Help or advice wanted. Derusting and plating fixings.

[Exuptoy]

My 2001 Triumph Daytona has 31k on the clock and a lot of the fixings are looking tired.

I'm thinking about cleaning them up (not so much derusting them) then coating them so they look fresh and won't turn to rust.

Anyone done both treatments and can recommend what I'd need and the likely outlay expected?

 

[daedalusminos]

What finish did they originally have and what are you trying to replicate?

 

[addjunkie]

http://www.custom-fasteners.co.uk/s...ph-900-sprint-st-1998-on-allen-screw-kit.html

 

[rcx132]

I think by fixings you mean fittings, i.e. bolts and brackets. The factory ones only get a thin 7 micrometer layer of zinc and they never last long.

If you only want to stop them rusting further then have the bike steam cleaned and then apply a rust inhibitor, the common one used on bikes is ACF50 because the car ones are usually too mucky to use on a bike. The inhibitor needs to be regularly applied though. Also I'm convinced that cheap chain lube is just as good as ACF50.

If you want a proper job then the fittings need to be removed, stripped, and re-plated. The advantage is that you can ask for a much thicker layer of zinc which should last 10 years. Replating a bucket of bolts is £30. Stripping them is more difficult, the traditional way is caustic soda followed by acid, but it is considered way too dangerous these days. Photos from my recent project, the caustic soda was heated or it doesn't work.




Then 15 min in acid, HCl or Phosphotic is usually used. Then rinse and send off to the zinc plating plant. The caustic soda removes grease, paint, and scale, the acid removes the old zinc.

 

[atomant48]

Only comment on the above is how long between acid and getting them to the plating place - they’re very prone to attack in that state. I had a bunch of stuff done from start to finish all in the same place (I had tried previously with a diy kit too) and the results are superb. Wouldn’t add much to the cost I don’t think.

 

[Ruffian]

At work we use SMB plating in Plymouth,

They will acid strip and replate the bolts/nuts/brackets and metal clips for sensible money,
Only issue is there is a minimum order of £50 now. (But charge £1 per kilo over the original 50kg)

 

[rcx132]

Only comment on the above is how long between acid and getting them to the plating place - they’re very prone to attack in that state. I had a bunch of stuff done from start to finish all in the same place (I had tried previously with a diy kit too) and the results are superb. Wouldn’t add much to the cost I don’t think.

True they re rust quick so just spray them with WD40. The plating place will degrease them before plating.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

How about anodising? For small items I've read that doing it at home can be easy and cheap with the kits available [on the 'Bay].

 

[Exuptoy]

What finish did they originally have and what are you trying to replicate?

Just want it presentable. Finish not really important.