Yesterday I polished the fork tube sliders on my 2011 Streetglide.

What I did, was I jacked up the bike, took the calipers off and hung them over the fairing lowers, took the front wheel off and then the front fender.

Then, I sanded the ROUGH (pebbly) areas with 60 grit sandpaper, to include the casting marks.

Then I sanded the whole tube down with 150 grit paper, folloowed by 220 grit.

Next, I rubbed them down compeltely with a fine scrubber pad (WHITE) and WD-40.

Next, I sanded them down with 320 grit sandpaper.

Then I polished them out compeltely with Brasso, and buffed them out.

Then re-installed everything.

Lastly, after install, I hand buffed them with Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish.

Note:

1. All was done BY HAND

2. I did this without removing the fork tubes

It took about 6 hours including putting everything away.

When I was done I washed the bike, and the sliders beaded up the water....and after towel drying they just "glowed"

Anyway, here are some pics:















~Joe

 

I like it. From pics, it looks good.

 

Thanks.

Did it myself, versus store bought.

Cost me a day of drinking beer and having fun listening to music and just taking my time.

Cost? Maybe 10-15 bucks in materials.

Brasso
Shop cloths
Mothers polish
Sandpaper (different grits)

Of course, you need jack and tools to take stuff off.

Have a spare set I did up as well, I'd sell for 40 bucks shipped. Keep in mind, when done by hand, they have a different look than machine done. Looks very old skool.

Well, gotta go ride now.

~Joe

 

Man that looks great, my softail needs that bad. Looks like you just gave me another winter project.

 

Only 10/15 bucks? I guess you didn't include the cost of the beer!

Looks great. I didn't know the stock tubes could look like that. I always considered them a 'defect', the stock tubes get pitted and nasty looking over time.

 

Nice work, I need to get a garage and a lift....

 

Nice looking, especially knowing it was done without power tools. Shows lots of patience, attention to detail, and determination. It's funny how the lower legs on HDs are so susceptible to bug guts and other "staining" substances.

I went ahead and "caved" and bought the HD chrome lowers. Like you, I want to have good looking lowers and didn't figure I could keep the stock aluminum lowers looking very good over time.

Thanks for the pics and again, congrats on getting them boys lookin' good!

 

Looks great. Man ur forearms must be huge!! that's a whole lot of rubbing it out!! 10-15 bucks is cheaper than the chromed out setup. Nice work.

 

really nice job !


Any idea how long before it has to be done again ?

 

Nice Job!. I also wonder how long it will last. We get plastered in bugs up my way. It gets pretty bad. Almost makes a guy want to grab a take off set on Ebay and polish them out and then just do the swap. Let us know how long they look good.