Surface rust/corrosion on bicycle fork

[MacDoc]

Selling my eBike and as with even stainless steel here in the wet tropics there is surface rust on the front shock downtubes.
Any suggestions as to best method to clean it off?

 

[Dirty Frank]

If it were mine i would try light grey scotch-brite then some suspension grease to coat after.

 

[POWERMAN]

Y u no show pics of rust?

 

[MacDoc]

I will

 

[GreyGhost]

I like autosol.

 

[MacDoc]

this one??

Sounds exactly what I need and I think available at the autoparts down the street. √
$14 and I can think about a number of uses around here.

Autosol Metal Polish, made in Germany, cleans and polishes metals to a brilliant high shine leaving a protective coating for future protection. The convenient 75ml paste tube offers concentrated cleaning power.

Autosol Metal Polish has been the world market leader in metal polishing since 1929. The paste formula in a 75ml tube offers 10x the polishing power of a liquid equivalent. The Autosol Metal Polish formula polishes: stainless steel, chrome, brass, copper and many more. Autosol Metal Polish removes common problems such as surface rust, discolouration, tarnishing, staining and oxidation with ease. The metal surface is left with an ultra-thin wax coating to prevent the surface from further degradation and corrosion. Autosol Metal Polish is certified by NSF International, a global public health and safety organization, and has been declared safe for use around food processing areas. This product is non-toxic and ammonia free, making it ideal for household, automotive or industrial use. Autosol Metal Polish is made in Germany.

 

[Mad Mike]

Steel wool soap pads are cheap and easy (SOS pads) or whatever brand you can find locally.

 

[MacDoc]

I was a little concerned with the scratch factor tho I'm guessing the rust/corrosion has pitted the tubes somewhat. I'll pull one out from under the sink and try the steel wool tomorrow. Thanks

 

[GreyGhost]

I was a little concerned with the scratch factor tho I'm guessing the rust/corrosion has pitted the tubes somewhat. I'll pull one out from under the sink and try the steel wool tomorrow. Thanks

Autosol doesn't change the finish to the naked eye. It will not do anything to the pits that are the source of the rust. Makes them easy to see/feel them though. Properly dealing with the pits is harder without making them far more visible. I wouldnt go further than autosol (or sos).

 

[MacDoc]

Thanks.

 

[FullMotoJacket]

If the fork tube was in fact chromed the proper way to do it is in an oxalic acid bath. The fork would need to be torn down and only the tubes submerged to do it, though. The fork tubes on that fork are aluminum tubing with hard anodizing then a low friction coating. It doesn't take well to any type of polishing. Remove the high spots from scratches with a cray stick and hope for the best.

 

[Renboy]

Wrap the tubes in a vinegar soaked rag. Vinegar is great at removing rust.

 

[MacDoc]

I'd heard that-thanks

 

[backmarkerducati]

Try aluminum foil and water. Try/test a small sot first. The water is a lubricant in process and the foil is (usually) much softer than the fork material be it chrome plating or stainless but harder than the rust. Some people sub wd-40 or whatever for the water but water works fine as you will dry it afterwards. This is a tried and true method for this type of thing.

Of course if it is pitted it is hiding the problem and may be doing the next buyer dirty as it will come right back and/or continue to eat the seals. My guess, they are chrome plated and not stainless.

Make sure they do not have another factory coating on them as anything even mildly abrasive may remove that and make a bigger mess.

 

[FullMotoJacket]

Make sure they do not have another factory coating on them as anything even mildly abrasive may remove that and make a bigger mess.

That's definitely the coating Marz and RS used on their Al fork legs back in the 90s/00s. The offshore brands are still using the tech.

 

[MacDoc]

the vinegar is working ...soaked paper towel