork tubes and knows the drill. Matt

desmoman900
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2016 12:20 am

Re: Chrome plating fork tubes

Postby desmoman900 » Wed Jan 04, 2017 12:28 am

I emailed and called Frank, Aaron. No reply. Will wait another day or so.

Matt: I don't see tubes on fastfromthepast.com for the '66 Mk3. I see the "Ducati Mach 1 175/250/350 1957 to 1972" tube. That's what you referred to?
http://www.fastfromthepast.com/05-0597

Snakeoil
Posts: 109
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2016 12:10 pm
Location: Upstate NY

Re: Chrome plating fork tubes

Postby Snakeoil » Wed Jan 04, 2017 4:40 pm

Assuming that the tubes are straight, there is an expensive way to fix pitted tubes. JB Weld is your answer. It helps to have a lathe, but that is not a requirement.

First, you bead blast the pitted areas to remove all rust. Then you butter a thin coating of JB Weld on so fill the pits. Then it is simply a matter of sanding down the JB Weld until you have nice, smooth tubes again.

I have done this on two vintage bikes with perfect results, a BSA A65C and a T120R Triumph. No seal leaks

The first time we did this was on my cousin's 1949 Cat Dozer. The two main hydraulic rams were badly pitted and leaked like a sieve. I sent to an epoxy expert and he bought a metal filled epoxy, similar to what we used to restore milling machine tables that had had cutters run into them. He polished down the epoxy, installed new seals and all was well. That was at least 25 years ago.

If you have a lathe, put it on the back gears and it makes applying the JB Weld much easier. Then of course sanding it down is a snap in the lathe.

Be curious to see if Frank's is still in business. It was still run by him and his wife last time I called and they were pretty long in the tooth. They made their money with extended front ends back in the 70's with the chopper craze. Those days are long over.

regards,
Rob

double diamond
Posts: 555
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2011 1:20 am

Re: Chrome plating fork tubes

Postby double diamond » Wed Jan 04, 2017 8:18 pm

Right, the fastfromthepast application is pretty general but all the NC Ducati 31.5mm forks were the same. Matt

Eldert
Posts: 771
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 3:23 pm
Location: Hazerswoude Rijndijk Netherlands

Re: Chrome plating fork tubes

Postby Eldert » Wed Jan 04, 2017 8:40 pm

those fork tubes are Tarozzi . Tarozzi list at least 3 lenghts 525 , 526 and 530 mm .

early 175 are 31.45 mm not 31.5

Eldert

amartina75
Posts: 347
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2012 1:13 am
Location: Cincinnati, OH. USA

Re: Chrome plating fork tubes

Postby amartina75 » Wed Jan 04, 2017 9:57 pm

The tarozzi tubes are $168 each, can't really imagine why anyone in the states would pay more then what Franks charges for a set of tubes. Which was $250 a pair for basically any set they can make. I bought two sets from them a few years ago. A set for my 450 Scrambler and a set for some Ceriani GP forks. Frank himself has been passed for several years I believe, his family have kept the business open. The website looks considerably different now so maybe there has been other changes. They are, or have always been a call during normal business hours place so that's what I'd recommend doing.
1966 250 Scrambler
1970 450 Jupiter


Return to “Ducati Singles Main Discussions (& How to Join)”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 30 guests